first time member

[Guest guest]

I have been diagnosed with RA for 18 years, and within the past two years,

diagnosed with lupus (discoid and systemic) and Sjogrens Syndrome. My mother

suffers from the same and at this time she is unable to swallow most foods

and liquids. This is due to the sjogrens and the other diseases. I am a

single mom with an 18 year old daughter, who is terrific. We have a horse, 4

sheep which she shows for FFA , a goat, 2 dogs, 3 cats and a rabbit. I am a

teacher of mentally handicapped children and have been so for 22 years. I

try and stay as busy as possible cause I am afraid if I rest too much then I

cannot move!! the depression is pretty hard at times but somehow I deal with

it all ok. I do not know anyone else with mixed connective tissue disease.

I am on methatrixate (have been for 8 years) and I think that is what has

prevented any bone or joint deformities at this point. (I am 47 years old)

and I am on celebrex, medrol as needed, pain killers as needed and various

others to offset the side effects of the above.

I just want to be able to communicate with others who have some idea of what

i am going thru every day of my life. The pain is daily, really bad at night

and I am constantly knicking my skin - it is like paper from the medrol.

Enough for now, my hands are hurting. I put up Christmas decorations today.

Look forward to hearing from everyone out there!Ellen