Re: The holidays

[Guest guest]

Adah, Happy Holidays to you and thank you for this encouraging message> Leigh

asthmatic50 <asthmatic50@...> wrote: I have three more weeks to

go before I have made it a year without

prednisone. While I have had a cough from time to time and yesterday

had shortness of breath and used my inhaler more than twice (which is

usual for me) overall I have made it through this fall season very

well. I do think so far the mountain cedar has not been as bad as

predicted because we have had south winds instead of northwest

winds. I have had five xolair shots and will get my next one the

first week in January just before the height of the mountain cedar.

I would consider xolair a success if I can get through January and

February without a respiratory infection and asthma from the cedar

(juniper actually).

Those of you who suffer from severe asthma and the complications from

the prednisone, know you are in my prayers. I sometimes tend to

minimize my own asthma until I remember how bad it was just several

years ago. I know that xolair is not a " cure " but it is certainly

the biggest breakthrough in the treatment of asthma since steroids.

And we have all been forced to take the steroids because not

breathing is not a choice!

Meanwhile, I pray that all of you have an enjoyable Christmas and a

better New Year healthwise. I am thankful for the research that is

going on to find further help for asthmatics and trust it will not

stop with the xolair!

Adah

[Guest guest]

Adah, thanks so much for your sweet message. I am glad to hear that

you are experiencing improvement in your health for whatever reason.

Have a peaceful holiday,

Addy

--- In , " asthmatic50 " <asthmatic50@...>

wrote:

>

> I have three more weeks to go before I have made it a year

without

> prednisone. While I have had a cough from time to time and

yesterday

> had shortness of breath and used my inhaler more than twice (which

is

> usual for me) overall I have made it through this fall season very

> well. I do think so far the mountain cedar has not been as bad as

> predicted because we have had south winds instead of northwest

> winds. I have had five xolair shots and will get my next one the

> first week in January just before the height of the mountain

cedar.

> I would consider xolair a success if I can get through January and

> February without a respiratory infection and asthma from the cedar

> (juniper actually).

>

> Those of you who suffer from severe asthma and the complications

from

> the prednisone, know you are in my prayers. I sometimes tend to

> minimize my own asthma until I remember how bad it was just several

> years ago. I know that xolair is not a " cure " but it is certainly

> the biggest breakthrough in the treatment of asthma since

steroids.

> And we have all been forced to take the steroids because not

> breathing is not a choice!

>

> Meanwhile, I pray that all of you have an enjoyable Christmas and a

> better New Year healthwise. I am thankful for the research that is

> going on to find further help for asthmatics and trust it will not

> stop with the xolair!

>

> Adah

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks soo much for the encouraging words!!!!

Happy Holidays!

Misty

I have three more

weeks to go before I have made it a year without

> prednisone. While I have had a cough from time to time and

yesterday

> had shortness of breath and used my inhaler more than twice (which

is

> usual for me) overall I have made it through this fall season very

> well. I do think so far the mountain cedar has not been as bad as

> predicted because we have had south winds instead of northwest

> winds. I have had five xolair shots and will get my next one the

> first week in January just before the height of the mountain cedar.

> I would consider xolair a success if I can get through January and

> February without a respiratory infection and asthma from the cedar

> (juniper actually).

>

> Those of you who suffer from severe asthma and the complications

from

> the prednisone, know you are in my prayers. I sometimes tend to

> minimize my own asthma until I remember how bad it was just several

> years ago. I know that xolair is not a " cure " but it is certainly

> the biggest breakthrough in the treatment of asthma since steroids.

> And we have all been forced to take the steroids because not

> breathing is not a choice!

>

> Meanwhile, I pray that all of you have an enjoyable Christmas and a

> better New Year healthwise. I am thankful for the research that is

> going on to find further help for asthmatics and trust it will not

> stop with the xolair!

>

> Adah

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Congratulations on such a wonderful, balanced perspective.

Merry Xmas and Happy New Year...

Raniolo

From: ~Kami~ <kamilleon@...>

Subject: [ ] The Holidays

" " < >

Date: Saturday, December 27, 2008, 6:58 PM

I have to share something with all of you.....

I am really enjoying this holiday season. I know.... Sounds kinda dumb but I

really think that doing my best to alleviate most things stressful has helped me

in the long run!

Stresses I have limited:

1) Shopping for gifts: Other than my son and daughter, everyone got gift cards

or magazine subscriptions. No malls, no wrapping, nothing to exchange!

2) Not leaving my home on Christmas Day: For the first time in umpteen years, we

cooked a full Christmas dinner and invited people to our home. My son's GF and

her family as well as our kids adopted grandma who lost her husband in October.

3) Limiting my exposure to *my* family: Okay this seems harsh and I hope no one

thinks I am an awful child. I will preface this with the knowledge that I had

invited my father and stepmom for Thanksgiving dinner and that he took that

invitation as an opportunity to tell me everything I have done/not done during

this past year to piss him off! (Don't worry... I DID remind him Festivus was in

December) He also ended up not coming to dinner. He just started a bunch of shit

and I hope he feels better! It also made ME realize that I have been in denial

all of these years and that I always felt obligated to spend holidays with him

and well, now I don't. My mom lives in VA and was invited to spend time with us

but declined yet also tried to give me a guilt trip from 400 miles away because

I turned my guest room into my computer room 2 years ago. Hence.... this is the

reason that I did not call/email either of my parents from Thanksgiving til

Christmas. What a

joyous 28 days! Honest to goodness! I have decided to enjoy my parents on MY

terms from now on and not out of obligation.

Okay then I added one... Well, not really. I am enjoying the holiday season

sooooo much that we are having my husband's mom, stepmom (Greg's father is

deceased and yes, my mother-in-law and stepmom are friends), sisters, and all

their family here tomorrow evening for a belated Christmas celebration.

Actually, everyone is bringing something so there really is no stress. I don't

have to worry about how I am going to feel because it's here and I can wear my

jammies if I feel like it! Heck, I have even invited MORE people so I could

possibly have 30-40 people here tomorrow night and I am sooooo relaxed about it,

it isn't even funny.....

Why am I sooo relaxed? Because I have SURVIVED my first year with RA. After

going through this, there is no doubt in my mind I can handle just about

anything.... .. (give me 20 mg of Prednisone and you can remove the " just

about " ... I feel like SUPERWOMAN on 20 mg... LOL)

Anywho... I thought I would share some of my HOLIDAY JOY!!!!!

Next celebration: January 5th, 8 AM, which is when I send my daughter back to

school and my hubby back to work...after being off 2 verrrrryyyyy long weeks!