Finally My Introduction......

[Guest guest]

I am 50 and have had Fibro for the last 30 years (just didnt have a name for it in the old days). I feel my best when I am able to get acupuncture every couple of weeks, see the chiropractor when needed, have physical therapy when needed, have a massage every week and get a really good nights sleep. Unfortunately the busier I am at work the more difficult it becomes to take time off to get the care I need.

I am being sent to have an MRI on my head and ultrasound of my heart and carotid arteries to try and see if I had a couple of mini-strokes or any heart blockage as I had a couple of episodes recently where I became very dizzy and my speech was slurred. My left eye became very blurry during one of the episodes. I've also been having a lot of headaches and very upset stomach. It seems like it is becoming more and more difficult to take medications because they upset my stomach so much.

My question for the rest of the group is, does your regular doc give you prescriptions for sleeping pills? My regular doc only wants to prescribe meds that are prescribed for fibro or anti-depressives. I'm not depressed unless I can't get a good nights rest for a week straight and my fibro flares up. Fibro meds give me morning hang over and make my cognitive thinking not good--makes working in Finance difficult.

Fibromites, let me know what kind of doc you see for your meds, etc. I'm looking for a new doc now. Difficult because we have no Internal Specialists in the town where I work. Wound up with a doc that was taking new patients when my previous doc took a different position, found out recently he's a sports injury specialist--doesn't do me much good as I don't play a lot of sports with Fibro, if you know what I mean!

Deb Halvorson

Finally My Introduction......

Hi Everyone!

Just wanted to take a little time and FINALLY introduce myself and share a little of what is going on with me. I am 40 years old, live in Georgia am a single mom with a 18 year old daughter with whom I have homeschooled since she was in 2nd grade. I also WAS (and pray again to be) the Director of a homeschool co-op in my area but had to end our school year early this year due to my illness. I love there Lord and lean on Him daily to see me through. This has been the hardest journey of my life and therefore was the reason for me to seek out some sort of support group. I am glad you guys are there! I am new to this stuff and hope I am doing it correctly.

I can remember back in my teenage years not sleeping a lot BUT I was ALWAYS on the go (as normal teenagers do). I was working at Six Flags and working late hours and burning the candle at both ends. I ended up with Mono and it hit me like a lead balloon. I can honestly say, I have never felt completely well since then. Back then you just lived and did not say much about how tired you always were, how you caught everything that went around, why my stomach was always upset and how come I never slept well. I just lived each day...got married, had my daughter, worked, and as each year passed, I began to realize more and more just how much of the time I did not feel well. It was when my marriage was failing and money was terrible and the stress of divorce and not working and so forth caused me to really have more and more setbacks with my health. In 2004, I began having A LOT of health issues, I went to so many

specialists and had SO many test done, I cannot even begin to tell you the number. The strange thing...EVERYTHING came back OKAY but here I was having heart palpitations, not sleeping hardly at all, pain all over and especially in certain areas and realizing it was becoming harder and harder to actually say "I feel good". After doctor chasing for almost 2 years with NO answers---I gave up. I just let it go and prayed through it and asked the Lord to help me. He did and I was able to manage through all the health issues. In January of this year, I began to have some really strange things happening... .the whole left side of my body was in HORRIBLE pain from my head to my feet. My head hurt like nothing I had ever felt (and I have migraines). To make a VERY long, confusing and helpless story short....in the past 7 months...I have been the ER 4 times, hospitalized once and been to countless doc's again and with

various test repeated again. I am now on a heart monitor due to the increased heart palpitations and chest pain (does anyone else have this?), scheduled for a Endoscope/Colonosco py at the end of August because I can barely eat due to my stomach pain (does anyone else have this?) am told to go see an Orthopedic due to my severe back pain and the numbness I feel in my extremities. On it was only recently that the word "Fibromylagia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome" were even mentioned. Back in 2004, I asked about the two and was looked at like I was a freak and told to dismiss the thought. Now, I am told that it looks as if this is what I have BUT there are no test for it and no treatment to help. IS THIS TRUE? I have thought for a very long time that this is probably what I have but after I saw two naturopath doc's...one said I had lymes disease and the other said I had Epstein-Barr. Now, I can definitely say that

after I had the mono (which comes from the Epstein-Barr virus and I don't believe that ever leaves your system---I guess it just lays dormant---or does it?) I just have not felt REALLY good. I am now desperate to find out if there are natural ways to help your body with the Fibro and CFS and how do I know if all the pain I am in is truly from these two illnesses in my body? Can anyone help or offer some sort of advice? I would LOVE to hear from you guys and I thank all of you for hearing me out and allowing me to share my life with you. I also thank Dominie and all the others who make this possible for each of us to share, care and encourage each other. I know God has a plan and I look to Him daily for strength and HEALING. I am fighting being homebound by this pain and looking for my life to be returned to me. Please feel free to write me off the loop, if you would

like and again thanks for ANY advice, comments or thoughts you might share.

God Loves Us ALL!

Jane in Georgia---Yes, I am in pain, yes, it is hard to get out of bed some days, yes, I cry a lot BUT I am NOT defeated and WILL NOT let this win.....God is MY God and He sustains me and give me more strength than I could have on my own. HE IS MY HEALER!

n2butterflyz@ aol.com

I will give you back your health and heal your wounds...says the Lord. 30:17

Get the scoop on last night's hottest shows and the live music scene in your area - Check out TourTracker. com!

[Guest guest]

Hi Jane,

I really feel for you as I can relate to your story. I saw doctor after doctor, specialists, physical therapists and none of them came up with a proper diagnosis, They just took my money and pumped me full of cortisone and medication. It was a physical therapist who finally diagnosed me with fibro and gave me advice on what to do. But it was my own research and reading that helped more than anything. Firstly, I have worked as a medical secretary for over 20 years and now am a practice manager. So I have an understanding of traditional western medicine. All the reading I've done suggests that people with fibromyalgia benefit from being on anti-depressants, firstly because chronic pain causes depression and secondly because it helps with the serotonin levels. But traditional western medicine does not provide all the answers for fibromyalgia management. You need to find a mix of vitamins and minerals which suits you. A really good multi-vitamin

is essential, magnesium helps with the muscle cramps (and it has been suggested that people with fibro have low levels of magnesium). Also, I have been told by a naturopath that my digestion is very slow and I occasionally take digestive enzymes to help this along. It seems like digestive problems are also a symptom of fibro.

My general practitioner is Chinese and practices Chinese medicine as well. When I have acute episodes I go to him for acupuncture and have also had Chinese herbs to boost the immune system, as we all know that immune system dysfunction goes hand-in-hand with fibro.

I do stretches every day, try to walk when I can and swim in summer. I practice relaxation techniques every day, and if I feel a little anxious fire up the oil burner with some lavender oil and put on a relaxation tape. When I feel the need I have a massage or physio.

I can tell you that I have been so very low physically, emotionally and mentally and I pray to and thank God for the good things I have.

I now work full-time in a responsible position but I still make sure I don't overdo it, as I know I will get pain, stiffness and tiredness if I do.

I hope you can take something from this that helps you. Also I take a specially formulated vitamin for fibromyalgia called Activive, which I find has been very beneficial. Just google Activive and you'll find the website.

Keep the faith,

Elsa from Australia

From: N2butterflyz@... <N2butterflyz@...>Subject: Finally My Introduction......dominie Date: Thursday, July 10, 2008, 4:35 PM

Hi Everyone!

Just wanted to take a little time and FINALLY introduce myself and share a little of what is going on with me. I am 40 years old, live in Georgia am a single mom with a 18 year old daughter with whom I have homeschooled since she was in 2nd grade. I also WAS (and pray again to be) the Director of a homeschool co-op in my area but had to end our school year early this year due to my illness. I love there Lord and lean on Him daily to see me through. This has been the hardest journey of my life and therefore was the reason for me to seek out some sort of support group. I am glad you guys are there! I am new to this stuff and hope I am doing it correctly.

I can remember back in my teenage years not sleeping a lot BUT I was ALWAYS on the go (as normal teenagers do). I was working at Six Flags and working late hours and burning the candle at both ends. I ended up with Mono and it hit me like a lead balloon. I can honestly say, I have never felt completely well since then. Back then you just lived and did not say much about how tired you always were, how you caught everything that went around, why my stomach was always upset and how come I never slept well. I just lived each day...got married, had my daughter, worked, and as each year passed, I began to realize more and more just how much of the time I did not feel well. It was when my marriage was failing and money was terrible and the stress of divorce and not working and so forth caused me to really have more and more setbacks with my health. In 2004, I began having A LOT of health issues, I went to so many

specialists and had SO many test done, I cannot even begin to tell you the number. The strange thing...EVERYTHING came back OKAY but here I was having heart palpitations, not sleeping hardly at all, pain all over and especially in certain areas and realizing it was becoming harder and harder to actually say "I feel good". After doctor chasing for almost 2 years with NO answers---I gave up. I just let it go and prayed through it and asked the Lord to help me. He did and I was able to manage through all the health issues. In January of this year, I began to have some really strange things happening... .the whole left side of my body was in HORRIBLE pain from my head to my feet. My head hurt like nothing I had ever felt (and I have migraines). To make a VERY long, confusing and helpless story short....in the past 7 months...I have been the ER 4 times, hospitalized once and been to countless doc's again and with

various test repeated again. I am now on a heart monitor due to the increased heart palpitations and chest pain (does anyone else have this?), scheduled for a Endoscope/Colonosco py at the end of August because I can barely eat due to my stomach pain (does anyone else have this?) am told to go see an Orthopedic due to my severe back pain and the numbness I feel in my extremities. On it was only recently that the word "Fibromylagia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome" were even mentioned. Back in 2004, I asked about the two and was looked at like I was a freak and told to dismiss the thought. Now, I am told that it looks as if this is what I have BUT there are no test for it and no treatment to help. IS THIS TRUE? I have thought for a very long time that this is probably what I have but after I saw two naturopath doc's...one said I had lymes disease and the other said I had Epstein-Barr. Now, I can definitely say that

after I had the mono (which comes from the Epstein-Barr virus and I don't believe that ever leaves your system---I guess it just lays dormant---or does it?) I just have not felt REALLY good. I am now desperate to find out if there are natural ways to help your body with the Fibro and CFS and how do I know if all the pain I am in is truly from these two illnesses in my body? Can anyone help or offer some sort of advice? I would LOVE to hear from you guys and I thank all of you for hearing me out and allowing me to share my life with you. I also thank Dominie and all the others who make this possible for each of us to share, care and encourage each other. I know God has a plan and I look to Him daily for strength and HEALING. I am fighting being homebound by this pain and looking for my life to be returned to me. Please feel free to write me off the loop, if you would

like and again thanks for ANY advice, comments or thoughts you might share.

God Loves Us ALL!

Jane in Georgia---Yes, I am in pain, yes, it is hard to get out of bed some days, yes, I cry a lot BUT I am NOT defeated and WILL NOT let this win.....God is MY God and He sustains me and give me more strength than I could have on my own. HE IS MY HEALER!

n2butterflyz@ aol.com

I will give you back your health and heal your wounds...says the Lord. 30:17

Get the scoop on last night's hottest shows and the live music scene in your area - Check out TourTracker. com!

[Guest guest]

Hi Jane! It's nice to "meet" you. I am also a homeschool mom. Glad to have you with us! Amity

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone,

I also would like to introduce myself and thank Dominie for this wonderful group. I have been reading everyone's posts for the last week and I am starting to get to know everybody through their posts.

My name is Tracie Szakal and I am 35 years old and I live in Milford, Michigan. I have been having many medical problems for the past 15 years and at first the doctors couldn't find anything, except they would say Anxiety and Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (for which I don't want to get into that part- too long) So I thought it was all in my head.

When I got pregnant with my first child, Hannah, I became worse, and the doctor ran lots of tests. She found I had Hypothyroidism. (That was only the beginning)

I got pregnant again the second time and the doctor said I miscarried, but I was still having the signs of a pregnancy a couple months later. Went back, I was pregnant (later after her birth found out was one of a twin I lost) but this is also a long situation, but my "original" due date was Nov 28th and my doctor said my due was Dec 17, cause she thought I got pregnant soon after my miscarriage. I kept going into labor mid November and she'd stop my contractions. On Dec 7th when I had Lizzie, she said the baby would be small but she will allow labor to progress and told me that I would NOT have her before 11 pm (because Hannah my first was a C-section and Lizzie was a VBAC) She came at 6:30pm and my doctor wasn't there, she was at a Christmas party/function and no other OBGYN was available at that time on a Saturday evening, one other was in delivery, so they sent up an ER doctor to deliver her and Lizzie got stuck, shoulder dystosia, not the textbook delivery they were hoping for. He kept putting warm water on my perineum and did the episiotomy she still was stuck, an intern OB was finally called up and the nurse kept saying to break her clavicle and he panicked and couldn't, so he pushed on her head down cause her heart rate went way down and she popped out severing the cord inside me, so there was a lot of blood, (he had to clamp both of us so fast) this also severed all the nerves in Lizzie's neck and broke almost all her ribs. She flat-lined and there was a lot of blood. My doctor FINALLY answered her page and as the intern was trying to sew me up she walked in with her white fur coat, she didn't even wash her hands just put on the surgical gloves and went to work. (yes, we sued and we won, my daughter is set for life, my husband won a 300 a month settlement check until Lizzie is 18 and once she is 18, she gets "her" settlement checks) Anyway, she has a Left Brachial Plexus Palsy, Facial Erbs Palsy, Dysphasia, Horner's Syndrome, most of her ribs were broken and she didn't cry, she hissed cause she was hurting so bad and I couldn't nurse her because she had no facial control with the palsy, I had to express my milk and give it to her on a SPOON, and I did that almost around the clock it seemed and I ended up having a nervous breakdown again and went into the hospital. "I" didn't win any settlement because I previously had a nervous breakdown 5 years before this and they said I was already had "pain and suffering and mental disorder (the PTSD) and I won't get into this as it STILL upsets me talking about this, and that horrible deposition, they brought up every skeleton in my closet and some I didn't know I even had. Anyway, I had torn from the birth that I was one big hole, both vaginal and anal part and when the doctor sewed me up, she didn't do a good job, cause I got a BAD BAD BAD infection. (I knew someone was wrong when I still couldn't sit after 6 weeks, and I did have a fever, which the doctor said was a "milk fever" then when that wouldn't go away, she said I had a clogged milk gland and put me on an antibiotic. I still wasn't getting better and she couldn't check me down there at my 6 week, still so tender and in pain. 10th week after delivery, I went to my check up and she still couldn't put the speculum in but she said something isn't right, that I was very infected and red and swollen. She put me on the same antibiotic I was on before, and it didn't work, at this time, I hired a lawyer and went to a new OBGYN and she checked me and told me that when I was sewed up, the previous doc didn't sew me up right that feces was coming out and going into the vaginal canal, so back into surgery I went, thank God THIS TIME, I was put under, I felt everything the first time around because they gave me an epidural, which didn't work, they called it a "patch epidural" where only a small part got numb (my lower right side of my abdomen), I felt everything, all of it, delivery, everything. She fixed me up and I was healed really quickly after that, maybe a week and I was seeing myself being able to sit down without that blow up donut thingie. Lizzie has been going into OT/PT and had the testing and barium swallows and X-rays, this poor kid had it rough the first year of her life. She still can't use her left arm, her 1 pupil is larger than the other and she still has the overactive gag reflex, the arm is smaller than her right arm. She is still in PT. She is 11- 1/2 years old. She weigh 8 lbs 15.5 oz and was 22 1/2 inches long at birth. So, after her birth, I NEVER felt better, not mentally, not physically. I felt like I died inside and I was a shell walking around.

The symptoms from before only amplified and I went to a Rheumatologist. She did the pressure point test on me, bone scan, MRI and she diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia and I had a Lupus Anticoagulant of 129. Had more tests, and I had the rash across my face, so I was diagnosed with Lupus, and I was put on Norflex (this was 10 years ago) I still wasn't feeling better, I felt worse and the headaches were bad, especially behind my neck, I'd get numb a lot, sometimes it felt like water was dripping down my legs and when I'd go to wipe it, nothing was there, I'd almost feel like passing out in the shower and I'd feel like a baby would kick in my stomach and I wasn't pregnant, it would just jump out and my husband would see or feel my stomach and freak out cause it actually looked and felt like a baby was kicking. So I went to my doctor, who took blood work, had high cholesterol, high sugar, they said nerves, stress, anxiety, got put on Xanax, and Zocor and I kept feeling worse. 2002 I went to a Neurologist and on October 31st of 2002 I was diagnosed with MS. Halloween wasn't the best that year, that is why I remember that day like it was yesterday. Anyway, my husband had to give me shots of Avonex twice a week and I was sooooooooooooooo sick after each shot it was like I constantly had the flu, and sore bones/throat and my hair was falling out (never grew back) A year later I went to a naturopathic doctor and I am now not taking Avonex, I take herbal meds and some traditional meds, and I feel that I am into remission. I have Relapsing/Remitting MS,Hashimoto's Thyroiditis (Autoimmune Hypothyroidism) Fibromyalgia, and Ebstein Barr Virus from Mono I had when I had my Gallbladder out. My body is attacking itself. I had a reaction to the Zocor and my liver enzymes went through the roof, and I am now doing the naturopathic approach to that as well. But after having Lizzie, I didn't want anymore kids, I had that Depovera Shot and I still conceived my son Colin, and I ended up having 1 more, andria, she was a surprise too. All my girls were born on the 7th. Hannah- Jan 7th, - Dec 7th, and andria- July 7th and Colin was supposed to be born on May 7th but he was born March 31st and he was in the NICU for 2 1/2 weeks. I bled through my whole pregnancy and same with . I was on bed rest with from April to July and the last 2 were c-sections. I had a tubal ligation with 's birth and the OB couldn't find the right Fallopian tube with all the scar tissue, but he said he did towards the end. In 2003 I got pregnant with TWINS and my husband flipped out, he couldn't believe it, we thought I was sterile now. But almost 17 weeks into my pregnancy, I miscarried Max and . (More female problems I won't get into recently)

I don't sleep, so I am on Ambien CR and it's not working anymore. I am on Wellbutrin and it went generic and is not working anymore. 2004 my husband had an accident on the job, he accidentally walk off a semi truck, misjudged the stepping and shattered his right foot. He worked for Frito-Lay, they had a semi truck filled with crates of chips and he was carrying them, no steps no lighting, and again we are faced with litigation as Frito-Lay wasn't supposed to have a semi-truck in the back of the store parked there with the products. Because Michigan law says you can't sue your employer if they are still paying you "workman's comp" and they are, we can't sue. But they sent him to school for medical billing and coding and he can't get hired in anywhere, no one is hiring in Michigan. He goes to his case worker every other week and I go to mine about once a year now. I am on SSD.

I take a lot of meds, but a lot of them are homeopathic. Right now I am going through heart fluttering and I get the shakes and that giddy feeling. It's Hypoglycemia and I need to go get further testing, which I am in the process of, to see if I have Type 2 Diabetes, Insulin Resistance type cause I can't control my sugar. Even eating every 2 hours doesn't seem to work, yes, it makes it better, but I still don't feel right and I think I am having a heart attack all the time, obviously I am not, since I am still here. My PCP says that I am having panic and anxiety and I won't dispute that, so I am on Xanax 2-3 times a day now and it helps. Cause sometimes, my face goes numb (not MS related numbness) and it feels like I am gonna hit the floor or seize and I don't have seizures, but that feeling that "something" is coming on.

I can't sleep without my Ambien CR, it takes longer to work but eventually it does (I am on the 12.5) and I can't have a BM without some sort of laxative, and that is frustrating. My bladder leaks, so I have to wear Poise and take Detrol LA (MS and the birth related) and I take Webozymes, and some other things, like ALA, Grapeseed Phyto and Omega 3-6-9's. I practice meditation (sometimes it don't work) I also sell Avon, but I am not one of them extreme Avon Ladies, I just put a few books at the clubhouse and if I get an order great, if not, I am not freaking, it's more casual than anything. My kids, Hannah being 13 1/2 and my baby now just turned 9, they all help me around the house. My husband had surgery a couple years ago on that foot and he will never be the same. (He is not supposed to be on his feet longer than 10 minutes.) He has 2 long screws in his foot and it's still so swollen, especially if he is on it more than he's supposed to be. He takes all kinds of pain medicine that gives him ulcers and they seem to not work at times and he needs stronger dosing, he's on Nexium and Lyrica now. I cut the grass and do a lot of the man stuff. It's hard. Colin is just now learning to cut the grass and has helped me the last time. He's just 10. The lawyer is seeking a settlement since has been on Workman's Comp for almost 4 years with no standard of living increase, and they keep giving him job leads, but no one is hiring, it's frustrating. So they want to "buy-out" him within a couple of months and will offer a settlement. Don't know how much or when exactly, but I am hoping I don't have to do any depositions because what happened with , is still a nightmare, they asked me questions about things not even related to birthing, like my previous nervous breakdown and the reason why, (the rape) and personal info on my parents and grandparents, which my lawyers said is because they were trying to say that my character was already "mad and crazy" before this birth experience.

I know this is really long for an introduction. I just want you to know me and hopefully we can learn from each other. There are times when I don't want to get online and type and there are times, like now, that I want to get to know people and feel chatty. I call them "windows of opportunities". Maybe people can understand me a little more? I wish everyone the best and I look forward to talking to each of you and learning from you. Thank you!

TracieGet the scoop on last night's hottest shows and the live music scene in your area - Check out TourTracker.com!

[Guest guest]

Hi Deb - I would be dead without sleep meds! Have had insomnia since I

was 16 http://www.fms-help.com/insomnia.htm It took awhile to find

which sleep meds worked for me - a list of the ones I tried is at

http://www.fms-help.com/sleep.htm I have been seeing a doctor of

internal medicine for 3 years - he is very helpful, knowledgeable and

accomodating. Whatever I need, or think I should try, he will

prescribe. He monitors all of my meds. Hope you can find a good all-

around doc! - Dominie

[Guest guest]

Re:Hi Deb - I would be dead without sleep meds!

Dominie,

Wow! I too have chronic insomnia and can not sleep on any meds for more than 2 hours.

I had amnesia and night eating with Ambien.

I gained a lot of weight on Remeron.

I am currently on just generic Tylenol PM from Wal*Mart and Benedryl to induce sleepiness to get only 2 hours a night.

My problem is my mind never shuts down and goes all night.

The main reason I can't sleep is back and leg pain due to ruptured discs.

Here is a list of med's I have tried.

Ambien

Amitriptyline

Ativan

Diphenhydramine HCL

Doxylamine Succinate

Lunesta

Melatonin

Remeron

Restoril

Trazadone

Valium

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[Guest guest]

Hi Tracie, my name is and I have been a member of this group for awhile now. I am so sorry for all the pain you have and all that has happened to you in your life. God bless you. You must have a very strong spirit to get through all of that.

I am 44, married and live in NJ. I am on SSD. I have Fibro, hypothyroidism, TMJ, and other health issues. I used to work as a legal secretary but had to stop working in March, 2002. I do not have any children, just my 2 cats.

I look forward to chatting with you and getting to know you.

Gentle hugs

Get the scoop on last night's hottest shows and the live music scene in your area - Check out TourTracker.com!

[Guest guest]

Hi Jane,

Welcome, this is a fantastic group.

Tichenor from TN....**************Get the scoop on last night's hottest shows and the live music scene in your area - Check out TourTracker.com! (http://www.tourtracker.com?NCID=aolmus00050000000112)

[Guest guest]

Tracie,

Oh my Goodness you poor girl.

This is a heart wrenching story and I cried as I read it.

I felt your pain.

Everyone thinks their life is terrible and they are alone until you hear someone's else's story and just be Thankful your is not that bad.

Welcome to the group and God Bless you and your family

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[Guest guest]

Oh Tracie, what a story you have. I have great respect for anyone who can survive all you've endured. I feel for you in the birth of Lizzie, not sure how those docs could have screwed up any worse--what a total nightmare. The callousness amd incompetence of the woman doctor is shameful. I'm am surprised poor Lizzie survived that level of incompetence and disregard. I am still sitting her breathless and in shock after reading your story.

My only daughter was born 2 1/2 months early (lost 2 others 2 months into both pregnancies), and weighed 2.7 lbs at birth. She was in the hospital for 2 months after she was born. We were very lucky that she didn't have more disabilities from her early birth. She has ADD which you can't tell most of the time. She had to have two surgeries for her eyes to align them. She's very sensitive to outer stimulous, has a hard time with relationships. She's a sweet girl, but is having a difficult time making decisions that are in her best interest--she will soon be 22, doesn't have a lot of drive, but at least she works full time.

Tracie girl I will pray for you and your family that many good and wonderful things start coming your way.

God bless you in every possible way.

Deb Halvorson

Re:Finally My Introduction......

Hello everyone,

I also would like to introduce myself and thank Dominie for this wonderful group. I have been reading everyone's posts for the last week and I am starting to get to know everybody through their posts.

My name is Tracie Szakal and I am 35 years old and I live in Milford, Michigan. I have been having many medical problems for the past 15 years and at first the doctors couldn't find anything, except they would say Anxiety and Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (for which I don't want to get into that part- too long) So I thought it was all in my head.

When I got pregnant with my first child, Hannah, I became worse, and the doctor ran lots of tests. She found I had Hypothyroidism. (That was only the beginning)

I got pregnant again the second time and the doctor said I miscarried, but I was still having the signs of a pregnancy a couple months later. Went back, I was pregnant (later after her birth found out was one of a twin I lost) but this is also a long situation, but my "original" due date was Nov 28th and my doctor said my due was Dec 17, cause she thought I got pregnant soon after my miscarriage. I kept going into labor mid November and she'd stop my contractions. On Dec 7th when I had Lizzie, she said the baby would be small but she will allow labor to progress and told me that I would NOT have her before 11 pm (because Hannah my first was a C-section and Lizzie was a VBAC) She came at 6:30pm and my doctor wasn't there, she was at a Christmas party/function and no other OBGYN was available at that time on a Saturday evening, one other was in delivery, so they sent up an ER doctor to deliver her and Lizzie

got stuck, shoulder dystosia, not the textbook delivery they were hoping for. He kept putting warm water on my perineum and did the episiotomy she still was stuck, an intern OB was finally called up and the nurse kept saying to break her clavicle and he panicked and couldn't, so he pushed on her head down cause her heart rate went way down and she popped out severing the cord inside me, so there was a lot of blood, (he had to clamp both of us so fast) this also severed all the nerves in Lizzie's neck and broke almost all her ribs. She flat-lined and there was a lot of blood. My doctor FINALLY answered her page and as the intern was trying to sew me up she walked in with her white fur coat, she didn't even wash her hands just put on the surgical gloves and went to work. (yes, we sued and we won, my daughter is set for life, my husband won a 300 a month settlement check until Lizzie is 18 and once she is 18, she gets "her"

settlement checks) Anyway, she has a Left Brachial Plexus Palsy, Facial Erbs Palsy, Dysphasia, Horner's Syndrome, most of her ribs were broken and she didn't cry, she hissed cause she was hurting so bad and I couldn't nurse her because she had no facial control with the palsy, I had to express my milk and give it to her on a SPOON, and I did that almost around the clock it seemed and I ended up having a nervous breakdown again and went into the hospital. "I" didn't win any settlement because I previously had a nervous breakdown 5 years before this and they said I was already had "pain and suffering and mental disorder (the PTSD) and I won't get into this as it STILL upsets me talking about this, and that horrible deposition, they brought up every skeleton in my closet and some I didn't know I even had. Anyway, I had torn from the birth that I was one big hole, both vaginal and anal part and when the doctor sewed me up, she didn't do a good job, cause I

got a BAD BAD BAD infection. (I knew someone was wrong when I still couldn't sit after 6 weeks, and I did have a fever, which the doctor said was a "milk fever" then when that wouldn't go away, she said I had a clogged milk gland and put me on an antibiotic. I still wasn't getting better and she couldn't check me down there at my 6 week, still so tender and in pain. 10th week after delivery, I went to my check up and she still couldn't put the speculum in but she said something isn't right, that I was very infected and red and swollen. She put me on the same antibiotic I was on before, and it didn't work, at this time, I hired a lawyer and went to a new OBGYN and she checked me and told me that when I was sewed up, the previous doc didn't sew me up right that feces was coming out and going into the vaginal canal, so back into surgery I went, thank God THIS TIME, I was put under, I felt everything the first time around because they gave me an

epidural, which didn't work, they called it a "patch epidural" where only a small part got numb (my lower right side of my abdomen), I felt everything, all of it, delivery, everything. She fixed me up and I was healed really quickly after that, maybe a week and I was seeing myself being able to sit down without that blow up donut thingie. Lizzie has been going into OT/PT and had the testing and barium swallows and X-rays, this poor kid had it rough the first year of her life. She still can't use her left arm, her 1 pupil is larger than the other and she still has the overactive gag reflex, the arm is smaller than her right arm. She is still in PT. She is 11- 1/2 years old. She weigh 8 lbs 15.5 oz and was 22 1/2 inches long at birth. So, after her birth, I NEVER felt better, not mentally, not physically. I felt like I died inside and I was a shell walking around.

The symptoms from before only amplified and I went to a Rheumatologist. She did the pressure point test on me, bone scan, MRI and she diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia and I had a Lupus Anticoagulant of 129. Had more tests, and I had the rash across my face, so I was diagnosed with Lupus, and I was put on Norflex (this was 10 years ago) I still wasn't feeling better, I felt worse and the headaches were bad, especially behind my neck, I'd get numb a lot, sometimes it felt like water was dripping down my legs and when I'd go to wipe it, nothing was there, I'd almost feel like passing out in the shower and I'd feel like a baby would kick in my stomach and I wasn't pregnant, it would just jump out and my husband would see or feel my stomach and freak out cause it actually looked and felt like a baby was kicking. So I went to my doctor, who took blood work, had high cholesterol, high sugar, they said nerves, stress, anxiety, got put

on Xanax, and Zocor and I kept feeling worse. 2002 I went to a Neurologist and on October 31st of 2002 I was diagnosed with MS. Halloween wasn't the best that year, that is why I remember that day like it was yesterday. Anyway, my husband had to give me shots of Avonex twice a week and I was sooooooooooooooo sick after each shot it was like I constantly had the flu, and sore bones/throat and my hair was falling out (never grew back) A year later I went to a naturopathic doctor and I am now not taking Avonex, I take herbal meds and some traditional meds, and I feel that I am into remission. I have Relapsing/Remitting MS,Hashimoto' s Thyroiditis (Autoimmune Hypothyroidism) Fibromyalgia, and Ebstein Barr Virus from Mono I had when I had my Gallbladder out. My body is attacking itself. I had a reaction to the Zocor and my liver enzymes went through the roof, and I am now doing the naturopathic approach to that as well. But after having Lizzie, I

didn't want anymore kids, I had that Depovera Shot and I still conceived my son Colin, and I ended up having 1 more, andria, she was a surprise too. All my girls were born on the 7th. Hannah- Jan 7th, - Dec 7th, and andria- July 7th and Colin was supposed to be born on May 7th but he was born March 31st and he was in the NICU for 2 1/2 weeks. I bled through my whole pregnancy and same with . I was on bed rest with from April to July and the last 2 were c-sections. I had a tubal ligation with 's birth and the OB couldn't find the right Fallopian tube with all the scar tissue, but he said he did towards the end. In 2003 I got pregnant with TWINS and my husband flipped out, he couldn't believe it, we thought I was sterile now. But almost 17 weeks into my pregnancy, I miscarried Max and . (More female problems I won't get into recently)

I don't sleep, so I am on Ambien CR and it's not working anymore. I am on Wellbutrin and it went generic and is not working anymore. 2004 my husband had an accident on the job, he accidentally walk off a semi truck, misjudged the stepping and shattered his right foot. He worked for Frito-Lay, they had a semi truck filled with crates of chips and he was carrying them, no steps no lighting, and again we are faced with litigation as Frito-Lay wasn't supposed to have a semi-truck in the back of the store parked there with the products. Because Michigan law says you can't sue your employer if they are still paying you "workman's comp" and they are, we can't sue. But they sent him to school for medical billing and coding and he can't get hired in anywhere, no one is hiring in Michigan. He goes to his case worker every other week and I go to mine about once a year now. I am on SSD.

I take a lot of meds, but a lot of them are homeopathic. Right now I am going through heart fluttering and I get the shakes and that giddy feeling. It's Hypoglycemia and I need to go get further testing, which I am in the process of, to see if I have Type 2 Diabetes, Insulin Resistance type cause I can't control my sugar. Even eating every 2 hours doesn't seem to work, yes, it makes it better, but I still don't feel right and I think I am having a heart attack all the time, obviously I am not, since I am still here. My PCP says that I am having panic and anxiety and I won't dispute that, so I am on Xanax 2-3 times a day now and it helps. Cause sometimes, my face goes numb (not MS related numbness) and it feels like I am gonna hit the floor or seize and I don't have seizures, but that feeling that "something" is coming on.

I can't sleep without my Ambien CR, it takes longer to work but eventually it does (I am on the 12.5) and I can't have a BM without some sort of laxative, and that is frustrating. My bladder leaks, so I have to wear Poise and take Detrol LA (MS and the birth related) and I take Webozymes, and some other things, like ALA, Grapeseed Phyto and Omega 3-6-9's. I practice meditation (sometimes it don't work) I also sell Avon, but I am not one of them extreme Avon Ladies, I just put a few books at the clubhouse and if I get an order great, if not, I am not freaking, it's more casual than anything. My kids, Hannah being 13 1/2 and my baby now just turned 9, they all help me around the house. My husband had surgery a couple years ago on that foot and he will never be the same. (He is not supposed to be on his feet longer than 10 minutes.) He has 2 long screws in his foot and it's still so swollen, especially if he is on it more than he's

supposed to be. He takes all kinds of pain medicine that gives him ulcers and they seem to not work at times and he needs stronger dosing, he's on Nexium and Lyrica now. I cut the grass and do a lot of the man stuff. It's hard. Colin is just now learning to cut the grass and has helped me the last time. He's just 10. The lawyer is seeking a settlement since has been on Workman's Comp for almost 4 years with no standard of living increase, and they keep giving him job leads, but no one is hiring, it's frustrating. So they want to "buy-out" him within a couple of months and will offer a settlement. Don't know how much or when exactly, but I am hoping I don't have to do any depositions because what happened with , is still a nightmare, they asked me questions about things not even related to birthing, like my previous nervous breakdown and the reason why, (the rape) and personal info on my parents and grandparents,

which my lawyers said is because they were trying to say that my character was already "mad and crazy" before this birth experience.

I know this is really long for an introduction. I just want you to know me and hopefully we can learn from each other. There are times when I don't want to get online and type and there are times, like now, that I want to get to know people and feel chatty. I call them "windows of opportunities" . Maybe people can understand me a little more? I wish everyone the best and I look forward to talking to each of you and learning from you. Thank you!

Tracie

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[Guest guest]

Not to sound like a drug addict, but my doc in Fargo, ND, gave me a script for Valium--best I've ever felt. Took my pounding headache away immediately and I was relaxed for the first time.

Thanks for replying. My mind also races as soon as I come out of a deep sleep, if I'm not thinking thoughts in my mind, I'm singing songs in my mind. Even Benedryl doesn't work for me anymore. Took a Unisom one night, had a horrible dream about being chased by an invisible pursuer, woke up with my heart racing and in a panic. Found the Benedryl and the Unisom have the same active ingredient. Just wish the process of finding the right person to help me wasn't such a long drawn out one. Sometimes I wonder how anyone survives our medical system. Called to get on a waiting list for a new doc, she didn't want to put my name on it because I already have a doctor. Told her he is a sports medicine specialist and I need a regular doc. She put my name on it. Who pays their salary? I do believe its the patients and if a doc is taking new patients, I should get to see which ever in network doctor I

want to. Okay, I'm getting my self going. I'll just let it go now.

Deb H.

Deb Halvorson

Re: Re: Finally My Introduction......

Re:Hi Deb - I would be dead without sleep meds!

Dominie,

Wow! I too have chronic insomnia and can not sleep on any meds for more than 2 hours.

I had amnesia and night eating with Ambien.

I gained a lot of weight on Remeron.

I am currently on just generic Tylenol PM from Wal*Mart and Benedryl to induce sleepiness to get only 2 hours a night.

My problem is my mind never shuts down and goes all night.

The main reason I can't sleep is back and leg pain due to ruptured discs.

Here is a list of med's I have tried.

Ambien

Amitriptyline

Ativan

Diphenhydramine HCL

Doxylamine Succinate

Lunesta

Melatonin

Remeron

Restoril

Trazadone

Valium

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[Guest guest]

An internal specialist is the kind of doc I had previously, he was really great. If I want to see an Internal Specialist I have to drive a 1/2 hour from my job to Corvallis. Did ask old doc's nurse for recommendation so hoping one of those will work out.

Thanks for all of your help Dominie, you are the best.

Deb Halvorson

Re: Finally My Introduction......

Hi Deb - I would be dead without sleep meds! Have had insomnia since I was 16 http://www.fms- help.com/ insomnia. htm It took awhile to find which sleep meds worked for me - a list of the ones I tried is at http://www.fms- help.com/ sleep.htm I have been seeing a doctor of internal medicine for 3 years - he is very helpful, knowledgeable and accomodating. Whatever I need, or think I should try, he will prescribe. He monitors all of my meds. Hope you can find a good all-around doc! - Dominie

[Guest guest]

Hi Tracie,

Just a suggestion that you look up some of the properties of glycine. It is

used to stop some of the jerking motions of MS. It helps with hypoglycemia.

Taking 3 grams before bed has been shown to help with non-REM sleep. Glycine

also helps the body remove xeobiotics like toluene, benzene and xylene. If

you read Sherry 's booklet on Chemical Sensitivity, one of the reasons

for things like Lupus and other autoimmune diseases is the liver's inability

to deal with toxins. Not that removal of these toxins will automatically get

rid of the damage already done, but it is certainly a step in the right

direction.

That DepoProvera will play havoc with your hypoglycemia / insulin

resistance. Whereas the natural progesterone will help regulate your blood

sugar and will help your thyroid work better.

Polly