Thanks

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone,

Thank you so much for the nice welcome messages. You guys are great!

I am glad to have your support, this is a crazy, confusing time for me.

Now, for a little background:

We live in Woodstock, GA, about 20 miles northwest of Atlanta, I have a

wonderful husband, an almost 15-year-old son, and 2 Keeshond dogs,

SMokey and Bandit (aptly named, Bandit escapes from our yard when he has

a way out, and Smokey comes to get us, barking like a lunatic, and tells

us that he is AWOL :-) ). My wonderful husband, , works with

computers, and my son, , is a very wonderful, pleasant teenager,

turning 15 on Mother's Day, excited about learning to drive. They are

wonderful about my condition.

I work for our local county school system, I supervise the free and

reduced lunch program. My boss is absolutely wonderful, the few friends

I have told are wonderful also. It's all just so new.

The only problems that I have encountered trying to work and deal with

my symptoms are the fatigue, the aching and painful joints, and the

foggy brain thing. There are days when I feel like I have a suit of

armor on, weighing me down. Those days I usually go home and go

straight to bed. I also have pain in my hands, wrists, feet and ankles,

sometimes in my hips and back, but at least it is not unbearable. I am

able to tolerate it okay. Does anyone know if this stuff is

progressive? Do I look for these things to get worse? Thank Heaven I

don't have the lung or heart problems (as some of you do), but does the

pain get worse? Do I look for signs of lung or heart problems? Any

info is appreciated. I bought a book, but it isn't quite as detailed as

I would like it to be.

For Jerri, my rheumy is Dr. Mohammed Abubaker, he is in Marietta, which

is not real close to you, but he is alright, I have been seeing him for

about 3 years now, I really think that he just tolerates me, but this

time he spent about an hour with me discussing my symptoms. I had my

3rd positive ANA test and a questionable urinalysis, and my primary

doctor referred me back to him for additional tests. He didn't even

re-run the extra blood work this time for a dx of lupus, we discussed my

symptoms and he put me on Plaquenil. He is okay, I go to see him again

next month, and I will decide at that time if I am going to try a

different one.

For Carol: I am SO sorry to hear about your Sydney. But, know at

least he is not suffering anymore, he is at peace, and pain-free. It is

so amazing how close our pets are to our hearts, they are truly a member

of the family. My 2 dogs, Smokey and Bandit, are brothers, but they are

so different. My Bandit will lay by my bed, often for hours, until I

get up, and he will lay at my feet when I am relaxing or sewing, or

whatever I am doing. That is where he prefers to be, whereas Smokey

prefers to be outside, chasing birds and squirrels. My son prefers to

be at his computer, playing games. :-) You and Sydney are in my

prayers and thoughts.

Well, guys, sorry for the novel. Have a great day! I look forward to

talking with you soon.

Cheryl