Guest guest Posted February 22, 2000 Report Share Posted February 22, 2000 Hi Star Thanks for the cyber chocolate mousse. I haven't had chocolate in ages (btw everyone, am I allowed to eat carob instead?). Having said that an article appeared in the British press this week saying that chocolate was good for you and contained lots of antioxidants (I'll have a 1lb bar of fruit and nut please). I also started with this disease young - 36 (I'll be celebrating! the big 40 this July) and isn't it interesting how many people say " but your too young to have that, isn't it an old persons disease " It just shows how ignorant the general public are about RA etc. Please to have 'met' you Star. bye Carol W. rheumatic Thanks to All >From: buel@... > >Wow, Thank you all for so much encouragement, empathy & general good >vibes (what can I say I am from California ;>) I awoke to a new day >of courage and excitement to what this new treatment will have in >store for 2000 and beyond. I am amazed with the amount of >information that people have in their big ole pockets! I guess that >is necessary to empower oneself especially when standing up to the > " medical establishment " . Someone, had requested me to say more about >myself. I will try and keep it short. I am a 32 yrs old, living >with DM for 10 yrs. Tho I probably should say living with it for 4 >yrs, since the first 6 years I was majorly fighting with it. This has >been the hardest thing I have ever had to experience, because it >seemed to expose every single demon inside of me. Every year that >passes, I find something else (this year it's the mycoplasmas!) I >have suffered senselessly due to my own ability to stand up for/be >myself. I have been very ashamed of having a disease and such a rare >one at that, at such a young age. My peers were interning at >prestigious architecture firms and travelling to foreign countries, I >was relearning how to crawl on my hands and knees. After I did >regain about 80% of my strength, i quickly attempted to get on with >life(i dropped out my final semester of a 5 yr arch. program to > " heal " and then went back to graduate). For me getting on with it, >meant forgetting that every thing that I thought was secure in me; >had been ripped apart. Without realizing it, I had gotten my >self-esteem through being the perfect hard worker/student and being > " cute " and delightful. This is really hard to do, when my muscles >were so atrophied I couldnt move and my cuteness was buried under >fat, hair, depression and acne (oh so I'm real amused to hear about >these smurf spots!) Frantically, I entered the work force with as >much vengeance as a semi-gimping gal can do. I tried to hide this >from everyone and guess what: I ended up very disabled again after 4 >years of this. Well for the last 4 years I have been learning to be >in partnership with my body. I am trying to support my body w/ what >it needs (lots of love and respect). I found it infinitely easier to >stuff antioxidants, chinese herbs, tofu & " positive thinking " into me >in the name of getting better. I actually thought that this meant >that i cared for myself. At root, I just wanted to get this f------ >thing outta myself so I could prove to everyone that i wasnt such a >big loser. Well I am back to the love and respect. Can Ilove my >body even if it doesnt look and move like it " should " ? Can I respect >myself even if I dont have a 401k plan and work in corporate america? > I'm working on it and still including lots of veggies and tofu into >my life. I left the corporate world to become an artist. I got >married 2 years ago (when I could hardly walk!). I bought 1/2 an >acre in the countryside and my hubby and I will design our dreamhome >in the redwoods. It is very steep site so you see I can't really >afford to be in a wheelchair... I love peanut butter and jelly. And >I am happy to be a part of your circle. Being physically weak, I >have marvelled at the human body: a perfect and beautiful instrument >w/ divine intellect. This was what I thought of " healthy normal >bodies " , not mine. In reading everyone's collective stories here, >which describes a very arduous process; I have finally realized what >incredible human Beings, Bodies & Spirits we All are. A big cyber >chocolate mousse from me to you! Star > > >------------------------------------------------------------------------ >GET A NEXTCARD VISA, in 30 seconds! Get rates as low as 2.9% >Intro or 9.9% Fixed APR and no hidden fees. Apply NOW! >1/915/0/_/_/_/951242954/ >------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 23, 2000 Report Share Posted February 23, 2000 Hi, , This think yours and Star's message struck a chord with us all. And I do think there is grieving and anger there but I also think holding on to it too long sure makes the situationn worse. This is one of the things were I said and believe that being over 45 helps to cope better as far as self esteen and moving on. We are not stuck in those years of push, shove and career orientation as much. Agreed? Finally, a reason to be glad we are getting a little older! Ken and wrote: > From: " Ken and " <kglg@...> > > heal " and then went back to graduate). For me getting on with it, > > meant forgetting that every thing that I thought was secure in me; > > had been ripped apart. Without realizing it, I had gotten my > > self-esteem through being the perfect hard worker/student and being > > " cute " and delightful. This is really hard to do, when my muscles > > > years of this. Well for the last 4 years I have been learning to be > > in partnership with my body. I am trying to support my body w/ what > > it needs (lots of love and respect). I found it infinitely easier to > > > big loser. Well I am back to the love and respect. Can Ilove my > > body even if it doesnt look and move like it " should " ? Can I respect > Star > > > Hi Star. Welcome to the group and thank you for what you've written. These > areas, self-esteem, learning to listen to our bodies as well as to be gentle > with ourselves, learning to grieve for what we've lost and then go on to > replace what is gone in our lives with something new, these areas are all so > important in dealing with chronic illness, but so often overlooked. It is > good to be reminded of them. I think the often unspoken messages we send > oursleves are very important in healing. > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > GET A NEXTCARD VISA, in 30 seconds! Get rates as low as 2.9% > Intro or 9.9% Fixed APR and no hidden fees. Apply NOW! > 1/915/0/_/_/_/951314432/ > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 23, 2000 Report Share Posted February 23, 2000 heal " and then went back to graduate). For me getting on with it, > meant forgetting that every thing that I thought was secure in me; > had been ripped apart. Without realizing it, I had gotten my > self-esteem through being the perfect hard worker/student and being > " cute " and delightful. This is really hard to do, when my muscles > years of this. Well for the last 4 years I have been learning to be > in partnership with my body. I am trying to support my body w/ what > it needs (lots of love and respect). I found it infinitely easier to > big loser. Well I am back to the love and respect. Can Ilove my > body even if it doesnt look and move like it " should " ? Can I respect Star > Hi Star. Welcome to the group and thank you for what you've written. These areas, self-esteem, learning to listen to our bodies as well as to be gentle with ourselves, learning to grieve for what we've lost and then go on to replace what is gone in our lives with something new, these areas are all so important in dealing with chronic illness, but so often overlooked. It is good to be reminded of them. I think the often unspoken messages we send oursleves are very important in healing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 23, 2000 Report Share Posted February 23, 2000 Hi Star! Thanks so much for telling your story. Isn't life in the world of disease amazing? It's still hard to believe I dwell there, but I've received so much benefit from it. I had never even looked at my identity before RA - mine was strong, smart and competent, completely defined by what I did in the world. Heck, I had even beaten cancer! So I was reduced to weak, poor and not much use to anyone - and I owed them all money! All great opportunities to learn how to love and take care of myself. It's actually become my main purpose now and whole new worlds have opened up. I'm going back to school to get my teaching license in special ed. using animal assisted therapy and eventually hope to start a therapy ranch. Going for happiness instead of success. A helluva lot more fun, that's for sure. Keep up the good work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 23, 2000 Report Share Posted February 23, 2000 What a wonderful letter, Lynn. Thank YOU for sharing. I hope the opportunity arises sometime in the future where I get to meet you guys! Love, Lynne Locatell wrote: > From: Lynne Locatell <pooch@...> > > Hi Star! > > Thanks so much for telling your story. Isn't life in the world of disease > amazing? It's still hard to believe I dwell there, but I've received so > much benefit from it. I had never even looked at my identity before RA - > mine was strong, smart and competent, completely defined by what I did in > the world. Heck, I had even beaten cancer! So I was reduced to weak, poor > and not much use to anyone - and I owed them all money! All great > opportunities to learn how to love and take care of myself. It's actually > become my main purpose now and whole new worlds have opened up. I'm going > back to school to get my teaching license in special ed. using animal > assisted therapy and eventually hope to start a therapy ranch. Going for > happiness instead of success. A helluva lot more fun, that's for sure. Keep > up the good work! > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Shop the web for great deals. Save on Computers, > electronics, Home furnishings and more. > 1/1559/0/_/_/_/951330947/ > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 20, 2002 Report Share Posted February 20, 2002 Congrats --its a great feeling , isn't it? Gwen paul king wrote: I rarely post, but I read all the time. About a year & 1/2 ago my arthritis really kicked in and i was sure I'd be in a wheelchair in a short peroid of time. Though a chat group I'm in for Psoriatic Arthrits I found this site where I was introduced to Minocin. Since starting on Minocin 6 months ago, I've gotten my life back. Although I've got a long way to go, I've turned the corner and honestly feel I've been getting better and I have everyone here to thank for that. I do not know what to say or how to thank all of you, but i really apprecaite everything that this group has done for me and my family. sincerely, king __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 10, 2006 Report Share Posted January 10, 2006 Thanks to S, Jan, and for answering my really long post about pregnancy and RA. I go to my Rheumatologist this afternoon. Your stories and hopeful words are much appreciated. Thanks again! Have a good day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.