Jane

[Guest guest]

> >

> >

> > 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!!

[Guest guest]

Clare- what a lovely name. St. Francis and St. Clare are both very

precious to me- I love their life stories. Yes, my darling daughter

had a lovely birthday. We shopped like madwomen, thank you! Her best

friends took her for a late dinner that evening, so she had a

wonderful time. She is a precious child. I suppose since she's 18 one

should consider her a young woman. Oh well. I have had a rather

tough few days, my remicade had to be delayed for a little over 2

weeks due to a respiratory bug I was being treated for. I try to keep

my sense of humor about all of it-

i think back 15 years ago when i still wore spike heels and short

skirts & went dancing at the drop of a hat. Now I wear flats- comfy

ones at that, matronly skirts, and I avoid dropping hats as they're

too darn hard to pick up nowadays!

Have a blessed day, look forward to visiting with you again.

Hugs from Texas!

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!!

[Guest guest]

This subject is one that is near to me but not near and dear as I was subjected

to the sexual and child abuse during my childhood. The sexual went on from age

7 until age 12 when I was able to make a stand though the perpetrator continued

clear into my 20's to try to convince me it was what " I " wanted. This was at

the hands of my mother's husband. The physical and emotional abuse was from

ages 7 throughout my teenage years from my mother...especially after she learned

about the other and decided I was trying to " take " him from her...I was never

forgiven. It was the last thing I ever wanted in my life and would never want

anyone else to go through it. My family (aunt in particular) turned a deaf ear

and I was able to ask her about 18 years ago before she died why the family

never took steps to stop it. I was told in essence you did that in those

days...didn't admit it was happening and therefore it wasn't. I was also told

that I survived and should leave it in the past and

forget about it....I was a big girl. I found the experience shaped my whole

life...some good and some bad. The bad I am still working on and it is receding

into the past... The good is in that after my own daughter was molested by a

" family friend " and she carried the secret for 7 years even after admonitions

all her life to never let anyone touch her inappropriately and that I would take

care of it immediately if it ever happened, I no longer remain silent or keep it

within the family. He had convinced her he would kill me and her younger sister

if it came to it..... This is a horrible crime against not only the child

involved but the whole community. What is done for those children now in the

way of recovery will give them the tools for a better lived life free hopefully

of insecurities and desperation. I hope you are able to seek and get the help

they need. I will most certainly keep them and your family in prayer. I do not

believe this is something a molester can bury

and be free on probation with. So with a gentle reminder from the Good

Word.... " ...where more than two are gathered together in my name, there I am

also. " With unity in prayer from so many, there just has to be a good ending to

this.

With love, ((((HUGS)))) and prayers..

(I don't feel like the SMILES with reading this today)

JAN in AZ (formerly CA)

~ " We all take different paths in life, but no matter where we go, we take a

little of each other everywhere. " ~ ~ " If I could reach up and hold a star for

every time you've made me smile, the entire evening sky would be in the palm of

my hand. " ~