Living...Alice and All

[Guest guest]

Delurking with a thank you to Alice -- I joined the list here about a week

ago, shocked to hear so many with the same ailment(s) that have plagued me

for 45 years and more. I'm not on medication -- I don't know if I'd call it

as much remission as a fallow period, temporarily mobile and rash free. I

saved the first post of Alice's that I saw, printed it, and framed it for

above my desk. Things could be SO much worse -- in that sense I've been

lucky, and I need to remember that.

My problems were always more with psoriasis I thought: diagnosed as

dermatitis, psoriasis, nonspecific dermatitis, pregnancy rash and eczema. My

all time favorite diagnosis was 'atopical pomphlex' (and I have no idea how

to spell that; it's pronounced 'pum-flux.') Meaning we have no idea what

causes it but it is only on your hands and feet. Gee, that was such a help!

Cortisone creams, tars, de-stressing, saran wrap and ice -- and nothing

worked much. Then the arthritis kicked in. How do you tell people when you

look fine that you HURT? That your energy is in the toilet? I gobbled up

those posts. It is so good to know it's not my sanity in question, just my

body. There are days when I find it difficult to sit or stand or lie

down; I've seen notes from several here that tell me you all know what I'm

talking about. But I LOOK fine, so it must be in my head.

Like many others also, I'm diabetic and also fight a running battle with

anemia, so have to watch my diet like a hawk. Losing enough weight to fit

into the 'normal' categories on the charts helped diabetes, but did nothing

for the rest of it. Ah well -- I am thanking lucky stars, the universe, and

any lurking deity that my problems are controllable. Also thanking all the

members of this list for letting a little light into what feels like a cave

sometimes. You're doing great work -- thanks!

Kathy

PS -- Alice, you're my kind of lady! Thank you for all your good, good

words.