Hi group!

[Guest guest]

>I am a single parent to 3 great kids (2 girls 11 & 3 1/2) and my boy

>Lucas who is 10 and PDD. I am researching a paper that I am currently

>writting for college based on the mercury and autism link. I really

>am looking foward to gettning to know more about this subject and

>some parents who can help me not only with my paper, but my decision

>making on this subject as well. I am 32 and going to community

>college for the first time in ---- well lets' just say it's been a

>while. I am very interested in any info i can get.

>thanks for letting me share : )

>dottie

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

hello dottie,

I'm sorry to laugh but ohmigoodness -- your question is like " tell me

everything you know on this subject " . and me still needing to eat,

sleep, and go to work today. sorry, it won't work out. waaaaay too

much to say. besides, you can only read so much, right? so, for sure

you don't *really* want any info you can get (please prepare for

avalanches of information, okay?)

anyway, here is some stuff that you can read:

/files/Mercury-Autism%20FAQ

http://www.autismchannel.net/dana/parent3.htm#chelation

http://www.autismchannel.net/dana/chelate.htm

http://www.autism treatment.com

/files/ANDY_INDEX

/files/LOVE_LETTERS

http://www.autism.com/ari/mercuryconsensus.html

http://www.healing-arts.org/children/holmes.htm

/files/Glossary

/files/Books_about_autism

Book: What Your Docto May NOT Tell You About Children's Vaccinations.

Has a chapter about mercury & autism connection. By Cave MD

oh, and welcome!

Moria

[Guest guest]

Hi - I just found this group, and thought I might ask you people

here for some friendly advice.

My name is Henry, I'm 25 and about 1 month ago I got a sharp pain in

my left elbow that wouldn't go away. It was bad enough that I

couldn't fully straighten my arm out for about 3 days, but then it

slowly faded. I just assumed I had sprained it somehow, playing

soccer. A few days after this I started waking up with aching bones;

fingers, wrists, elbows and shoulders in particular, but a little in

the knees and back, too. I thought I might be sleeping wrong, need a

new bed or something; but this seems too widespread across all my

body, without apparent rhyme or reason.

So, I started doing some research on the Internet, and of course the

first thing I come across when putting " ache, bone, joint, fingers "

etc in Google is RA. It's pretty scary though and I don't want to

jump to any quick conclusions.

I also have acne, and possibly very mild psoriasis and have been

taking minomycin for the last few years to control it. So I also

noticed a condition called " psoriatic arthritis " .

So anyway, I am kind of worried and I am working abroad these days;

my access to English-speaking doctors is pretty limited; I guess I'm

looking for some learned opinion.

P.S. Does anyone here know much about " psoriatic arthritis " or any

complications from minomycin that could cause these symptoms.

-thanks!

Henry

[Guest guest]

Hi Detour721

I felt the same way - just pack up and move to an island or something

and just lay on the beach and die. i am still fighting just to get out

of pain everyday. it is a long battle and everyone is so different

that you have to try different meds. plus the insurance companies make

it harder bc you have to keep on the meds for at least 3 months before

you can swtich. since it started in my hands and wrists they thought

it was carpal tunnel - so when i fought out otherwise i was really

disappointed. i mean at least you can surgical fix carpal tunnel.

there is NO quick fix for RA. i had to stop working and forget about

anything around the house since washing my hair and body is taxing.

the only thing i can say is jsut remember to breathe. it gets

overwhelming but just BREATHE. sounds stupid but it helps.

Good luck and God Bless.

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much for the advice. I know that breathing and breathing excercising

can help a lot for a lot of different things. I just didn't connect it to RA so

I'll remember that now and try it. Besides, it's something I can do when I can't

do antyhing else. I'd sit there like Buddha, except in my current state of mind

my chant required parental discretion!

[Guest guest]

Hi and thanks for your encouragement and support. I was going to toss, junk, or

sell my guitars based on the fact that my worst inflammations usually involve my

wrists and hands. But based on what you've said I think I'll reconsider, at

least until I have learned to manage my medication properly and gained more

experience with the physical activity abilities. At 56 years I don't think I'm

gonna be a rock star, but I do love the music. I haven't stayed in bed yet, but

I've coddled a lot of acute flares since I've been diagnosed. I've also found a

lot of hope and encouragement in this group.

[Guest guest]

Don't give up on you guitar playing yet. There is a great clip on

youtube with Spillane, who is also a member of our elite

suffers.

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=dGsJOxbuoys & feature=related

You might want to check it out. Also there are many other musician who

have RA. One was Lester Flatt and Mick Mars of Motley Crue has

Ankylosing Spondylitis. I am sure that there are many more.

If you love music, which I am betting you do, there is still hope. Who

says you won't be a rock star, you might be just that to somebody.

Shirley

>

> Hi and thanks for your encouragement and support. I was going to

toss, junk, or sell my guitars based on the fact that my worst

inflammations usually involve my wrists and hands. But based on what

you've said I think I'll reconsider, at least until I have learned to

manage my medication properly and gained more experience with the

physical activity abilities. At 56 years I don't think I'm gonna be a

rock star, but I do love the music. I haven't stayed in bed yet, but

I've coddled a lot of acute flares since I've been diagnosed. I've

also found a lot of hope and encouragement in this group.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Well, I am not a professional but it is my primary past time. I've invested a

lot of time (too much) and a lot of money (too much) in it. When I watch that

video I was struck with how normal people look like when in actually the

are dealing with a very painful, chronic, and progressive disorder. I don't

think others really get it. One day I'm Chester from Gunsmoke because my leg

doesn't work and a few days later I'm Ratso Rizo from Midnight Cowboy because my

arm and shoulder are not cooperating. In the words of Homer Simpson's father,

" I'm not wise, but I have seen a looooooooot of movies! " The point being that

the random nature of the flares just means you have to learn to deal with

everything, and that just makes it all the more difficult. My girlfriend (of

nine years) who has dealt with a disability most of her adult life doesn't even

get it. I have my flares catagorized, sore, painful, inflammed, and acute so I

can communicate to her how I feel and my disposition about

it. Acute kind of being like Rambo pissed off at the Russians state of mind. Not

that I am in a rage screaming at her, more like my internal perception at the

time. I've decided I am not going to lie to her about where I am at on a day to

day basis, regardless of how random it might be. I've spent a lot of time being

patient and considerate in dealing with her disability issues, and so I believe

she needs to do the same with me whether she gets it or not. Ah, sorry ramble

on...

[Guest guest]

Unfortunately that's the big problem we all have to face. Even my wife

didn't get it at first because " I looked the same " . It took her a couple of

years to finally realize the clues just in my voice and movements, but now

she can tell how bad I feel even before I realize it. There are others that

can't get it no matter the circumstances, so you have to shrug your

shoulders or shake your head and continue with your life. For me, as long as

my wife of 43 years knows and our daughter does, it's all I need. Everyone

else can go fly a kite!

Dennis in eastexas

On Sat, Aug 9, 2008 at 10:56 AM, <stanpfister@...> wrote:

> Well, I am not a professional but it is my primary past time. I've

> invested a lot of time (too much) and a lot of money (too much) in it. When

> I watch that video I was struck with how normal people look like

> when in actually the are dealing with a very painful, chronic, and

> progressive disorder. I don't think others really get it. One day I'm

> Chester from Gunsmoke because my leg doesn't work and a few days later I'm

> Ratso Rizo from Midnight Cowboy because my arm and shoulder are not

> cooperating. In the words of Homer Simpson's father, " I'm not wise, but I

> have seen a looooooooot of movies! " The point being that the random nature

> of the flares just means you have to learn to deal with everything, and that

> just makes it all the more difficult. My girlfriend (of nine years) who has

> dealt with a disability most of her adult life doesn't even get it. I have

> my flares catagorized, sore, painful, inflammed, and acute so I can

> communicate to her how I feel and my disposition about

> it. Acute kind of being like Rambo pissed off at the Russians state of

> mind. Not that I am in a rage screaming at her, more like my internal

> perception at the time. I've decided I am not going to lie to her about

> where I am at on a day to day basis, regardless of how random it might be.

> I've spent a lot of time being patient and considerate in dealing with her

> disability issues, and so I believe she needs to do the same with me whether

> she gets it or not. Ah, sorry ramble on...

>

>

[Guest guest]

Shirly and Group;

I want to say this with kindness and caring. We don't know anyones

pain. We can look perfectly fine and be hurting so so bad. I am

so very sorry you have to put up with a lot. I got to clean

sometimes cause I feel so sorry for my husband doing everything. He

gets real groupy sometimes. I will use my forearms to hold myself

to the sink so I can stand to wash some dishes. I am so weak. I

feel tired all the time. When I do have a good day, I will try to

do more. I feel like my life is such a struggle sometimes. I also

feel so bad not being able to clean my house any longer.

When I finally have a day to do things. I am overwhelmed with what

needs to be done. I don't even know where to start sometimes. To

make matters worse. I feel like doing everything real slow and the

pain hits me so hard I can barely make it to the bed. I want to say

something to you to help you with your heavy load. I take Lyrcia

for fibro. It took the fibro completely away. The fibro hurt my

intire body. It seems like people tend to hurt in different degress

and levels of pain. Fibro was so bad, every single part of my body

hurt except maybe my nose.

I hope you and your daugther finds a way to get help. It seems so

unfair to those that are the caregivers to do it all. Caregivers

are a special kind of people. I know how hard it can be to be a

caregiver. I use to be one. Now that I need the care I feel so

helpless to see someone do my work. It hurts my heart so bad that

my husband had to take over all the house work and go to work. I

pray you get a sulution for your load your carrying. God bless you

hon.

gentle hugs

Clora

[Guest guest]

" Marshal, Marshall, where'd you hide my Laudanum! " I think in those days RA

treatment included being drunk a lot. I'm facing the work situation now, and I'm

kinda of hitting a wall. I think about it a lot because I'm not working. I'm

constantly using one of my two brain cells thinking about it. What happened was

I was laid off 8 months ago. Being 55, completely burned out (very stressful

job), and having worked since the age of 16 (including 7 years in the US Army) I

decided to take a break, make it a sabbatical for a few months and do whatever I

want. And that was great, I don't regret the decision, I felt like rich people

(where shall I take my morning coffee?). So to end this period and make it a

grand finale' we (my girlfriend) took a trip to Vegas. Also, I did this to line

up a job if we liked it there (I like it 'cause I've been there before). And I

did line up a job and it was going to be very good, but that's when the RA

symptoms started hitting. and hitting hard. When we d

id get back and I got the diagnosis I knew I was screwed! Realistically, I

couldn't even handle a part-time job right now, unless things have changed in

the last few months and they don't need you to show up and/or actually do

something. Oh...I should run for President...oh...that have a pretty serious

schedule of appearances...oh...I should be Vice President...that's perfect! Oh

God! That means I gotta pick one of them!