Sharon

[Guest guest]

Amazing that you are able to even write about your ordeal. You are

an incredible woman...caring for others when you can barely care for

yourself. I am so sorry for what you have had to endure but so proud

of you for surviving it. On a medical note, as I read I wondered how

much of your sister's paranoia might be due to the thyroid issues.

It can't be helping matters. I hope and pray for you guys that there

becomes a way to get medical help for her too....I am on Medicaid.

Could you apply for Medicaid for her? It's all paper work but it

DOES require a trip to Social Services to do it. Is there anyone who

could go with you to do it and stand in the lines for you while you

sit? Think about calling the Salvation Army and seeing if they have

someone to go with you or perhaps they might know of an angency that

does this. I know that when you are fatiqued it is hard to go

because it means being in bed for days afterwards. Ask someone for

help. The worst that can happen is that they say no but more than

likely they will just direct you to the proper sources. I know this

because I have been there this year. It is the hardest thing to do

just to ask. I'm not sure why. But I'm glad I did it now of course.

Also, I don't think that Enbrel actually " gives " you cancer but for

cancer patients it is not a wise drug to use because it lowers the

defenses that you need to fight the cancer. The studies I have read

state that the incidence of cancer is slightly higher in people with

arthritis so when they did the trials on Enbrel, there naturally

were more people who developed cancer. It was minute but had to be

noted in the trial results. It is unclear whether or not they would

have developed the cancer anyway. I suspect, as others do, that they

would have developed it regardless. So Enbrel would not be good for

you but there are many many people like myself that could not

function normally without it. I am walking much better

now...normally. I get stiff if I sit for a bit but it works out if I

get up and walk a bit. I have had to take pain meds a few times but

not every day. I hope that there is some new drug on the horizon

that will be of help to you. God knows you deserve it if anyone

does. Love, -Betz