Re: New to group and disease

[Guest guest]

> Hi! I just found out I have Pa.

I am a little overwhelmed and discouraged. I have

> 2 young children (1 and 3) and I am only 29. I just don't know what

> to expect.

>

,

You have started in the right direction. Once the Rheumy gets your

medicine right you feel a lot better and be able to do more. Do not

expect it to happen overnight. Please drink plenty of water so your

meds can work and get lots of rest whenever possible. Take it easy

and give the meds a chance. Tell the babies that you have to have a

nap with them. A group cuddle works wonders.

I remember having 9 1/2 years in at work and dangling the " 10 years "

in front of myself like a carrot when it took climbing stairs one

step at a time and being in agony to the point of not being able to

move without strong pain meds. This month I will be at work for 14

years and am not on pain meds since my DMARD, Enbrel is working for

me. The Rheumy said there is a whole store of meds to try and it

takes shopping around to find the right combination for an individual

and being preared to change when the combo stops being as effective.

Take care of yourself and try not to stress. Your body can only fight

so much at once when you stress the fighting gets divided between the

stress and the arthritis.

PatB

[Guest guest]

Hello ,

We're glad you found this group and hope it proves helpful to you. So

many people here have had a variety of problems and misdiagnoses

similar to yours. Know that you are not alone!

Please feel free to share, vent or ask any questions you have.

Regarding methotrexate- many of us here are on it. I myself

inject .9cc (25 mg) a week. I take folic acid daily. I never had

problems with nausea but others have. The oral medication is more

likely to do this. The other side-effect to watch out for is hair

loss or hair-thinning. You won't lose all of it, but you may notice a

handful or so coming out. It GROWS back! Just give it a few months.

With the large dosage that I'm on, I am experiencing fatigue with it.

Also, if your doctor does believe your arthritis is still agressive,

you should talk to him/her about Remicade and Enbrel. Enbrel isn't

really available at this time, so Remicade would be a better choice

for now. It is a newer drug but many people have experience really

good results.

PA is considered a " connective tissue arthritis " and

a " spondylaropathy " (arthritis of the spine). That means tendonitis

for no particular reason and possible hip and back pains.

Many people have some involvement, a little involvement, or extensive

involvement. I have involvement in my feet, hands, elbows and wrists,

back and neck, SI joint, left hip, knees.

You will probably have more questions and concerns, so feel free to

ask here!

Best wishes,

Meghan

> Hi! I just found out I have Pa. From what the Dr. said I have

> probably had it for about 7 or 8 years. I started with feet

problems;

> the dr said there was nothing wrong. then my finger swelled-

> again " nothing wrong " and after multiple blood tests and x-rays

they

> said " No arthritis " after my daughters were born my wrists swelled

> and became painful. An ortho said -ganglion cyst. The first one

> didn't bother me much so I just lived with it for 2 years. My

second

> wrist was very painful. I saw another dr and ortho they said no

> arthritis just tendinitis. In 2 weeks my knee swelled like a

> grapefruit and every other joint became so painful i couldn't

sleep.

> I finally was sent to a rheumatologist. After taking a lot of

blood,

> x-rays, and draining my kee he said PA. He says i already have some

> damage and i am great risk for more so he wants to treat

> aggressively. I started my first dose of methotrexate Friday night.

I

> am also taking folic acid every day. My pharmacist says the biggest

> concern is nausea. I am a little overwhelmed and discouraged. I

have

> 2 young children (1 and 3) and I am only 29. I just don't know what

> to expect.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi-,

Wish someone could tell you what to expect but I think

this is different for all of us. I am sorry you

suffered so long before you got to a dr. with a clue.

I have been on MTX for some time. I had some nausea

in the beginning but not much. It was similar to

morning sickness but I never got to the retching and

heaving part, just a little woozy. I took mine on

Wednesday PM and it semmed to really hit me on

Thursday afternoon. I would have chills and just this

indescribable fatigue. I never planned anything for

Thursday afternoon and that was usually Sonic or Pizza

Hut night for my family. Let me quickly add that my

rheumy was also aggresive and tried other meds in

combo with the MTX. I am now on Enbrel 2x a week and

have been able to cut back on the MTX to the point of

no side effects. Are you on folic acid? My dr insists

on. My children are now 7 & 12. I was diagnosed when

they were 4 & 9. I can't imagine 2 little ones with

this mess. I also understnd the wrist involvement. It

is my right and it has some damage as well. Hang in

there and don't give up hope. There have been great

strides in treatment in just the last few years. We

may not be cured, but I think we can be managed.

CHIN UP!!

Eva

--- kelkinnee <kmk5231@...> wrote:

> Hi! I just found out I have Pa. From what the Dr.

> said I have

> probably had it for about 7 or 8 years. I started

> with feet problems;

> the dr said there was nothing wrong. then my finger

> swelled-

> again " nothing wrong " and after multiple blood tests

> and x-rays they

> said " No arthritis " after my daughters were born my

> wrists swelled

> and became painful. An ortho said -ganglion cyst.

> The first one

> didn't bother me much so I just lived with it for 2

> years. My second

> wrist was very painful. I saw another dr and ortho

> they said no

> arthritis just tendinitis. In 2 weeks my knee

> swelled like a

> grapefruit and every other joint became so painful i

> couldn't sleep.

> I finally was sent to a rheumatologist. After taking

> a lot of blood,

> x-rays, and draining my kee he said PA. He says i

> already have some

> damage and i am great risk for more so he wants to

> treat

> aggressively. I started my first dose of

> methotrexate Friday night. I

> am also taking folic acid every day. My pharmacist

> says the biggest

> concern is nausea. I am a little overwhelmed and

> discouraged. I have

> 2 young children (1 and 3) and I am only 29. I just

> don't know what

> to expect.

>

>

>>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi ! I am new to the group and the disease as well. I can relate

pretty closely..I am 27 and have a daughter who is 1 1/2. One major

difference is that I have only had PA for about 6 months. I saw my

doctor 5 or 6 times this year with different complaints of pain. Mine

started with the index finger of my right hand. It has been really

swollen and extremely painful. Shortly there after it moved to both

of my feet,jaw,hips,elbow and back. My doctor just kept telling me

to take ibuprofin. The tests for gout,arthritis and lupus were all

negative and the xrays showed nothing.

I started researching on my own and found PA on the Internet.

I am trying to get in to see a rheumatologist. It may be a while.

Reading all the postings here have helped me figure out what to

expect as far as treatment goes.

This group has been a God-send for me. I was beginning to think I was

just going nuts and it was all in my head.

Welcome to the group, hope you can find some much needed relief now

that you have a dianosis.

Best wishes,

Meredith

> Hi! I just found out I have Pa. From what the Dr. said I have

> probably had it for about 7 or 8 years. I started with feet

problems;

> the dr said there was nothing wrong. then my finger swelled-

> again " nothing wrong " and after multiple blood tests and x-rays

they

> said " No arthritis " after my daughters were born my wrists swelled

> and became painful. An ortho said -ganglion cyst. The first one

> didn't bother me much so I just lived with it for 2 years. My

second

> wrist was very painful. I saw another dr and ortho they said no

> arthritis just tendinitis. In 2 weeks my knee swelled like a

> grapefruit and every other joint became so painful i couldn't

sleep.

> I finally was sent to a rheumatologist. After taking a lot of

blood,

> x-rays, and draining my kee he said PA. He says i already have some

> damage and i am great risk for more so he wants to treat

> aggressively. I started my first dose of methotrexate Friday night.

I

> am also taking folic acid every day. My pharmacist says the biggest

> concern is nausea. I am a little overwhelmed and discouraged. I

have

> 2 young children (1 and 3) and I am only 29. I just don't know what

> to expect.

>

[Guest guest]

> How do you all learn to even begin to cope? I've been so sick

since

> Oct, I would just as soon not get out of bed ever again, but it

hurts

> to much even for that.

Hello, Friend,

You have been acutely ill for a long period, which would wear anyone

down. I believe that eventually you will feel better. Perhaps using

that thought, or a similar one, as a mantra will help you get through

the intensity of this time. Saying it out loud to your family might

help them feel better, too: " This illness is very intense right now

and is hard on all of us, but I believe I will get better and things

will improve around here...hang in there with me. "

My worst problem is my feet. My toes have

> spasms and swelling all day every day, and they bend my toes up in

a

> way they aren't suppossed to go. The more I walk, the worse it

is.

You wrote that you can't afford a podiatrist right now...are you

wearing good, supportive tennis shoes? Lifting the arch takes the

weight off the toes. If the regular shoe insert doesn't do enough for

you, you can find affordable arch supports at the drugstore, similar

to the ones the podiatrist would make.

> I'm still in the crying, why me kind of stage. I feel as I've lost

> everything that was important to me, and have no clue how to deal

> with it all.

That's totally ok!

I've not had one good day since all this

> began, and I'm about to lose my mind.

I really empathize with you...perhaps making a list of little,

attainable comforts/pleasures that would help you feel better?

>

But my children are a very different story. They still want

> the mother who did everything, and I simply can't. They are ages

10,

> 12, and 17, but they are taking care of me when I should be still

> taking care of them, and they're angry about it.

Perhaps if someone outside of the immediate family talked with them?

A counselor, minister?

> I hate to be such aa complainer, but it's all so new, and I've yet

to

> learn how to cope with it all. I know the stress makes it all

worse,

> but how the heck can a person NOT be so stressed when so much has

> happened in such a short period of time?

Definitely!

>

> I've applied for disability, and they keep sending me more and more

> papers, so I don't know about that yet.

I hear this is common.

> Thanks for listening, and please, any advice you can give is much

> appreciated!!!

Any time. Hang in there.

Sierra

[Guest guest]

Welcome to the group, although I'm sorry you have to be here. The

early stages of RA are really tough for most people (I went through

this 5+ years ago, but still remember well) - you hurt, you don't

have any energy, you know your life has changed, but aren't quite

sure how it will end up. Apart from all of the physical pain and

changes, you're emotionally going through the stages of grief.

There are many medications available for RA, and different ones work

for different people. Unfortunately, many take awhile to kick in,

and you may have to experiment with a few before you find the best

combination for you. Keep a record of how you feel, and be sure to

report back to your doctor when things aren't working, so he knows

what to try next. If you don't feel that your rheumy is being

agressive enough in your treatment or taking you seriously, try to

find another one.

As for the feet, I can certainly relate having injured a foot several

years prior to RA - the slightest thing makes it act up and hurt!

When your feet hurt it's hard to keep a good attitude. Keep them

elevated as much as possible, try both ice and heat to see which

feels best, and wear the most supportive shoes you can. If you can't

afford a podiatrist right now, try over the counter arch supports.

Walking barefoot usually makes things worse (I wear an old pair of

running shoes with orthodics in place of slippers).

Applying for disability, especially through social security is a long

and involved process. The SSDI requires that you be completely and

totally disabled for at least 12 months before they'll grant it, so

don't count on that right away. If you are accepted, you'll be

eligible for Medicare part A after 24 months on SSDI, but the

disability payment doesn't include medical coverage.

The early stages are very hard on the family, and it would be good to

try to find someone who can talk with them and explain things -

perhaps your doctor, a minister, a family friend or a school

counselor? You might also call the local chapter of the Arthritis

Foundation to see if they have any educational materials aimed at

kids. As much as anger, they are probably really scared to see you

like this, and don't know how to express that. They need to

understand that things won't always be like this and that you'll get

better. My son was 4 when I was diagnosed, and it's really helped

him to understand that different people have different limitations -

I think he's a lot more compassionate for having a gimp for a mom.

I'm sorry if this rambles or sounds preachy. Things will improve for

you, and your attitude and approach to your life will make a lot of

difference in how things turn out. The group here is very supportive

and encouraging. You can rant and rave all you need to and we'll

still respond and understand.

Beth

> Hi everybody. Sorry to have to meet you all this way, but so

thankful

> there's somebody out there who might understand what we all go thru!

>

> My first symptoms started in June of 2003, and after losing

> my " dream " job, my disability benefits from my job, and all my

> insurance benefits all from being so sick with this stuff, I was

> diagnosed this past November with RA, and possibly Lupus.

>

> I have so many questions, and so much to learn. Right now, I am on

> Plaquinel, Celebrex, and Hydrocodyone for the pain. I'm also on

> Effexlor for the depression all this has caused, and I have to take

> Ambian in order to even begin to sleep.

>

> How do you all learn to even begin to cope? I've been so sick

since

> Oct, I would just as soon not get out of bed ever again, but it

hurts

> to much even for that. My worst problem is my feet. My toes have

> spasms and swelling all day every day, and they bend my toes up in

a

> way they aren't suppossed to go. The more I walk, the worse it

is.

> The more I don't walk, the harder it is to walk when I do walk. The

> RA is also affecting my knees, hips and wrists and fingers, but not

> as bad as my feet.

>

> I'm still in the crying, why me kind of stage. I feel as I've lost

> everything that was important to me, and have no clue how to deal

> with it all. The meds help since I no longer have all these knots

> popping up all the time, but I've not had one good day since all

this

> began, and I'm about to lose my mind.

>

> Thank God I have a wonderful husband, whose father also has RA. We

> have alot of the same problems, so he's very understanding and

> helpful. But my children are a very different story. They still

want

> the mother who did everything, and I simply can't. They are ages

10,

> 12, and 17, but they are taking care of me when I should be still

> taking care of them, and they're angry about it.

>

> I hate to be such aa complainer, but it's all so new, and I've yet

to

> learn how to cope with it all. I know the stress makes it all

worse,

> but how the heck can a person NOT be so stressed when so much has

> happened in such a short period of time?

>

> I've applied for disability, and they keep sending me more and more

> papers, so I don't know about that yet. My last visit with my

Rheumy

> doc, he said it was mandatory I see a Podiatrist to have some

special

> shoes made, but until I find out about the disability, I'm kind of

> stuck there, since my husband's insurance won't cover one dime of a

> Podiatrist.

>

> Ok, enough for now. So much for my having a positive attitude

> today

>

> Thanks for listening, and please, any advice you can give is much

> appreciated!!!

[Guest guest]

Hello and welcome to the group. I was diagnosised about two years ago with RA, OA and Fibromyalgia. I also had to stop working but my job is trying to force me to come back when I am not ready or fire me. Its a diificult position to be placed in because if they fire me I will loose not only my health benefits but also my long term disability benefits. I just got approved for long term disability and should be getting my first check any day now.

As far as coping. I don't think I do....I just try to get through a day. Some days are far worst than others. Many days I have wished to be dead rather than live life like this. I have no answers for coping. I was a very active person that loved traveling and being on the go all the time. Its hard to watch that all slip away!

I am in the application process for SSDI as well. Yes they send you tons of papers to fill out. Many times asking the same questions over and over again. Now its a waiting game to see how long.

Its good that your hubby and FIL are supportive. That helps a lot. The children will learn to adapt. You were probably doing far too much for them and coddling them to begin with. My children 16y and 13 now do there own laundry, dishes, cooking and many other chores when I can not. I think its a good experience for them. Today most kids are just computer, video game or TV addicts and are clueless about how to take care of themselves.

So get hubby to help you in giving the children set lists of chores rotate them weekly or monthly. Explain to them that you will not be there forever to take care of them and its time they learn to take care of themselves.

I am curious how you lost your dream job, benefits and disability benefits? As long as you are disabled which has to be document by your doc you should still be getting your disability benefits as well as you insurance. You might wnat to check into that. Many employers will try to wrongfully terminate an employee to try to keep from paying benefits! I know my company was shocked when they tried to tell me some things that were flat out wrong and I quoted the correct info directly from my disability policy. Which by the way I pay for 100% not my employer.

Do not take it for granted that your employer is telling you the right things. Get everything in writing. That way you have recourse if they try to screw you! This employers will take advantage of the fact that you are overwhelmed and not thinking clearly and will probably accept whatever they say.

I have started keeping a diary or journal of sorts of all my doctors visits, questions problems and lab reports. I do the same thing for my job, SSDI and long term disability. At first I thought it was going to be real pain..not so at all. I take notes of the conversation or tape the conversation. It also allows me to go back and review what was said. It helps a lot since meds can leave you rather foggy.

Toni

In a message dated 3/3/04 6:03:16 AM Central Standard Time, Rheumatoid Arthritis writes:

Message: 2

Date: Mon, 01 Mar 2004 03:29:47 -0000

From: "mindsaredangerous" <mindsaredangerous@...>

Subject: New to group and disease

Hi everybody. Sorry to have to meet you all this way, but so thankful

there's somebody out there who might understand what we all go thru!

My first symptoms started in June of 2003, and after losing

my "dream" job, my disability benefits from my job, and all my

insurance benefits all from being so sick with this stuff, I was

diagnosed this past November with RA, and possibly Lupus.

I have so many questions, and so much to learn. Right now, I am on

Plaquinel, Celebrex, and Hydrocodyone for the pain. I'm also on

Effexlor for the depression all this has caused, and I have to take

Ambian in order to even begin to sleep.

How do you all learn to even begin to cope? I've been so sick since

Oct, I would just as soon not get out of bed ever again, but it hurts

to much even for that. My worst problem is my feet. My toes have

spasms and swelling all day every day, and they bend my toes up in a

way they aren't suppossed to go. The more I walk, the worse it is.

The more I don't walk, the harder it is to walk when I do walk. The

RA is also affecting my knees, hips and wrists and fingers, but not

as bad as my feet.

I'm still in the crying, why me kind of stage. I feel as I've lost

everything that was important to me, and have no clue how to deal

with it all. The meds help since I no longer have all these knots

popping up all the time, but I've not had one good day since all this

began, and I'm about to lose my mind.

Thank God I have a wonderful husband, whose father also has RA. We

have alot of the same problems, so he's very understanding and

helpful. But my children are a very different story. They still want

the mother who did everything, and I simply can't. They are ages 10,

12, and 17, but they are taking care of me when I should be still

taking care of them, and they're angry about it.

I hate to be such aa complainer, but it's all so new, and I've yet to

learn how to cope with it all. I know the stress makes it all worse,

but how the heck can a person NOT be so stressed when so much has

happened in such a short period of time?

I've applied for disability, and they keep sending me more and more

papers, so I don't know about that yet. My last visit with my Rheumy

doc, he said it was mandatory I see a Podiatrist to have some special

shoes made, but until I find out about the disability, I'm kind of

stuck there, since my husband's insurance won't cover one dime of a

Podiatrist.

Ok, enough for now. So much for my having a positive attitude

today

Thanks for listening, and please, any advice you can give is much

appreciated!!!

[Guest guest]

Hi would like to welcome you to the group. It is terrible meeting

this way, but your right you can meet others that know what you go

through. I was diagnosed with RA, Lupus, OP, sjogren's syndrome, and

have had a lot of problems. I am on humira,Methotrexate, prednisone,

Ultram, and darvocet. I also take folic acid, and calcium. I am on

disability also, there is no way I can work.

I'm glad that you have people around you that understand what your

going through, that helps. There is some that their family and

friends just don't understand, they don't realize you can't be like

you were before. Things can't be done like they use to.

Don't give up on the disability, it does take time. I hope to get to

know more about you, and if you need someone to talk to, I'm here.

> Hi everybody. Sorry to have to meet you all this way, but so

thankful

> there's somebody out there who might understand what we all go thru!

>

> My first symptoms started in June of 2003, and after losing

> my " dream " job, my disability benefits from my job, and all my

> insurance benefits all from being so sick with this stuff, I was

> diagnosed this past November with RA, and possibly Lupus.

>

> I have so many questions, and so much to learn. Right now, I am on

> Plaquinel, Celebrex, and Hydrocodyone for the pain. I'm also on

> Effexlor for the depression all this has caused, and I have to take

> Ambian in order to even begin to sleep.

>

> How do you all learn to even begin to cope? I've been so sick

since

> Oct, I would just as soon not get out of bed ever again, but it

hurts

> to much even for that. My worst problem is my feet. My toes have

> spasms and swelling all day every day, and they bend my toes up in

a

> way they aren't suppossed to go. The more I walk, the worse it

is.

> The more I don't walk, the harder it is to walk when I do walk. The

> RA is also affecting my knees, hips and wrists and fingers, but not

> as bad as my feet.

>

> I'm still in the crying, why me kind of stage. I feel as I've lost

> everything that was important to me, and have no clue how to deal

> with it all. The meds help since I no longer have all these knots

> popping up all the time, but I've not had one good day since all

this

> began, and I'm about to lose my mind.

>

> Thank God I have a wonderful husband, whose father also has RA. We

> have alot of the same problems, so he's very understanding and

> helpful. But my children are a very different story. They still

want

> the mother who did everything, and I simply can't. They are ages

10,

> 12, and 17, but they are taking care of me when I should be still

> taking care of them, and they're angry about it.

>

> I hate to be such aa complainer, but it's all so new, and I've yet

to

> learn how to cope with it all. I know the stress makes it all

worse,

> but how the heck can a person NOT be so stressed when so much has

> happened in such a short period of time?

>

> I've applied for disability, and they keep sending me more and more

> papers, so I don't know about that yet. My last visit with my

Rheumy

> doc, he said it was mandatory I see a Podiatrist to have some

special

> shoes made, but until I find out about the disability, I'm kind of

> stuck there, since my husband's insurance won't cover one dime of a

> Podiatrist.

>

> Ok, enough for now. So much for my having a positive attitude

> today

>

> Thanks for listening, and please, any advice you can give is much

> appreciated!!!

[Guest guest]

> Hello and welcome to the group. I was diagnosised about two years

ago with

> RA, OA and Fibromyalgia. I also had to stop working but my job is

trying to

> force me to come back when I am not ready or fire me. Its a

diificult position

> to be placed in because if they fire me I will loose not only my

health

> benefits but also my long term disability benefits. I just got

approved for long

> term disability and should be getting my first check any day now.

>

> As far as coping. I don't think I do....I just try to get through

a day.

> Some days are far worst than others. Many days I have wished to be

dead rather

> than live life like this. I have no answers for coping. I was a

very active

> person that loved traveling and being on the go all the time. Its

hard to

> watch that all slip away!

>

> I am in the application process for SSDI as well. Yes they send

you tons of

> papers to fill out. Many times asking the same questions over and

over again.

> Now its a waiting game to see how long.

>

> Its good that your hubby and FIL are supportive. That helps a

lot. The

> children will learn to adapt. You were probably doing far too much

for them and

> coddling them to begin with. My children 16y and 13 now do there

own laundry,

> dishes, cooking and many other chores when I can not. I think its

a good

> experience for them. Today most kids are just computer, video game

or TV addicts

> and are clueless about how to take care of themselves.

>

> So get hubby to help you in giving the children set lists of chores

rotate

> them weekly or monthly. Explain to them that you will not be there

forever to

> take care of them and its time they learn to take care of

themselves.

>

> I am curious how you lost your dream job, benefits and disability

benefits?

> As long as you are disabled which has to be document by your doc

you should

> still be getting your disability benefits as well as you

insurance. You might

> wnat to check into that. Many employers will try to wrongfully

terminate an

> employee to try to keep from paying benefits! I know my company

was shocked

> when they tried to tell me some things that were flat out wrong and

I quoted the

> correct info directly from my disability policy. Which by the way

I pay for

> 100% not my employer.

>

> Do not take it for granted that your employer is telling you the

right

> things. Get everything in writing. That way you have recourse if

they try to screw

> you! This employers will take advantage of the fact that you are

overwhelmed

> and not thinking clearly and will probably accept whatever they say.

>

> I have started keeping a diary or journal of sorts of all my

doctors visits,

> questions problems and lab reports. I do the same thing for my

job, SSDI and

> long term disability. At first I thought it was going to be real

pain..not so

> at all. I take notes of the conversation or tape the

conversation. It also

> allows me to go back and review what was said. It helps a lot

since meds can

> leave you rather foggy.

>

> Toni

>

> " I am curious how you lost your dream job, benefits and disability

benefits? "

I had been laid off from my last job for several months, and had just

went to work with the Court System on August 1, 2003. I was a

probationary employee for the first 6 months. I started to get sick

before I started this job, but it was little small things, nothing I

was concerned about anyway. It wasn't until about a month after I

started my new job that I started to get really sick. I took a day

here, a day there, which was ok, because I got paid time off from my

very first day of employment.

By the middle of October, I was sick all the time, so I asked my boss

about resigning. She told me she wouldn't allow it, that I was an

asset to that office (I have a degree in Paralegal), and that

everything would be fine until I got more information from my

doctors. The next week my doctor's took me out of work and my

supervisor informed me I was eligable for short term disability paid

for by the state, so I signed up and was immediately approved. Our

disability company told me and my mom that after 7 days, I didn't

have to call into work everyday, they would take care of it, so after

7 days, I didn't call in until about 3 weeks later. I wasn't able to

call in those days. My parents had come to stay with us, I was in

the hospital 3 times in those 3 weeks, I didn't know what day of the

week it was, much less " think " about calling into work.

After those 3 weeks, I started to improve, and called my supervisor.

She asked me to come into her office if I could, she needed to talk

to me. When I went in, she flat out fired me. She said that because

I hadn't called in on a regular basis after those first 7 day, that I

was " insubordinate " . She also questioned my doctor's excuse. My

doctor has a standard form which he filled out, but for some reason,

his forms don't include his address or phone number. I immediately

got another letter from my doc, explaining this was his standard form

for an excuse, and he put this in writing on letterhead paper, but it

didn't make any difference, they fired me anyway. I spoke with our

disability company, but they just said that they had to do what our

Human Resources said, and I was fired, so they had to terminate my

disability coverage. I just go thru with the appeals process within

the court sytem, first the judge I worked for, then the Supreme Court

of our state, but they all agreed, I was wrong, and they were right.

I've since called several attorney's, but there is nobody in my area

and for about 200 miles that will touch the case. In Va, we are " at

will " employees, and can quit or be fired for any reason. And

besides, we are talking about fighting the Supreme Court of our

state, so I guess nobody wants to tackle that one.

But anyway, I'm doing better today, better than I have in months.

Maybe having someone to talk to is good therapy

Thanks so much for all your responses, and I'll try all suggestions,

cause nothing else seems to be working!

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