Priscilla

[Guest guest]

Hi Priscilla,

This is Steph in VA. I'm 27 and was diagnosed with arthritis in 1999 when I

was 22. September will be my 6th anniversary of living with arthritis. I'm so

sorry you are suffering. Most of us have been where you are.

When I was dx'd I was 6 weeks from my college graduation. I was very worried

that I would not be able to work. As it was, I was forced to change my major

from English Secondary Ed to just English, b/c I couldn't handle the demands of

teaching high school. Somedays I'm still mad that my dream was taken away, but I

have new dreams now.

I do not have children but my diagnosis made me worried that the choice

would be taken from me. I recently got engaged and my rheumy gave me the okay to

consider children (in several years).

8 months after my dx I took a job in DC that forced me to have a 2 hour

commute each way. I did it to see how much I could force my body to go through.

I thought it made me stronger, but it just sent me into a 6 month flare.

Do not worry if your SED rate or CRP are not high. My SED rate peaked at 335

when I was dx'd (normal is 0-20). My latest test showed a SED rate of 7. I still

have been but with the help of my meds, rest and my fiancee demanding I slow

down, my health has been pretty stable. However, a low rate does not mean you

do not have reason to hurt.

You are not a weakling. One of the toughest thing I have had to learn is

when to ask for help. I'm better at it. I have also educated those around me to

the realities of arthritis. (I even brought it props one day). Now if a

co-worker sees me doing something I shouldn't be doing, they ask if they can

help instead of me asking them.

My nodules have also decreased due to my meds. I love my Remicade.

I'm sorry your rheumy is so bad. I see a rheumy in DC that is wonderful. He

is even coming to my wedding next spring.

Take care,

Steph in VA

P.S. my rheumy was listed as one of the top 50 rheumys in the Washingtonian

magazine.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

" Never underestimate the power of a small, dedicated group of people to change

the world -- indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. " (Margaret Mead)

AmeriCorps Alums -- We're Still Getting Things Done

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Priscilla:

Your fiance will be doing God's work that is for sure

- I have all the people in those states in my prayers

along with all of those good people who are going in

to help out. Prayers to you also, that your pain will

lessen so that you are able to care for your children

and yourself. If you attend church, I am sure that

there would be someone who might be able to help you

out. Best of luck

Kathe in CA

--- casterramom <casterramom@...> wrote:

> Just a note to thank you all for the ongoing prayers

> and support.

> As I wrote last week I finally saw the

> rheumatologist and medicine

> seems to be helping some already! Praise God!! I

> go back in 3

> weeks to have a follow-up and see if we need to

> switch around meds

> and to see what my " baseline tests " came back like.

> At least this

> doctor listened and seems to know what he is talking

> about. That

> itself is wonderful.

>

> I also wanted to say to Ken---KEEP IT UP!! I love

> your jokes and

> poems! Please don't let 1 spoil sport ruin it for

> everyone else!

> Cheers for you!!

>

> I also wanted to ask for prayers one more time (off

> the subject of

> our sickness')...my fiance, who has FEMA training,

> received a call

> about noon today and he is being deployed tomorrow

> morning at 6:00

> to help with Hurricane Katrina!! He is truly

> looking forward to

> helping with the victims...however he is worried

> about me and my

> health in having no help with the 3 children (they

> are 5, 6, & 7

> years old). They state he will be gone minimally

> until Christmas

> and possibly up to a year to help with the clean-up.

> He is first

> going to Gulf Port, Mississippi. So Please

> everyone, pray for the

> love of my life to be safe and to come home to us?

> And pray I can

> be strong and continue to work and take care of the

> children and

> that I am able to withstand the pain?

>

> Thank you all. You are all in my prayers and

> thoughts.

>

> In Christ's Love,

> Prisicilla

>

>

>

>

>

>

Kathe in CA

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Thank you so much Kathe. I appreciate the kind words. I am now heading to bed

with thoughts only of on my mind and his name on my heart. The first

night. It will get better, I'm praying. Thank you all for your kindness.

Prisicilla

Kathe Sabetzadeh <lv2ryd@...> wrote:

Priscilla:

Your fiance will be doing God's work that is for sure

- I have all the people in those states in my prayers

along with all of those good people who are going in

to help out. Prayers to you also, that your pain will

lessen so that you are able to care for your children

and yourself. If you attend church, I am sure that

there would be someone who might be able to help you

out. Best of luck

Kathe in CA

--- casterramom <casterramom@...> wrote:

> Just a note to thank you all for the ongoing prayers

> and support.

> As I wrote last week I finally saw the

> rheumatologist and medicine

> seems to be helping some already! Praise God!! I

> go back in 3

> weeks to have a follow-up and see if we need to

> switch around meds

> and to see what my " baseline tests " came back like.

> At least this

> doctor listened and seems to know what he is talking

> about. That

> itself is wonderful.

>

> I also wanted to say to Ken---KEEP IT UP!! I love

> your jokes and

> poems! Please don't let 1 spoil sport ruin it for

> everyone else!

> Cheers for you!!

>

> I also wanted to ask for prayers one more time (off

> the subject of

> our sickness')...my fiance, who has FEMA training,

> received a call

> about noon today and he is being deployed tomorrow

> morning at 6:00

> to help with Hurricane Katrina!! He is truly

> looking forward to

> helping with the victims...however he is worried

> about me and my

> health in having no help with the 3 children (they

> are 5, 6, & 7

> years old). They state he will be gone minimally

> until Christmas

> and possibly up to a year to help with the clean-up.

> He is first

> going to Gulf Port, Mississippi. So Please

> everyone, pray for the

> love of my life to be safe and to come home to us?

> And pray I can

> be strong and continue to work and take care of the

> children and

> that I am able to withstand the pain?

>

> Thank you all. You are all in my prayers and

> thoughts.

>

> In Christ's Love,

> Prisicilla

>

>

>

>

>

>

Kathe in CA

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Wouldn't it be cool if we all lived in the same neighborhood, and we

could take turns with taking care of each other, and our kids, on our

good days? Kinda sounds like heaven, huh? Only in heaven we won't

have any bad days, praise God! Isn't that the greatest thing to look

forward to!

Jane

>

> > Just a note to thank you all for the ongoing prayers

> > and support.

> > As I wrote last week I finally saw the

> > rheumatologist and medicine

> > seems to be helping some already! Praise God!! I

> > go back in 3

> > weeks to have a follow-up and see if we need to

> > switch around meds

> > and to see what my " baseline tests " came back like.

> > At least this

> > doctor listened and seems to know what he is talking

> > about. That

> > itself is wonderful.

> >

> > I also wanted to say to Ken---KEEP IT UP!! I love

> > your jokes and

> > poems! Please don't let 1 spoil sport ruin it for

> > everyone else!

> > Cheers for you!!

> >

> > I also wanted to ask for prayers one more time (off

> > the subject of

> > our sickness')...my fiance, who has FEMA training,

> > received a call

> > about noon today and he is being deployed tomorrow

> > morning at 6:00

> > to help with Hurricane Katrina!! He is truly

> > looking forward to

> > helping with the victims...however he is worried

> > about me and my

> > health in having no help with the 3 children (they

> > are 5, 6, & 7

> > years old). They state he will be gone minimally

> > until Christmas

> > and possibly up to a year to help with the clean-up.

> > He is first

> > going to Gulf Port, Mississippi. So Please

> > everyone, pray for the

> > love of my life to be safe and to come home to us?

> > And pray I can

> > be strong and continue to work and take care of the

> > children and

> > that I am able to withstand the pain?

> >

> > Thank you all. You are all in my prayers and

> > thoughts.

> >

> > In Christ's Love,

> > Prisicilla

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

>

>

> Kathe in CA

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

AMEN!! One of these days we will get there! God Bless.

PS...heard from , they are going to be stationed in Pascagoula, MS. It was

hit pretty bad, keep the prayers flowing for the victims and the aid.

Prisicilla

JANE <janeatregis@...> wrote:

Wouldn't it be cool if we all lived in the same neighborhood, and we

could take turns with taking care of each other, and our kids, on our

good days? Kinda sounds like heaven, huh? Only in heaven we won't

have any bad days, praise God! Isn't that the greatest thing to look

forward to!

Jane

>

> > Just a note to thank you all for the ongoing prayers

> > and support.

> > As I wrote last week I finally saw the

> > rheumatologist and medicine

> > seems to be helping some already! Praise God!! I

> > go back in 3

> > weeks to have a follow-up and see if we need to

> > switch around meds

> > and to see what my " baseline tests " came back like.

> > At least this

> > doctor listened and seems to know what he is talking

> > about. That

> > itself is wonderful.

> >

> > I also wanted to say to Ken---KEEP IT UP!! I love

> > your jokes and

> > poems! Please don't let 1 spoil sport ruin it for

> > everyone else!

> > Cheers for you!!

> >

> > I also wanted to ask for prayers one more time (off

> > the subject of

> > our sickness')...my fiance, who has FEMA training,

> > received a call

> > about noon today and he is being deployed tomorrow

> > morning at 6:00

> > to help with Hurricane Katrina!! He is truly

> > looking forward to

> > helping with the victims...however he is worried

> > about me and my

> > health in having no help with the 3 children (they

> > are 5, 6, & 7

> > years old). They state he will be gone minimally

> > until Christmas

> > and possibly up to a year to help with the clean-up.

> > He is first

> > going to Gulf Port, Mississippi. So Please

> > everyone, pray for the

> > love of my life to be safe and to come home to us?

> > And pray I can

> > be strong and continue to work and take care of the

> > children and

> > that I am able to withstand the pain?

> >

> > Thank you all. You are all in my prayers and

> > thoughts.

> >

> > In Christ's Love,

> > Prisicilla

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

>

>

> Kathe in CA

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

Even our little towns here in Texas are getting displaced hurricane

survivors. One of the ladies in my sunday school class came in for a

few minutes, she'd been up since Friday, and her last bus load of

folks, four older people had passed en route. She said she'd given up

on makeup cause she just cried it all off. The kids and older folks

were what got to her. My youngest DD's college ministry group went

and cleaned up some vacant apartments for people to stay in, the

former tenants had been evicted from about 15 units. She said they

got them all nice & clean. We have about 600 people in local hotels,

and are trying to get together goodie baskets, snack items, etc. for

them to enjoy. I have a bunch of books we're going to donate, I'm

sure there are some compulsive readers amongst those people, maybe a

good book will take their mind off their situation.

Jane

> >

> > > Just a note to thank you all for the ongoing prayers

> > > and support.

> > > As I wrote last week I finally saw the

> > > rheumatologist and medicine

> > > seems to be helping some already! Praise God!! I

> > > go back in 3

> > > weeks to have a follow-up and see if we need to

> > > switch around meds

> > > and to see what my " baseline tests " came back like.

> > > At least this

> > > doctor listened and seems to know what he is talking

> > > about. That

> > > itself is wonderful.

> > >

> > > I also wanted to say to Ken---KEEP IT UP!! I love

> > > your jokes and

> > > poems! Please don't let 1 spoil sport ruin it for

> > > everyone else!

> > > Cheers for you!!

> > >

> > > I also wanted to ask for prayers one more time (off

> > > the subject of

> > > our sickness')...my fiance, who has FEMA training,

> > > received a call

> > > about noon today and he is being deployed tomorrow

> > > morning at 6:00

> > > to help with Hurricane Katrina!! He is truly

> > > looking forward to

> > > helping with the victims...however he is worried

> > > about me and my

> > > health in having no help with the 3 children (they

> > > are 5, 6, & 7

> > > years old). They state he will be gone minimally

> > > until Christmas

> > > and possibly up to a year to help with the clean-up.

> > > He is first

> > > going to Gulf Port, Mississippi. So Please

> > > everyone, pray for the

> > > love of my life to be safe and to come home to us?

> > > And pray I can

> > > be strong and continue to work and take care of the

> > > children and

> > > that I am able to withstand the pain?

> > >

> > > Thank you all. You are all in my prayers and

> > > thoughts.

> > >

> > > In Christ's Love,

> > > Prisicilla

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> > Kathe in CA

> >

> >

> > __________________________________________________

> >