An Introduction, From Dodge

[Guest guest]

If this came through already, I apologise. I attempted to send this earlier,

but my email client went wonky on me and I lost what I had written and don't

know if the message got sent. So, something similar to this may appear.

Hi all:

I'll attempt to do this in sequence... About me...

I am a 32-year-old firefighter, with an emphasis on wildland, forest and brush

fires, a paramedic, both in an ambulance and in a helicopter and a National Park

Law Enforcement ranger. I work each job a week at a time. When I am too ill to

do those things, I work in the EMS dispatch center.

Almost three years ago, in a wildland fire gone horribly wrong, I sustained 4th

and 5th degree burns over 85% of my body. In short, I was burned so badly that

my organs and bones were burned. Hence my saying frequently that I am

glad to be able to work and be alive. I am truly lucky to be here.

While at the burn center, my doctors discovered that I had Ankylosing

Spondylitis, Lupus, SJ, Fibro and RSD. Both my rheumatologists and my docs at

the burn center feel that my AI diseases were in part brought out due to the

fire. Fires emit a lot of toxic chemicals.

When I am not working, (work is my greatest passion), I am spending time

off-duty with my partner Rod, who is also a medic. We have three horses, twelve

dogs, some rabbits and a half-feral coyote. We travel a lot, shoot for fun,

blog, live in the backcountry when we can, play video games and read... I love

a good book.

Well, I'll close for now. I am looking forward to getting to know all of you

out there in land.

--

Dodge

Truly blessed to serve in E.M.S!

[Guest guest]

Dodge, I'm sorry that you have so much on your plate. You'll find that

this is a very supportive group. Our moderator, , keeps us educated

by posting information on these autoimmune diseases.

What medications are you on, and do they work well for you? I take

Enbrel for my RA, and it works very well for me. My grandson's stepdad

has Ankylosing Spondylitis and is being helped greatly by Humira.

Sue

On Tuesday, August 5, 2008, at 06:40 PM, Dodge wrote:

> I'll attempt to do this in sequence... About me...

>

[Guest guest]

Welcome, Dodge. Goodness - you've been through the wringer. I

admire your tenacity and drive to not only survive such horrible

burns, but to be able to continue to do the work you love. Welcome

to the group. There are some really awesome people here and a lot of

information. Take care and God Bless....Doreen

>

> If this came through already, I apologise. I attempted to send

this earlier, but my email client went wonky on me and I lost what I

had written and don't know if the message got sent. So, something

similar to this may appear.

>

> Hi all:

>

> I'll attempt to do this in sequence... About me...

>

> I am a 32-year-old firefighter, with an emphasis on wildland,

forest and brush

> fires, a paramedic, both in an ambulance and in a helicopter and a

National Park

> Law Enforcement ranger. I work each job a week at a time. When I

am too ill to

> do those things, I work in the EMS dispatch center.

>

> Almost three years ago, in a wildland fire gone horribly wrong, I

sustained 4th

> and 5th degree burns over 85% of my body. In short, I was burned

so badly that

> my organs and bones were burned. Hence my saying frequently that I

am

> glad to be able to work and be alive. I am truly lucky to be here.

>

> While at the burn center, my doctors discovered that I had

Ankylosing

> Spondylitis, Lupus, SJ, Fibro and RSD. Both my rheumatologists and

my docs at

> the burn center feel that my AI diseases were in part brought out

due to the

> fire. Fires emit a lot of toxic chemicals.

>

> When I am not working, (work is my greatest passion), I am spending

time

> off-duty with my partner Rod, who is also a medic. We have three

horses, twelve

> dogs, some rabbits and a half-feral coyote. We travel a lot, shoot

for fun,

> blog, live in the backcountry when we can, play video games and

read... I love

> a good book.

>

> Well, I'll close for now. I am looking forward to getting to know

all of you

> out there in land.

>

> --

> Dodge

>

> Truly blessed to serve in E.M.S!

>

[Guest guest]

Dodge

I just want to say you are my hero. Its people like you that protect

us and keep us safe. I am so sorry you got all this from a fire. I

am so glad you alive to tell us. I hope you are improving each and

everyday. God bless you, I love you my friend.

Clora

> If this came through already, I apologise. I attempted to send

this earlier, but my email client went wonky on me and I lost what I

had written and don't know if the message got sent. So, something

similar to this may appear.

>

> Hi all:

>

> I'll attempt to do this in sequence... About me...

>

> I am a 32-year-old firefighter, with an emphasis on wildland,

forest and brush

> fires, a paramedic, both in an ambulance and in a helicopter and a

National Park

> Law Enforcement ranger. I work each job a week at a time. When I

am too ill to

> do those things, I work in the EMS dispatch center.

>

> Almost three years ago, in a wildland fire gone horribly wrong, I

sustained 4th

> and 5th degree burns over 85% of my body. In short, I was burned

so badly that

> my organs and bones were burned. Hence my saying frequently that

I am

> glad to be able to work and be alive. I am truly lucky to be here.

>

> While at the burn center, my doctors discovered that I had

Ankylosing

> Spondylitis, Lupus, SJ, Fibro and RSD. Both my rheumatologists

and my docs at

> the burn center feel that my AI diseases were in part brought out

due to the

> fire. Fires emit a lot of toxic chemicals.

>

> When I am not working, (work is my greatest passion), I am

spending time

> off-duty with my partner Rod, who is also a medic. We have three

horses, twelve

> dogs, some rabbits and a half-feral coyote. We travel a lot,

shoot for fun,

> blog, live in the backcountry when we can, play video games and

read... I love

> a good book.

>

> Well, I'll close for now. I am looking forward to getting to know

all of you

> out there in land.

>

> --

> Dodge

>

> Truly blessed to serve in E.M.S!

>

[Guest guest]

Dodge,

You certainly are quite remarkable. I am so sorry about the burns.

That is one of my greatest fears.

I want to tell you how much I appreciate all of you firefighters and

paramedics. Where would we be without you? I live close to a

firestation and everytime I hear them leave on a call, I say a

prayer. My son and his wife cook breakfast every Christmas morning

for their local station.

Thank you for protecting us. I will include you in my prayers for

safety and many, many, many GOOD days.

Shirley

>

> If this came through already, I apologise. I attempted to send

this earlier, but my email client went wonky on me and I lost what I

had written and don't know if the message got sent. So, something

similar to this may appear.

>

> Hi all:

>

> I'll attempt to do this in sequence... About me...

>

> I am a 32-year-old firefighter, with an emphasis on wildland,

forest and brush

> fires, a paramedic, both in an ambulance and in a helicopter and a

National Park

> Law Enforcement ranger. I work each job a week at a time. When I

am too ill to

> do those things, I work in the EMS dispatch center.

>

> Almost three years ago, in a wildland fire gone horribly wrong, I

sustained 4th

> and 5th degree burns over 85% of my body. In short, I was burned

so badly that

> my organs and bones were burned. Hence my saying frequently that

I am

> glad to be able to work and be alive. I am truly lucky to be here.

>

> While at the burn center, my doctors discovered that I had

Ankylosing

> Spondylitis, Lupus, SJ, Fibro and RSD. Both my rheumatologists

and my docs at

> the burn center feel that my AI diseases were in part brought out

due to the

> fire. Fires emit a lot of toxic chemicals.

>

> When I am not working, (work is my greatest passion), I am

spending time

> off-duty with my partner Rod, who is also a medic. We have three

horses, twelve

> dogs, some rabbits and a half-feral coyote. We travel a lot,

shoot for fun,

> blog, live in the backcountry when we can, play video games and

read... I love

> a good book.

>

> Well, I'll close for now. I am looking forward to getting to know

all of you

> out there in land.

>

> --

> Dodge

>

> Truly blessed to serve in E.M.S!

>

[Guest guest]

Hey there:

Well, unfortunately, I don't take much for the AS. I can't take TNF blockers,

DMARDS, biologics, etc. They all leave me deathly ill. Some do it rather

slowly, and others, like Humira, make me go into respiratory arrest and end up

in ICU on a vent for a week. Not my idea of fun. I'm supposed to be the one

pushing the stretcher, not the one on it!

My regimen for my AIs and burns is pretty much this. Pred when needed, then I

have three maintenance medications and four breakthrough pain medications. For

pain, I have Oxycontin 300mg twice daily, MSContin 100mg three times daily,

Methadone 100MG three times daily, and for breakthrough pain, I have Demerol

and Morphine injections, Dilaudid tablets and Fentanyl injections. My doc took

me off the MSContin and wanted me to switch to Kadian, but that isn't working,

so when I go back to get my scripts on the 19th, I get my MSContin back!

Yes, it is quite a cocktail, but it's the only thing we've found that keeps me

functional, and sane, both good things in my book.

--

Dodge

Truly blessed to serve in E.M.S!

---- Sue <marysue@...> wrote:

=============

Dodge, I'm sorry that you have so much on your plate. You'll find that

this is a very supportive group. Our moderator, , keeps us educated

by posting information on these autoimmune diseases.

What medications are you on, and do they work well for you? I take

Enbrel for my RA, and it works very well for me. My grandson's stepdad

has Ankylosing Spondylitis and is being helped greatly by Humira.

Sue

[Guest guest]

Shirley,

It was my biggest fear, too, being burned. You know what though? The strangest

thing happened. I went through that. I went through a year at the burn center.

I went through the bitterness, the anger, the self-hatred, the loathing, the

depression, denial...You name it. I went through all of that, and I realized

something. I realized that your worst fears, no matter how bad they may seem,

are in reality, not as bad as your mind portrays them. Was it hard? Heck yes.

Did I survive? Well, I'm here, ain't I? Whenever I start thinking about how

much pain I'm in, (I am afraid of severe pain), I think of how much I've lived

through already. That, and a good partner and friends who understand, keeps me

going.

And thanks. I could use all the prayers you could spare. :)

--

Dodge

Truly blessed to serve in E.M.S!

---- nana2livi <s.p5315@...> wrote:

=============

Dodge,

You certainly are quite remarkable. I am so sorry about the burns.

That is one of my greatest fears.

I want to tell you how much I appreciate all of you firefighters and

paramedics. Where would we be without you? I live close to a

firestation and everytime I hear them leave on a call, I say a

prayer. My son and his wife cook breakfast every Christmas morning

for their local station.

Thank you for protecting us. I will include you in my prayers for

safety and many, many, many GOOD days.

Shirley

[Guest guest]

Clora,

Improving? I'm trying. At least if I'm not improving, I'm smiling... There

is something to be said for that, right?

--

Dodge

Truly blessed to serve in E.M.S!

---- CLORA <clora4jesus@...> wrote:

=============

Dodge

I just want to say you are my hero. Its people like you that protect

us and keep us safe. I am so sorry you got all this from a fire. I

am so glad you alive to tell us. I hope you are improving each and

everyday. God bless you, I love you my friend.

Clora

[Guest guest]

Dodge,

I am so glad you survived! My son is a Firefighter/EMT in Dekald

County,Ga. I pray every time he goes on a call.

I know a lot about RA because I have had it for 57 years.

>

> If this came through already, I apologise. I attempted to send this

earlier, but my email client went wonky on me and I lost what I had

written and don't know if the message got sent. So, something similar

to this may appear.

>

> Hi all:

>

> I'll attempt to do this in sequence... About me...

>

> I am a 32-year-old firefighter, with an emphasis on wildland, forest

and brush

> fires, a paramedic, both in an ambulance and in a helicopter and a

National Park

> Law Enforcement ranger. I work each job a week at a time. When I

am too ill to

> do those things, I work in the EMS dispatch center.

>

> Almost three years ago, in a wildland fire gone horribly wrong, I

sustained 4th

> and 5th degree burns over 85% of my body. In short, I was burned so

badly that

> my organs and bones were burned. Hence my saying frequently that I am

> glad to be able to work and be alive. I am truly lucky to be here.

>

> While at the burn center, my doctors discovered that I had Ankylosing

> Spondylitis, Lupus, SJ, Fibro and RSD. Both my rheumatologists and

my docs at

> the burn center feel that my AI diseases were in part brought out

due to the

> fire. Fires emit a lot of toxic chemicals.

>

> When I am not working, (work is my greatest passion), I am spending time

> off-duty with my partner Rod, who is also a medic. We have three

horses, twelve

> dogs, some rabbits and a half-feral coyote. We travel a lot, shoot

for fun,

> blog, live in the backcountry when we can, play video games and

read... I love

> a good book.

>

> Well, I'll close for now. I am looking forward to getting to know

all of you

> out there in land.

>

> --

> Dodge

>

> Truly blessed to serve in E.M.S!

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Dodge,

I have to say you are amazing. The fact that you survived burns that

severe tells of your will to survive and your Zest for life. I can't imagine

going into a fire and putting your life on the line over and over again to

ssave others. Welcome to the group, its a great bunch of people who support

and understand how this DD can distroy a life if you let it. Again, welcome

Heidi M

On Wed, Aug 6, 2008 at 9:05 AM, M Swayne <lswayne@...> wrote:

> Dodge,

> I am so glad you survived! My son is a Firefighter/EMT in Dekald

> County,Ga. I pray every time he goes on a call.

> I know a lot about RA because I have had it for 57 years.

>

>

>

> >

> > If this came through already, I apologise. I attempted to send this

> earlier, but my email client went wonky on me and I lost what I had

> written and don't know if the message got sent. So, something similar

> to this may appear.

> >

> > Hi all:

> >

> > I'll attempt to do this in sequence... About me...

> >

> > I am a 32-year-old firefighter, with an emphasis on wildland, forest

> and brush

> > fires, a paramedic, both in an ambulance and in a helicopter and a

> National Park

> > Law Enforcement ranger. I work each job a week at a time. When I

> am too ill to

> > do those things, I work in the EMS dispatch center.

> >

> > Almost three years ago, in a wildland fire gone horribly wrong, I

> sustained 4th

> > and 5th degree burns over 85% of my body. In short, I was burned so

> badly that

> > my organs and bones were burned. Hence my saying frequently that I am

> > glad to be able to work and be alive. I am truly lucky to be here.

> >

> > While at the burn center, my doctors discovered that I had Ankylosing

> > Spondylitis, Lupus, SJ, Fibro and RSD. Both my rheumatologists and

> my docs at

> > the burn center feel that my AI diseases were in part brought out

> due to the

> > fire. Fires emit a lot of toxic chemicals.

> >

> > When I am not working, (work is my greatest passion), I am spending time

> > off-duty with my partner Rod, who is also a medic. We have three

> horses, twelve

> > dogs, some rabbits and a half-feral coyote. We travel a lot, shoot

> for fun,

> > blog, live in the backcountry when we can, play video games and

> read... I love

> > a good book.

> >

> > Well, I'll close for now. I am looking forward to getting to know

> all of you

> > out there in land.

> >

> > --

> > Dodge

> >

> > Truly blessed to serve in E.M.S!

> >

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

I am in Ga. too. I don't live in Dekalb but my office was there for

a long time. I still go on service calls there.

Your son is another one of my heroes.

Shirley

--- In , " M Swayne " <lswayne@...>

wrote:

>

> Dodge,

> I am so glad you survived! My son is a Firefighter/EMT in Dekald

> County,Ga. I pray every time he goes on a call.

> I know a lot about RA because I have had it for 57 years.

>

[Guest guest]

Welcome to the group! I am so sorry for all you have had to endure. You will

find tons of support from beautiful, caring, supportive individuals here! This

is the first and only place I came when being diagnosed with inflammatory

arthritis.  I had been in a previous group for FMS, but left to just keep this

one as this is the best I have found! I too am a big animal lover and avid

reader and book collector

From: Dodge <medicdodge@...>

Subject: [ ] An Introduction, From Dodge

Date: Tuesday, August 5, 2008, 6:40 PM

If this came through already, I apologise. I attempted to send this earlier, but

my email client went wonky on me and I lost what I had written and don't know if

the message got sent. So, something similar to this may appear.

Hi all:

I'll attempt to do this in sequence... About me...

I am a 32-year-old firefighter, with an emphasis on wildland, forest and brush

fires, a paramedic, both in an ambulance and in a helicopter and a National Park

Law Enforcement ranger. I work each job a week at a time. When I am too ill to

do those things, I work in the EMS dispatch center.

Almost three years ago, in a wildland fire gone horribly wrong, I sustained 4th

and 5th degree burns over 85% of my body. In short, I was burned so badly that

my organs and bones were burned. Hence my saying frequently that I am

glad to be able to work and be alive. I am truly lucky to be here.

While at the burn center, my doctors discovered that I had Ankylosing

Spondylitis, Lupus, SJ, Fibro and RSD. Both my rheumatologists and my docs at

the burn center feel that my AI diseases were in part brought out due to the

fire. Fires emit a lot of toxic chemicals.

When I am not working, (work is my greatest passion), I am spending time

off-duty with my partner Rod, who is also a medic. We have three horses, twelve

dogs, some rabbits and a half-feral coyote. We travel a lot, shoot for fun,

blog, live in the backcountry when we can, play video games and read... I love

a good book.

Well, I'll close for now. I am looking forward to getting to know all of you

out there in land.

--

Dodge

Truly blessed to serve in E.M.S!