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[Guest guest]

oh my gosh----there is so much that I could/ and want to learn from all of you,

which is why I joined this list. I would love to find someone to discuss things

with and really get a handle on some things for resolve.

My first visit to a Rheumatologist was when I was 32.

When I was 12 years old, I was getting off a stopped school bus and a drunk

driver passed the bus at a high rate of speed and hit me.

Needless to say, the goal of the physicians at that time was to save my life,

treating the obvious and life threatening injuries.

Well, because I was a child, there were numerous bone and joint injuries that

were left untreated. As an adult, I am suffering terribly because of the

neglect. And the Dr's repeatedly told my parents " she is young, she'll be fine.

she's alive and walking and talking isn't she " ?

I remember at 16, my knees would hurt so bad at night here in PA that I would

wrap one knee within the other to try to sleep. I was always active and worked

from the time I was 15 but I was never athletic. Again, everytime, I would

complain about a " hurt " somewhere, the Dr's back then would say, I was young and

would outgrow it.

After the birth of my first child at 32, my hips really started to bother me, so

my Gyn sent me to the Rheu. Various blood tests were run then and the only thing

conclusive was an elevated sed rate. My son acquired ITP when he was 5 months

old---- repeat of all the tests again to attempt to get answers for 's

condition ----again an elevated sed rate.

So things continued---I hurt and ached more, my DH was in a car accident where

he acquired a brain injury and he became the primary concern. I started to

really fall apart in 98--

and now I have no health insurance and still do not.

I see a DO rather than an MD because my wonderful DO would do a joint

manipulation or two and I would feel so much better for a while---but the last 2

years have been absolutely terrible, from the pain stand point for me. He no

longer does manipulations.

Now, my dilemma, I have 2 older brothers and an older sister, all of them suffer

from some sort of joint problem. Obviously there is a genetic problem, but

neither of my parents or any other distant relative have the problem. None of us

see the same Drs, so we have concluded that it is caused by something that we

were exposed to living next door to a rather large electric power plant growing

up.

Now, my older sister spends most of her days (life) laying on the couch, very

inactive and complaining to anyone who will listen. Drs tell her, she has Osteo

all over and FMS.

We are all so tired of listening to her, as we all suffer the same way, but

realize that getting up and moving is the only solution and she won't get up.

One older brother takes far too much pain meds IMHO, complains very little, but

attempts to live a normal life, DRs tell him that he too has Osteo, " worn out "

joints and FMS.

My other brother is a pastor, suffers alot, but never complains--that would be

negative confession and in his Christian faith life, there is no room for

negative confession even if it is the truth. Although, he told us about 12 years

ago that tests revealed that both of his shoulder sockets were shot.

So, now there is me---being the youngest, at 50, I don't enjoy looking at them

and seeing what the future has in store for me. Although I am the only one of

the four that has had an RA diagnosis. You see, this is where my denial comes

in----- I have denied this disease and suffered more than you know for about 3

years. Although I am the only one of the four of us with various joint nodules

and all 10 fingers are terribly disfigured.

The Methotrexate, I took my 3rd dose on Sat and had a terrible day yesterday---I

could not stop sleeping, but I couldn't get any rest as I could not get

comfortable to sleep-- major case of fatigue.

I would love to stick around here, but this list is far too busy for me --that

is a good thing that it is busy. I tried digest form, but I still couldn't keep

up. I will try to hold on for another day or two, but I doubt that I can find

the time to sit and read all of the wonderful and informative messages, as I

just have too much to do. The farm , we homeschool our son and we now another

teenage boy, a friend of my son's living with us. He moved in 2 weeks ago, his

Mom brought him here, asked us to take him in----I can't go into any detail on

this, but let's just say, the kid has done nothing wrong. He has had to change

school districts, too, and he has a major life changing situation to deal with.

Maybe there is a way some of you might suggest that I can learn from you all,

since I can't keep up with all the mail.

Have a great day--

Debbie McCandless

's Ridge LaManchas

Titusville, PA

www.ryansridge.com

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