RE: to Jeanne from Kris

[Guest guest]

Dear Jeanne,

Thank you for welcoming me to the group, and for keeping me and my family in

your prayers - how gracious of you. I look forward to getting to know you

better in the future! You're right, this does seem to be a great,

supportive group and I'm already glad that I've joined!

Be Well,

Kris J

Wisconsin

-- Hi I'm New to the Group!

Hello everyone my name is Kris and I'm really glad to meet all of you. I

live in Wisconsin, I'm married and have 2 kids-my son is 15 and my

daughter

is 9. I'm turning 35 in March. I have an inner ear disease called

Meniere

s Disease which causes intense vertigo, loss of hearing and major loss of

balance function, tinnitus (ringing in ears), ear fullness and pain,

migraines, nausea and sometimes vomiting. I fall over all the time, or

catch myself falling, because of the Meniere's. I have a broken tailbone

that will not heal (for a year now) due to a fall from the disease.

I also have had fibromyalgia for 15 years now, and I have scoliosis,

spinal

stenosis where the holes in the vertebrae for my sciatic nerves are slowly

growing shut and putting pressure on the nerves. I have three disks that

are in horrible shape, being herniated-one in lower back, one between

shoulder blades, and one in my neck.

I have a long history of medical problems requiring surgeries too and I

honestly wonder if I'm not half-hollow inside, having everything removed

that's not crucial for survival! I have so many scars my tummy looks like

a

road map of Wisconsin, and I don't even have a belly button anymore so I

have no clue where my natural waistline is and my pants never fit right

lol.

My husband is not very supportive at all and I feel like a huge burden on

him. I hope to find some support here. That would help a lot. It's hard

not to get down in the dumps when it seems like everything's wrong with

you

and you are always in pain.

My neurologist is a really great guy and for now is managing my pain. I

am

on the Duragesic pain patch (fentanyl) every 3 days...if they stick that

long! I also take oxycontin at night and oxycodone 3x a day as needed.

I

take klonopin for vertigo and promethazine for nausea. I also take

baclofen for my back pain. I'm on many more medications but I'll spare

you

all the boring list. Basically allergy/asthma meds, psych meds for

depression, hormone replacement therapy, etc. Somehow I manage to keep it

all straight! I must say I'm not very hungry though with all the pills I

take.

Stress has a lot to do with my pain level too I've found. And

unfortunately

right now I've got heaps of stress. My son, who had been a recovering

drug

addict, relapsed and started using drugs again and committed a crime...

confessed and turned himself in...we're in the middle of all the many

court

appearances and proceedings right now. I pray they do not waive him into

adult court at age 15 and that they let him stay in the juvenile system.

But we just found out that even if he stays in the juvenile system he will

be facing (probably) 2yrs in juvenile corrections and one yr in a drug

rehab

halfway house...which means he will be 18 by the time I have him home

again.

..and I've been crying my eyes out with a serious case of early empty nest

syndrome. I realize he should pay his debt to society, and I am a bundle

of

feelings regarding his crime---angry as hell at him, sad that he's wasting

so much of his life, angry that he's being ripped away from me, sad that

it

is of his doing, etc. etc. it just goes on and on. Hubby is no help in

this

area either. The man is not in tune with his feelings and that is all

there

is to it. So I have to deal with it all on my own and I am definitely

feeling it in my body...I slept the whole last weekend away I was so sore

and stiff.

I can't work, there's just no way. But I am ineligible for disability,

though I think it may be time to get a lawyer and see if I can try again.

I

have a degree in math and english that are just collecting dust. But

since

I've become sick I've discovered my artistic side and now I make and sell

jewelry, and I just LOVE doing it! Of course hubby HATES all the beads I

have that are overtaking the house...I suppose I could clean up my son's

room and use that as my jewelry making room since he won't be needing it

for

quite a while. I hate to disturb it though...but it would be the

practical

thing to do. Anyway I don't make a LOT of money doing the jewelry thing,

but when I have a showing, I sell just about everything I've put out, and

make a few hundred dollars, which does help with the bills...so I DO

contribute what I can around here I guess to help validate my existence in

society or something.

Well, that's me in a nutshell I guess. I look forward to getting to know

you all so please introduce yourselves so I can try to keep everyone

straight, when you get the time that is. Thanks for listening!

Be Well,

Kris J.

Wisconsin