My Intro

May 8, 2001

welcome...i know i can always use another person to talk to that knows and understands where i'm coming from...have a wonderful day...MTNCAT

May 11, 2001

- Marcie, This is Dena. I think I can help you to understand the

different diseases.. You probably know that Rhumatoid Arthritis (RA)

can be a very destructive and painful form of arthritis. It closely

resembles PA but people with RA will test positive for the Rhumatoid

Factor. If you have a negative Rhu Factor but your symptons are

consistent with those of RA you may have Sero-Negative RA. In the

case of PA(Psoriatic Arthritis) you will almost always test negative

for the Rhu-Factor and along with your painful joints and terrible

stiffness you usually have or have had Psoriasis. P is Psoriasis red

flaking scales or several other types of rash but the patient does

not have the pain and stiffness. The general consensus is that you

develop P because your cells are multiplying much faster than the

dead skin cells are naturally shed. People have always told me that I

react exceedingly to all situations (good or bad) and so whenever I

have to explain my condition to someone who is clueless to Auto-

Immune illness I just tell them that my Immune system is just keeping

up with the rest of me and overeacting. Do you ever wish people

would stop asking you how you are feeling. I know they mean well BUT

I'm so sick of saying " I'm fine " when I almost always feel like CRAP.

Well that was definately a VENT for me! Felt Great -I just wish I had

the Guts to tell people the truth. Have a happy day!! Dena-- In

@y..., " Marcie Gruenewald " <jerry_marcie@h...>

wrote:

> Hi all, Marcie here. I saw my rheumy yesterday and it is somewhat

> official-I was told I have PA. Boy, I had lots of questions for

him but

> they all went out the window when I was there, geesh where is that

list when

> I need it! Anyway, I have been wait listed for good ol' Enbrel.

What do

> you think my insurance will think about paying for 2 people to be

on that!!!

>

> Some of the questions I have are-what is the differences between

RA,

> sero-negative RA and besides the P, PA?

>

> Right now I am on Celebrex, Plaquenil (1 month now) and back on

Prednisone

> (10 mg/day for now). What an amazing drug-yesterday I couldn't

type because

> of the pain and inflammation in my rt wrist and today after 3 doses

of

> prednisone, it is amazing how much movement I have back! Too bad

about the

> side effects...

>

> Well, that's about it for now. The boys need put to bed and there

is always

> things to be done before I can go there!

>

> Take care everyone,

>

> Marcie

> wife to Jerry (the reason I joined this list!), dx w/PA 8 months

ago on

> Enbrel since December and doing wonderful-no other meds!

>

> _________________________________________________________________

> Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com

May 13, 2001

In a message dated 5/13/01 8:57:43 AM Pacific Daylight Time,

puttinpugs@... writes:

> Do you ever wish people

> would stop asking you how you are feeling. I know they mean well BUT

>

SINCE I GO TO A PYSCH FOR MY DEPRESSION I JUST ANSWER THAT " STILL NUTS! " AND

THAT ALLEVIATES ANY NEED TO GO FURTHER WITH THE EXPLANATIONS BECAUSE I DO GET

TIRED OF PEOPLE ASKING HOW I FEEL. ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY SEE ME WALKING SO

SLOW OR TRYING SO HARD TO GET UP OUT OF MY CHAIR OR SEE ME RESTING AGAINST A

WALL HALFWAY THROUGH THE HALLWAY JUST TO CATCH MY BREATH OR JUST PLAIN UNABLE

TO FUNCTION CORRECTLY. THE ONLY PART OF HAVING THIS NON FUNCTIONAL DISEASE IS

THAT WHEN I SEE SOMEBODY ELSE WHO IS HAVING TROUBLE I NO LONGER ASK THEM IF

THEY ARE OKAY - I JUST ASK THEM WHAT I CAN DO TO HELP THEM. I THINK THAT

HELPS BOTH OF US.

PAIN FREE WISHES

CHICAGOLAND SHARON

May 13, 2001

Hi Marcie;

I understand completely about the Prednisone. It is amazing to be able to

walk around like 'normal' people. I was only on it for a month, but it was

heaven.

Rev. Mitch McVeigh

St. 's Presbyterian Church, Aurora, ON

Rev.Mitch@...

ICQ 5055914

P.S. Don't forget to visit the Hunger Site today and every day.

Every time you do you feed a few hungry people somewhere in the world.

http://www.thehungersite.com While you are at it, don't forget to click

onto the Rainforest site, the Kids AIDS site, the Child Survivor Site,

Breast Cancer site, and the Landmines site. Help is only a click away!

http://www.Christssafetynet.com my SAFE site for kids who love Christ and

want to enjoy the internet without worrying about inappropriate banners and

adds.

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Shores/6710/index.html my personal

website

Have a virus? Check http://www.antivirus.cai.com ITS FREE and WORKS

September 24, 2001

Hi Betty! Welcome to the group. I have a 12 y/o son with

OCD. You'll find this is a very supportive group with a wide variety

of OCD behaviors involved. Lots of good advice and experiences

here. I'm still new to OCD too, my son was diagnosed a year ago.

His OCD seems to be related to " just right " feelings and to

keep " something bad from happening. "

I was wondering about the weight loss where you said he had some

eating disorder and did his own shopping, cooking, etc. Is any of

that due to contamination fears, sort of like his feeling towards his

sister? Does he primarily eat only at home? Have you said anything

to him like casually " you lose some weight? " but not making a big

deal out of it to see what he says?

Well, like I said above, there's lots of parents here with years of

OCD experience and knowledge and this is also a great place to vent

on bad days! Again, welcome!!

- single mom to (12) with OCD and dysgraphia; (12-twin)

with separation anxiety according to me; Randall (16) -

-

September 24, 2001

Hi Betty,

You sure have dealt with some real trying circumstances. Sounds like

your son stays in his room alot. In my experience that can compound

whatever symptoms that exist. I had a sister who retreated to her

room during and after highschool, and she developed eating disorders.

It really concerns me when my 13 yr old spends too much time alone.

Good that your son is working though! I hope the list will be helpful

to you, I am still feeling my way through my 2 daughter's anxiety

disorders, and have gottem lots of help here.

Welcome!

Grace

@y..., bonkers123@e... wrote:

> Hello everyone!

>

> I'll try to give a condensed version of our story because it

started

> several years ago. I wish I had known about this group then. My

son

> is now 18 and the problems started when he hit puberty. He had

> always had some quirks as a child but nothing that interfered with

> living. His particular problem is that he thinks that if he sees

his

> sister (who is now 16) or touches anything she has ever touched,

> that he will die. He was in therapy for a couple of years and

tried

> many medications but now there is none of that. After a session,

he

> was very upset and refused to go back and the doctor seemed to lose

> interest. I think he may have been pushed too far that time and

the

> doctor's ego let him go because he couldn't get through to him.

The

> meds only helped to the extent that they reduced the panic attacks

> - there were many holes made in the walls during that time. The

> panic attacks seemed to have ceased and he hated taking medication

> so he won't take them now.

>

> So we live in a house where two people living in it haven't seen

each

> other in about 5 years - and their bedrooms are next to each other.

> My daughter had a glimpse of him the other day - she said " He wears

> glasses?? " . Things like that make me see how strange our lives are

> and we have been doing it so long, it almost seems " normal " .

>

> About the time he was first refusing therapy or medications, my

> husband started having some physical problems and ended up having

his

> leg amputated. Since the panic attacks had stopped and there was

> this new crisis to deal with, we let the therapy and med issues

slide.

> I should mention that my husband has always been a non-

confrontational

> type of person so it was always difficult for him to stick to

limits

> set for my son, but since his surgery, it has been impossible. My

> son has used this to his advantage, but no more so than any other

kid

> would.

>

> The thing that has motivated me to start looking for info and

support

> again is now he is losing weight. There has always been a mention

of

> some vague eating disorder but it was secondary to the other

problems

> so we pretty much let him control his food - he has a fridge and

> microwave in his room and has done his own shopping for years.

> I think he's getting pickier and pickier about what he eats and is

> just not eating enough. He started working at ups a few months ago

> (we had been worried he wouldn't be able to find something he was

> willing to do) and I know those guys work very hard so a little

> weight loss is to be expected but as his mom, he just doesn't look

> right to me. I think he's bringing much less food into the house.

> This week he also started classes at a local college so there are

> many positives here and I don't want to upset that. The changes

have

> probably triggered whatever is causing the weight loss.

>

> So that's the basics of our story. Thanks for listening.

>

> Betty

September 24, 2001

Betty,

Welcome to the group! Wow, you have really been through it. I am

always in awe of those of you who have been dealing with OCD for such

a long time and are still alive to tell about it. Your tenacity and

patience is to be aplauded. I am the mom of a 15 yo who was

officially diagnosed about a year ago, but whose onset was gradual at

around 13 yo. He suffers with hyperresponsibility (form of

scrupulosity) as well as an eating disorder. He works out

compulsivly and although he eats pretty well, does not eat enough to

support his activity level. I was particularly concerned when I read

of your son's possible eating disorder. You are right, many of the

new activities may be contributing to his weight loss. However, I

would keep an eye on things. I think we really began to realize

had an eating problem when he had so little energy and his

face got so thin. It was like this was the last place he could lose

weight. 's ED revolves around his decision to " eat healthy " .

He eats very little fat, sugar or high calerie food (he will eat

meat and we are pretty big on pasta). It would be a perfect diet for

a 80 yo man with hardening of the arteries. Do you think your

son's " picky " eating revolves around avoidance of " non-healthy " foods

or avoidance of " contaminated food " ?

I know that now that your son is 18, it will be very difficult for

you to do anything if he is not willing. Heaven knows, it's hard

enough with a 15 yo! Thanks for posting and keep us posted on how

things are going. This is a great support group...at times, my only

sanity.

Melinda S.

Dallas