New the group

[Guest guest]

, Hello and welcome. Honey, it's not how often you post, it's whether or not the group can

do you some good and vice versa. Feel free to vent, whine (We offer cheese with that.), moan and

groan, cry and laugh with us. We have all been there, done that as you are just learning to do. Take

advantage of our experience, wisdom and humor because it helps us to help each other. Again,

welcome, and I live in no. California, about 50 miles from San Francisco. I have four adopted kids,

two grandchildren, and my two youngest boys are still at home. They are fifteen and twelve.

I was dx'd with SLE, RA, Sjogren's, chronic Lyme's, myofibrositis, anemia, and non-insulin dependent

Diabetes all between the ages of 30 and 45. I am now 55, and my symptoms actually started when

I was only ten. A long and sometimes painful health history, as is true of a lot of us. I hope you find

what you need with us. Hugs, MM aka: Mike, one of the moderators

[Guest guest]

Thank you for all of your kind and welcoming emails. My husband of 2

1/2 years and I just moved to land from Italy. He is Navy, so

moving is a common occurance in our lives. I am 30 years old and have

a Golden Retriever named " Ellie " . I have a wonderful marriage and a

happy homelife - thank goodness. I have found that my marraige has

been strengthened through the miserable process of becoming ill and

going through the motions of testing with some of the most awful

doctors I have ever met. I am glad that he was my strength on days

when I didn't have any more to give.

I became very sick when we first got to Italy (2 yrs ago). I spent 10

days in the hospital and underwent a battery of tests for the next

year and a half. We finally gave up and requested to be returned to

the U.S. for better healthcare access.

I was home a week and went to visit the Rheumatologist who diaganosed

me with Lupus. I have a very rare disorder called Eosinophilic

Gastroenteritis, pericardial inflammation, arthritis, fatigue, and

sleep problems.

I have been on prednisone for the past 4 months and am almost tapered

off. I have started Plaquenil and am taking Zoloft at night to help

me sleep.

I look forward to having a support group and some people to share

some experiences with.

I am not online all of the time, so please don't think I am ignoring

you if I only chime in now and again.

Thank you,

Elam

[Guest guest]

Thank you,

Adoption has been a topic of conversation around here because I

stopped menstruation years ago - although I have yet to understand

why. Was your desire to adopt infertility also?

> , Hello and welcome. Honey, it's not how often you post,

it's

> whether or not the group can

> do you some good and vice versa. Feel free to vent, whine (We

offer cheese

> with that.), moan and

> groan, cry and laugh with us. We have all been there, done that

as you are

> just learning to do. Take

> advantage of our experience, wisdom and humor because it helps us

to help

> each other. Again,

> welcome, and I live in no. California, about 50 miles from San

Francisco. I

> have four adopted kids,

> two grandchildren, and my two youngest boys are still at home.

They are

> fifteen and twelve.

> I was dx'd with SLE, RA, Sjogren's, chronic Lyme's, myofibrositis,

anemia,

> and non-insulin dependent

> Diabetes all between the ages of 30 and 45. I am now 55, and my

symptoms

> actually started when

> I was only ten. A long and sometimes painful health history, as

is true of

> a lot of us. I hope you find

> what you need with us. Hugs, MM aka: Mike, one of the

moderators