Update on Me, mostly On Topic (unfortunately)

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Dear Jeff,I haven't been too active here either with my book writing. Believe me I have been thinking of you quite often lately. But my rule is not to "pester people". You know, don't rock the boat so to speak. Figured you were busy with the new job and worn out form helping so many PG members. I didn't want to pressure you with the Group. Anyway, I'm glad you wrote, even if the news is not the best. I have

confidence in your getting another good job. But getting let go so soon after landing this one has got to be a royal pain in the you know where. It's always "last hired first fired" so don't take it personally. As far as the PG, well even though I don't have it, I can relate to the banging of the leg starting the mess. Happens with my EN leg too. It's ready to break out at the least trauma. Don't know if compression would help, but it might keep the edema down. I wear the ace bandage all the time now. My fashion statement. Also been doing daily cool water soaks. This has really been helpful. Might help debride the PG too. Been using a sturdy trash can--the kind that fits under my shredder to put the leg in. I throw in ice packs and it cools it down further. The cats love to drink

out of it, and I let them. It must be cleaner than the toilet.Get that appointment. You had the PG experience, so you know what works and you don't need to go through it again. Do whatever it takes to get treated ASAP. I know you, and you can scream pretty loud--so do it and head off that PG. I've got my book written. 15 chapters and I have more in the process for future books. I write on a pad while soaking or elevating. I even write when I'm riding around town with Hubby. Now I need to find publisher--after I get it all edited and printed out. This is the hardest part. I'm trying to format it to MS word '97 where I

have one poem or prose entry per page. This will make it easier for a prospective publisher or agent to read. Don't let yourself get too far behind financially. Please feel free to post how the group can assist you, financial or otherwise. We need to look out for and help each other. It is never a shame to accept assistance. But, in my opinion, it is a shame to turn your back on a friend when you can be of assistance. Over the years you have done a tremendous job of helping members, especially PG members. Now let us return the favor.Take care, keep in touch, and keep your chin and shins up!Love ya!Please enter Erythema Nodosum.........Thanks!Donation InformationSubject: Update on Me, mostly On Topic (unfortunately)To: erythema_nodosum_Group Date: Saturday, August 2, 2008, 3:24 PMhi rebecca and group,not on much, but i check everyday. i got an agency job working for ford powertrain right after memorial day. 3 days after starting, mark fields (one of fords new brain child ceos) put out a ford mass e-mail stating that by aug 1st 15% salary cuts including agency. well, all

agency ppl ended up out. my last day was july 25th. i was there 9 weeks. so here i am back on unemployment with 4 weeks left. they did just pass the 13 weeks extension, so at least "maybe" we will be able to eat.........but..............depends, more bad news:and i thought this would never happen to me (u get complacent sometimes, ya know?). with all the screwing around with health insurance cos, blue cross to the new one, then they took 6 weeks to get the basic info to me, i had postponed my remicade infusion. i was due june 18th. finally mid july i got my member number with the new insurance co (not bc/bs) and found out my cd and pg will not be excluded, not an issue. thats the good news. i went and started appling via remicade-remistart and the patient access network foundation to help get copays and deducts assistance. i have the deduct assistance, waiting on the co-pay.so

now, i am, well.....about 6 weeks late with my remicade. a week ago i was out in the back yard and tripped on the water well pipe head. smacked my bad leg, but plenty above the old pg scar. luckily i didn't hit the knee or i think it would have broken. well my whole leg as been hurty, the wound from smacking it on the pipe is about half way healed, no problem, BUT from that point down to my old pg scare (about 8 inches), it is red, hot and really hurts. this started the nite before last. has gotten worse since. i am deducting that with the combo of no remicade and futher trama to my leg, the main point of pain is right on the top edge of the old pg scar, where these is plenty of flesh.so i am putting protopic on it and i upped my mtx dose to 15mgs today (50% increase). and since the financial helps are reimbursements and my apps are in, one is approved, i am going to call the hospital

monday am and try to get a chair.honest to God group, i don't think i can live through what i lived through before. this has really got my head spinning. i have the job issue, and btw, the job market is even worse now then 3 months ago), almost all of my unemployment goes to pay cobra, and the process of changing over in mid stream has taken way to long. besides that, the financial help don't pay it all, but i am hopeful that over 1/2 of the nearly $3,000 will be covered by them so i can weather this storm.i know rebecca and many ppl in this group know me and like to hear how things are going. i know many ppl here care about me. i hate to ramble with all this bad news, but anything, anyone can do in this group, even if its words of encouragement, i will take at this point.as the next few days progress, i am hopeful that i can turn, what appears to be a new pg sore, subside and

not go flow blown. idk. the next 7 days or so well tell. i will write again in about a week and let you know how things are progressing (and if our prayers are getting answered).you'll be good and take care,jeff,pg,cd------------------------------------