Re: to JoAnn from fellow homeschooler

[Guest guest]

Dear JoAnn,

Welcome from a fellow homeschooling mom. I've homeschooled for 10 years and my

kids are now 20, 18 and 16. It's been an adventure and a joy. I know what you

mean about it being easier to homeschool than deal with the public school,

especially with a kid who doesn't fit the mold so to speak. (One of mine has an

auditory processing problem and I know several homeschoolers with children

similar to your description.) If you want to trade homeschooling talk, feel free

to e-mail me personally at ilovecats83160@....

In a way, my illness has helped my kids grow a lot. By putting yourself first

on occasion, you give them the opportunity to mature. It will be good for them

to help you and they will develop more compassion.

This group is wonderful. It lets you know that you're not alone. Over and over

I've read the words " I look fine but I'm not fine. " and that's where I am as

well. It's interesting that you said you had no swelling but hot joints. It's

the first time I've heard that and that's my situation too. The lack of

swelling and the fact that I also get numbness in my hands really has doctors

stumped, especially with fairly normal labs. Do you ever have numbness in your

hands? I've found that tramadal with extra strength Tylenol takes the edge off

and doctors aren't usually as hesitant to prescribe tramadal as some of the

other pain meds, at least in my experience.

With your GI tract problems and fatigue, be sure to ask about fibromyalgia.

That would be my diagnosis (I don't have GI problems but experience severe

vaginal pain), except that I don't have " tender points " --it doesn't hurt worse

when you push on where I hurt--and they say that's the main thing in diagnosing

fibromyalgia. In my case, poking where I hurt actually helps.

HEY EVERYONE--IS THAT WHAT YOU HEAR ABOUT FM TOO??

My prayers will be with you!

laura

JoAnn <mamalac@...> wrote:

Hi, I'm JoAnn, and I just joined this list. I am experiencing what I

think must be RA, or something related. I have had aches/pains for

over a decade, but tests have never shown anything conclusive.

However, I have a strong family history of RA, among other problems,

and I'm going in for more tests soon. My dad has had RA for about 40+

years now, and has had most of his joints replaced, his ankles are

fused, you name it. He now suffers from severe sciatica, and is

more disabled than he ever was, darn it. He's 77 years old, and I

admire him so much for staying active for SO long, despite his pain

(which he's had all MY life, since I'll be 40 in November).

My sister is now going on disability w/her RA; she's 48 and suffering

terribly. She is on methotrexate and prednisone, I think. Dad has been

on everything over the years, and is currently on methotrexate and

Enbrel.

My concerns are, of course, that the tests will show nothing, as

usual. I am having horrible stiffness/pain in my right shoulder, down

my arm, elbow, into my wrists on both sides....Ankles, knees, hips

hurt, too. No real swelling, although I have hot joints. But the worst

thing right now, other than pain, is that I'm exhausted and weak.

I " look " fine, so no one gets it. My husband is sympathetic, and

believes me when I'm struggling w/the weakness.

I am also the mother of six children, ages 22 months through 15 years.

Only my oldest is in school; the others homeschool. That's going okay,

despite my pains. It actually helps for me NOT to have to run all over

from one school to another, if you know what I mean. I've had them in

school before, and I found that more difficult to manage. We also have

special needs; I have a couple of kids on the autistic spectrum, as

well as dealing with sensory integration disorder and speech delay

w/my youngest....Whew. He recently qualified for OT and speech therapy

in our home, thank GOD. That will help (less running around to

appointments).

Anyway, I joined this list hoping to learn more from you, and to learn

how to give myself what I need. I am used to putting myself last, and

I see now that I cannot do that! I won't be of any use to my kids if I

can't manage this more effectively.

I am not taking anything at this point, but I hope to get in to the

rheumatologist this week for tests. I can't take Motrin at all; it

wrecks my stomach. I thought I had Crohn's disease last year after

taking Motrin (after I tore 3 ligaments in my right ankle, missing the

last couple of steps while carrying down a full laundry basket, ouch).

I am still suffering from whatever happened to my stomach/colon at

that point, but the stomach pains are gone. (My mom died from

complications of Crohn's disease 9 years ago, when she was just 59

years old.) I don't know if Tylenol would help w/the pain. I am still

nursing my youngest, and don't think he'll wean for at least 6 months.

I know there must be some drugs compatible w/nursing; anyone know what

might be a possibility?

Thanks for being here!

JoAnn

[Guest guest]

Dear JoAnn,

Welcome from a fellow homeschooling mom. I've homeschooled for 10 years and my

kids are now 20, 18 and 16. It's been an adventure and a joy. I know what you

mean about it being easier to homeschool than deal with the public school,

especially with a kid who doesn't fit the mold so to speak. (One of mine has an

auditory processing problem and I know several homeschoolers with children

similar to your description.) If you want to trade homeschooling talk, feel free

to e-mail me personally at ilovecats83160@....

In a way, my illness has helped my kids grow a lot. By putting yourself first

on occasion, you give them the opportunity to mature. It will be good for them

to help you and they will develop more compassion.

This group is wonderful. It lets you know that you're not alone. Over and over

I've read the words " I look fine but I'm not fine. " and that's where I am as

well. It's interesting that you said you had no swelling but hot joints. It's

the first time I've heard that and that's my situation too. The lack of

swelling and the fact that I also get numbness in my hands really has doctors

stumped, especially with fairly normal labs. Do you ever have numbness in your

hands? I've found that tramadal with extra strength Tylenol takes the edge off

and doctors aren't usually as hesitant to prescribe tramadal as some of the

other pain meds, at least in my experience.

With your GI tract problems and fatigue, be sure to ask about fibromyalgia.

That would be my diagnosis (I don't have GI problems but experience severe

vaginal pain), except that I don't have " tender points " --it doesn't hurt worse

when you push on where I hurt--and they say that's the main thing in diagnosing

fibromyalgia. In my case, poking where I hurt actually helps.

HEY EVERYONE--IS THAT WHAT YOU HEAR ABOUT FM TOO??

My prayers will be with you!

laura

JoAnn <mamalac@...> wrote:

Hi, I'm JoAnn, and I just joined this list. I am experiencing what I

think must be RA, or something related. I have had aches/pains for

over a decade, but tests have never shown anything conclusive.

However, I have a strong family history of RA, among other problems,

and I'm going in for more tests soon. My dad has had RA for about 40+

years now, and has had most of his joints replaced, his ankles are

fused, you name it. He now suffers from severe sciatica, and is

more disabled than he ever was, darn it. He's 77 years old, and I

admire him so much for staying active for SO long, despite his pain

(which he's had all MY life, since I'll be 40 in November).

My sister is now going on disability w/her RA; she's 48 and suffering

terribly. She is on methotrexate and prednisone, I think. Dad has been

on everything over the years, and is currently on methotrexate and

Enbrel.

My concerns are, of course, that the tests will show nothing, as

usual. I am having horrible stiffness/pain in my right shoulder, down

my arm, elbow, into my wrists on both sides....Ankles, knees, hips

hurt, too. No real swelling, although I have hot joints. But the worst

thing right now, other than pain, is that I'm exhausted and weak.

I " look " fine, so no one gets it. My husband is sympathetic, and

believes me when I'm struggling w/the weakness.

I am also the mother of six children, ages 22 months through 15 years.

Only my oldest is in school; the others homeschool. That's going okay,

despite my pains. It actually helps for me NOT to have to run all over

from one school to another, if you know what I mean. I've had them in

school before, and I found that more difficult to manage. We also have

special needs; I have a couple of kids on the autistic spectrum, as

well as dealing with sensory integration disorder and speech delay

w/my youngest....Whew. He recently qualified for OT and speech therapy

in our home, thank GOD. That will help (less running around to

appointments).

Anyway, I joined this list hoping to learn more from you, and to learn

how to give myself what I need. I am used to putting myself last, and

I see now that I cannot do that! I won't be of any use to my kids if I

can't manage this more effectively.

I am not taking anything at this point, but I hope to get in to the

rheumatologist this week for tests. I can't take Motrin at all; it

wrecks my stomach. I thought I had Crohn's disease last year after

taking Motrin (after I tore 3 ligaments in my right ankle, missing the

last couple of steps while carrying down a full laundry basket, ouch).

I am still suffering from whatever happened to my stomach/colon at

that point, but the stomach pains are gone. (My mom died from

complications of Crohn's disease 9 years ago, when she was just 59

years old.) I don't know if Tylenol would help w/the pain. I am still

nursing my youngest, and don't think he'll wean for at least 6 months.

I know there must be some drugs compatible w/nursing; anyone know what

might be a possibility?

Thanks for being here!

JoAnn