Fwd: Update on my Polymyositis - 10 years & Counting - Steve Heath, USA

[Guest guest]

Hi group,

Steve Heath has updated his story which you can find at

rheumatic.org/steve.htm - Steve has polymyositis and, as you can see,

he is still doing well.

Chris.

Begin forwarded message:

> From: " Steve Heath " <scheath1@...>

> Date: 3 January 2007 11:32:22 AM

> " Cadlard " <cadlard@...>

> Subject: Update on my Polymyositis - 10 years & Counting - Steve

> Heath, USA

>

>

>  

> I have talked to you and Ethel over the years.  Amazingly, I am still

> doing very well.  I've had a personal tragedy.  I lost my wife after a

> seven year battle with cancer on August 15, 2005.  I have been

> struggling with the grieving and  " getting back to life " after her

> death.  I am finally in an emotional state of mind that I feel I can

> respond to the many emails I have received asking for support in

> regard to Polymyositis.  In doing this, I realized my profile is

> outdated and feel it is time to update it so others suffering from the

> same disease can have the most current information.

>  

> It amazes me that through my emotional and physical struggles with

> life, with the stress that the Polymyositis hasn't flared up again.  I

> feel great, still work a hard, physical job and was even told once I

> looked great! LOL  I credit the Zithromax, which I still take 600 mg

> one tablet per week faithfully, for my health.  I am still on 3 mg of

> liquid injections of Methotrexate.  My doctor wanted me to go on

> Imuran because my liver counts were somewhat high over a period of

> years.  I said, " didn't we discuss injections of Methotrexate if my

> liver counts were getting high? "   Little beknown to her, I was back to

> drinking beer which probably didn't help my liver count.  Now I really

> don't know if Methotrexate helps me or not, but I am not going to

> change my routine and take the chance of slipping out of " remission " . 

> If it's not broke, don't fix it!!  Knock on wood, I guess I would

> consider myself very, very lucky to have survived this

> disease/condition - coming up on ten years now.  Whatever it is that

> is working, I hope it continues to work for another 20 years and I

> will be giving you another update at that time! hahaha  I do feel

> great for my age and feel extremely fortunate to have survived and

> recovered from this dreadful, sometimes fatal, disease.

>  

> I feel good!

>  

>

>

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> Steve Heath

>

>