Introduction

[Guest guest]

Hi, I am new to the group, and want to introduce myself. I am from south

Florida and joined the group as the result of back surgery I had last week.

Sounds funny, I know, but you see Debs had her knee surgery the day after my

back surgery and was my roommate! I was diagonsed with RA in April 2001,

Sjrogrens in Jan 2002 and Fibromyalgia in May 2002. It's been a busy year!

It took a lot of trial and error, but I am now taking Enbrel and Arava and

my RA is under control. The back surgery was to repair a herniated disk

caused by missing a step over the summer. Of course, when the doctor got in

there, he found 4 pieces of disk instead of a herniation. I have been

following the posts over the last week, but this is the first time I have

been able to sit up long enough to reply.

I feel so blessed to have found a group of people who love each other as

much as this group does, and who prays regularly for each other. I have

started praying for the group every night at 8:00; babies, cancer, financial

problems, painful days, all of it.

My sister has just recently been told that Sjrogren's antibodies were

detected in her bloodwork, and that the dr is sure that she has serum

negative RA. I have invited her to join the group, and have forwarded

various messages to her. She is in the middle of a major flare-up, and has

difficulty typing, holding the phone, walking, etc. THey are trying to get

immediate relief with prednisone while they figure out where to go next. I

was in her shoes last summer, and I am sure that many of you have been there

too.

Please keep me in your prayers for a speedy recovery on my back. I am

afraid thaere may still be some permament damage, but it is 100% better than

before the surgery. Please also pray for mys sister, Janet, as she gets

through this rough time.

God works in all ways!

Jeanine