Re: Hello from across the pond!

February 7, 2005

Hi Clare,

I have also been reading more then posting lately. I have been in a

flare, so really working on my fingers. They are doing better today.

You are a very strong minded lady, and I'm so happy your here. I'm

glad to hear that your chemo treatment went well. How long will you

be on the treatment?

I'm glad the med is helping the RA, and you got a nice walk with your

puppy. It sounds you had a beautiful day. I am looking forward to

spring, and hope to start walking.

I will keep you in my prayers, Tawny

>

> Dear All,

>

> Have been reading and not posting of late due to bad hands etc but

> wanted to say hi again and thanks for being such a kind, caring

> group. That may sound corny but during days over the last week or

so

> when sitting a the pc is all i could muster, it gave me comfort and

a

> feeling of support by just reading the messages. I can identify so

> much with so many of you and my heart goes out to you for all the

> suffering you endure every day. Despite this i feel that we keep

our

> sense of humour, cherise the good days and vent our frustration at

> the bad ones. I've found it very interesting to compare the way in

> which we are treated on different sides of the Atlantic, the UK has

> the NHS and i am very lucky to have a good rheumy (hadn't heard a

> rheumy doc get called that before! Much better than saying and

> spelling the whole thing!! Thank you!)doctor and consultant but

> although our healthcare is free (we pay through national

> contributions when we work, tax basically) not very many people in

my

> area in Cornwall (South-West England) were allowed Remicade or

Enbrel

> because of a funding crisis (they say it's costs £10K per year each)

> which is crazy in this day and age. Is it the same in the US with

> insurance companies paying depending on what they cover? Nobody

> should have to suffer because some big-wig in a suit decides it's

not

> covered, maybe they would like to spend a week in a flare-up....no

i

> doubt it either. I've been reading the posts about insurance issues

> and wonder how some of you don't go out of your minds with worry.

>

> Also read posts about the British tv programme " Keeping Up

> Appearances " ! They still show it here too and although i've

probably

> seen them all i just love that show......and yes there really are

> ladies like that here!!

>

> Had my first treatment of chemotherapy for lymphoma last Thursday

and

> doc's gave me 5 days of steroids at 75mg per day, along with the

> Rituximab, Chyclophosphamide (could well have too many letters

there,

> not sure!!) and Vincristin. It was ok and side-effects managable

> too. The steroids have knocked the RA out for a minute and i am

> relishing the energy and pain-free days! Took my puppy Ky for a

good

> long walk (well long for me, round the whole field!!)in the winter

> sunshine this morning, something i've missed doing of late, and

felt

> really positive for the first time since i was diagniosed just

before

> Christmas. Maybe the steroids but decided that life is for living

> now, somethings i do may not be good for my RA (like ice-skating

with

> my daughter for her birthday recently, half killed me but boy was

it

> fun!!) but are good for my soul and well-being. We're all so much

> more than just our diseases, that obvious when you read the

messages

> here and i'm glad i have found a place to come and write what i

feel

> amongst friends who understand. Thank you again.

>

> Best go to bed now, it's 1 in the morning over here and i just came

> down for a read and hot chocolate!!

February 7, 2005

Hi Clare,

I have also been reading more then posting lately. I have been in a

flare, so really working on my fingers. They are doing better today.

You are a very strong minded lady, and I'm so happy your here. I'm

glad to hear that your chemo treatment went well. How long will you

be on the treatment?

I'm glad the med is helping the RA, and you got a nice walk with your

puppy. It sounds you had a beautiful day. I am looking forward to

spring, and hope to start walking.

I will keep you in my prayers, Tawny

>

> Dear All,

>

> Have been reading and not posting of late due to bad hands etc but

> wanted to say hi again and thanks for being such a kind, caring

> group. That may sound corny but during days over the last week or

so

> when sitting a the pc is all i could muster, it gave me comfort and

a

> feeling of support by just reading the messages. I can identify so

> much with so many of you and my heart goes out to you for all the

> suffering you endure every day. Despite this i feel that we keep

our

> sense of humour, cherise the good days and vent our frustration at

> the bad ones. I've found it very interesting to compare the way in

> which we are treated on different sides of the Atlantic, the UK has

> the NHS and i am very lucky to have a good rheumy (hadn't heard a

> rheumy doc get called that before! Much better than saying and

> spelling the whole thing!! Thank you!)doctor and consultant but

> although our healthcare is free (we pay through national

> contributions when we work, tax basically) not very many people in

my

> area in Cornwall (South-West England) were allowed Remicade or

Enbrel

> because of a funding crisis (they say it's costs £10K per year each)

> which is crazy in this day and age. Is it the same in the US with

> insurance companies paying depending on what they cover? Nobody

> should have to suffer because some big-wig in a suit decides it's

not

> covered, maybe they would like to spend a week in a flare-up....no

i

> doubt it either. I've been reading the posts about insurance issues

> and wonder how some of you don't go out of your minds with worry.

>

> Also read posts about the British tv programme " Keeping Up

> Appearances " ! They still show it here too and although i've

probably

> seen them all i just love that show......and yes there really are

> ladies like that here!!

>

> Had my first treatment of chemotherapy for lymphoma last Thursday

and

> doc's gave me 5 days of steroids at 75mg per day, along with the

> Rituximab, Chyclophosphamide (could well have too many letters

there,

> not sure!!) and Vincristin. It was ok and side-effects managable

> too. The steroids have knocked the RA out for a minute and i am

> relishing the energy and pain-free days! Took my puppy Ky for a

good

> long walk (well long for me, round the whole field!!)in the winter

> sunshine this morning, something i've missed doing of late, and

felt

> really positive for the first time since i was diagniosed just

before

> Christmas. Maybe the steroids but decided that life is for living

> now, somethings i do may not be good for my RA (like ice-skating

with

> my daughter for her birthday recently, half killed me but boy was

it

> fun!!) but are good for my soul and well-being. We're all so much

> more than just our diseases, that obvious when you read the

messages

> here and i'm glad i have found a place to come and write what i

feel

> amongst friends who understand. Thank you again.

>

> Best go to bed now, it's 1 in the morning over here and i just came

> down for a read and hot chocolate!!

February 8, 2005

Hello Clare,

I'm Judi, 58 YO wife and grandmother, living in Indiana. I think I

started the posts about " Keeping up Appearances " as my husband and I

love watching that, and also " As Time Goes By " (He is Sooooo Lionel!)

and " Are You Being Served. "

How long will you be on chemo for the lymphoma? I'll keep you in my

prayers for that and your other health problems.

I don't have RA, but something just as painful, Dercum's disease.

It's rare, especially here in the US.

I know what you mean about playing with the kids--we have a grown

daughter who has 2-year old triplets and a 4 1/2 year old son. Even

if I know I'm going to pay for it the next day, I still like getting

down and playing with them. They rarely see their other grandmother,

so I want them to have happy memories of me.

Enjoy your hot cocoa,

Judi

February 8, 2005

Hello Clare,

I'm Judi, 58 YO wife and grandmother, living in Indiana. I think I

started the posts about " Keeping up Appearances " as my husband and I

love watching that, and also " As Time Goes By " (He is Sooooo Lionel!)

and " Are You Being Served. "

How long will you be on chemo for the lymphoma? I'll keep you in my

prayers for that and your other health problems.

I don't have RA, but something just as painful, Dercum's disease.

It's rare, especially here in the US.

I know what you mean about playing with the kids--we have a grown

daughter who has 2-year old triplets and a 4 1/2 year old son. Even

if I know I'm going to pay for it the next day, I still like getting

down and playing with them. They rarely see their other grandmother,

so I want them to have happy memories of me.

Enjoy your hot cocoa,

Judi

February 8, 2005

Wishing you the best for your course of chemo. My ex mother in law

has lymphoma and the chemo has really shrunk the tumours. My own

family crossed the pond in 1700, from Letcombe Regis (Quakers.) We

have a lovely couple at our church here in Texas who are retired

Wycliffe Bible translators, he's Welsh and she's british. He sounds

like Burton in the midst of a bunch of cowboys, with our east

Texas drawls. I can relate to the ice-skating day with your daughter-

sometimes making memories for them takes precedence over our comfort.

We do pay for it, but it's worth it. I have a " girls day out " planned

for this friday with my youngest who turns 18 that day. We're going

to go wherever she wants to go, and do whatever she wants to do.

Hopefully it won't be bungee jumping or something.... )

Jane

>

> Dear All,

>

> Have been reading and not posting of late due to bad hands etc but

> wanted to say hi again and thanks for being such a kind, caring

> group. That may sound corny but during days over the last week or

so

> when sitting a the pc is all i could muster, it gave me comfort and

a

> feeling of support by just reading the messages. I can identify so

> much with so many of you and my heart goes out to you for all the

> suffering you endure every day. Despite this i feel that we keep

our

> sense of humour, cherise the good days and vent our frustration at

> the bad ones. I've found it very interesting to compare the way in

> which we are treated on different sides of the Atlantic, the UK has

> the NHS and i am very lucky to have a good rheumy (hadn't heard a

> rheumy doc get called that before! Much better than saying and

> spelling the whole thing!! Thank you!)doctor and consultant but

> although our healthcare is free (we pay through national

> contributions when we work, tax basically) not very many people in

my

> area in Cornwall (South-West England) were allowed Remicade or

Enbrel

> because of a funding crisis (they say it's costs £10K per year each)

> which is crazy in this day and age. Is it the same in the US with

> insurance companies paying depending on what they cover? Nobody

> should have to suffer because some big-wig in a suit decides it's

not

> covered, maybe they would like to spend a week in a flare-up....no

i

> doubt it either. I've been reading the posts about insurance issues

> and wonder how some of you don't go out of your minds with worry.

>

> Also read posts about the British tv programme " Keeping Up

> Appearances " ! They still show it here too and although i've

probably

> seen them all i just love that show......and yes there really are

> ladies like that here!!

>

> Had my first treatment of chemotherapy for lymphoma last Thursday

and

> doc's gave me 5 days of steroids at 75mg per day, along with the

> Rituximab, Chyclophosphamide (could well have too many letters

there,

> not sure!!) and Vincristin. It was ok and side-effects managable

> too. The steroids have knocked the RA out for a minute and i am

> relishing the energy and pain-free days! Took my puppy Ky for a

good

> long walk (well long for me, round the whole field!!)in the winter

> sunshine this morning, something i've missed doing of late, and

felt

> really positive for the first time since i was diagniosed just

before

> Christmas. Maybe the steroids but decided that life is for living

> now, somethings i do may not be good for my RA (like ice-skating

with

> my daughter for her birthday recently, half killed me but boy was

it

> fun!!) but are good for my soul and well-being. We're all so much

> more than just our diseases, that obvious when you read the

messages

> here and i'm glad i have found a place to come and write what i

feel

> amongst friends who understand. Thank you again.

>

> Best go to bed now, it's 1 in the morning over here and i just came

> down for a read and hot chocolate!!

February 8, 2005