Hello

[Guest guest]

Hi Sharon - Just call me Marcy. Thanks to you and all who have welcomed me into the group. The number of postings is hard to keep up with and probably will be until I catch the thread of all the conversations. Am enjoying trying to figure out what's going on though. That'll take your mind off what's ailin ya for sure!

Maybe it would be appropriate to give you all a bit of background information on me although I really don't want to bore anyone.

As far as CFIDS: Most likely about the same as most of you. Been sick about 5 years. Been diagnosed a little over 3. Have lots of joint and muscle aches. Also have migrain headaches - some severe with my sight leaving - then severe pain - usually have to go to doc or hospital for shots which I hate. Usually lose about 3 days per episode. Depression hits on and off - just aiming for more good days than bad like us all. Not able to work right now (bummer) but keep hope that I'll get well enough to get back in the game. Prior to getting sick I had a printing business for about 10 yrs. Got really sick when a fire to the bldg. next to mine burned / when they demolished the bldg next to mine they caused structural damage to mine / my bldg. condemned (did I say I lived there at the time) / had insurance - both parties insured by same co. / ins. co. denied my claim / caused big lawsuit / lost bldg. / lost lawsuit / lost most of business / almost lost mind / lost health. That's the really short version.

Into the edge of about 3 yrs of fighting for my bricks, my dad (89) (who adopted me - what a hero) became ill. He'd never ever even been sick. Went through about 2 yrs of a horrible battle for him. Maybe I saw too much or just on top of everything else it was too much. Anyway, we lost him right before Christmas a year ago. The Grief for me has been overwhelming. I miss him so much but I'm doing better now - just have it hit on occassion now. Seems like I woke up from a bad dream to find my emotions & health somewhat messed up. So I'm working on it!!!

As for daily stuff - I live in a zoo!!!! Really! Husband, 2 boys (they're great - 13, 16), 4 dogs, 5 cats, 1 bird, 2 horses and looking hard for the partridge in the pear tree! Used to have salt water and fresh water tanks too but too much to maintain. Miss them though. Mostly, I use humor to survive.

OH DEAR - I JUST REMEMBERED TO USE CAPS - SORRY FOR ABOVE - TRY TO REMEMBER FROM NOW ON.

THANKS TO ALL WHO WELCOMED ME. IT'S NICE TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO PEOPLE WHO CAN TRULY RELATE TO WHAT YOU GO THROUGH WITH THIS DD!!!!!!!

I'LL BE LURKING TRYING TO GET INTO THE SWING OF THINGS ........ MEANWHILE, PRAYERS FOR ALL WHO ARE HAVING A ROUGH GO AND HOPEFULLY I'LL BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE FROM TIME TO TIME.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL,

MARCY

RE: Hello

MJ,WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE US TO CALL YA??LOL GOOD TO HAVE YA WITH US. A FEW PEOPLEHAVE MSN INSTANT MESSENGER OR AOL IM'S.I PERSONALLY DON'T HAVE ONE BECAUSE ICAN'T TYPE FAST ENOUGH AND FOR THE OTHER I CAN'T KEEP UP, YA KNOW? POST WHENEVER YA LIKE THERE'S USUALLY SOMEONE ON. I'M ALWAYS SO BEHIND WITH MY EMAILI DON'T GET BORED OR RUN OUT OF PEOPLE TO "TALK" TO.HUGSSHARONBRAIN FOG dd I'M SHARON FROM UPSTATE NY, 2 TEENS, 15 EMUS, 2 SUGAR GLIDERSOH AND 2 DOGS AND A HUBBY FOR 28 YEARS, SAME PERSON lol!When your up to your butt in alligators, it's hard to remember your 1stobjective was to drain the swamp.Sharon-----Original Message-----From: mjbachmantn Sent: Thursday, May 16, 2002 7:49 PMTo: cfidsfms-friends Subject: Hello>From your description this sounds like the place I'd like to be. I'vebeen sick for about 5 years now. Been dx'd for 3. Having a rough goof it right now. Does this group have a live chat session? Maybe I'mjust not finding the right place to "point & click"! I've neverjoined a chat group before so this is all new to me!Thanks,mjbachman

[Guest guest]

, Yup, Moms do worry a lot. My teenage son tells me I worry too much about him, but it's

sort of automatic. It goes with being a mom, just part of the job. Hope you are painfree today, hon.

Hugs, MM

[Guest guest]

Hi! Just finished reading the board for today. Lots of stuff going on!

: Thanks so much for the information on what our diets should be. I am going to try and follow those suggestions. Some of them I have heard before. However, I LOVE lowfat frozen yogurt. I am totally addicted.

Gwynne: I know it is a struggle for you with your exercise. I will be praying for you to hang in and keep on fighting! I know there are lungs awaiting you in God's timing.

Leanne: When we spoke on the phone today, I don't know why I hadn't thought of leaving Max in the house and going on my own walk. I am too attached to my dog. LOL!

Joyce: What a scary, scary experience you had today. God had you in His hands.

Irene: I am still praying that you will get the adequate medical care that you need and deserve. Do any of your family members ever go with you to the doctors or the ER?

Z.: Take care of yourself, too. I am glad your daughter has such a wonderful family to help her and to understand.

Bruce: Thanks for your advice for . She has applied for 13 or 14 graphic design jobs. Surely, one of those will be the one.

Babs: I am definitely feeling better today and now I feel like taking care of chores, etc.

Joe/Joanie: More rain is coming tomorrow!

That's all I know for now. Hope everyone else is doing well, especially Princess Peggy (Hope you are behaving yourself! LOL)

Toodles!

Jane UIP/IPF 12/1998 Dalton, Georgia aka pianolady_musicgirl

[Guest guest]

Your post brought so many emotions including pain over the pain your

felt, happiness over the uplifting visit from Kathie, and calmness over

your comfort with dying when it does come. However the sign came that

gave you insight to believe even stronger that it will be a good journey

into afterlife I'm glad it did come.

There is a very common belief among doctors that often we are ready to

go before our families and we wait for them. All of us need to remind

those close to us how we feel about death and, if we do have this

belief, that we'll go when the time is right and it will be fine.

We sometimes don't talk enough about death, not just us PF'ers or those

closer to it. My condition at this point in no way compares to yours but

I am comfortable with death and that does allow me to deal better with

life and what it presents. I wish you comfort in life for as long as its

here for you and comfort knowing that what comes after is good.

I hope no one in any way interprets what I'm saying as some

encouragement to go on and die, because it isn't. I encourage everyone

to get as much from life as they can, as long as it has quality that to

them is worth the pain. No one can judge for another. But, I'm also very

comforted to see you at peace with the next journey when the time is

right for it to take place.

And don't pretend with us or especially with your family. Your feelings

may change from moment to moment, but its fine to express them just as

they are. Ultimately too hearing it from you will make it easier on your

family. It's just difficult for them to talk directly about.

Thanks for such an honest expression of your emotions and feelings. I

hope you always feel you can do so here.

>

> Hello everyone,

> Its beeb a while since I have been on. Computer says I have 2,756

> unread messages. I will not be able to read them. Anyway, for all

> of you that cared what happened to me.....thank you very much.

> Somehow I develped a bacterial infection in what is left of my

> lungs. Boy have I been sick. Besides not being able too breathe, I

> couldnt eat or drink. I tried but just could not do it. My husband

> did not go to work but stayed home with me. My temperaturee was very

> high and I just felt really wierd. I took two different anti biotics

> plus my regular meds. Started to feel a little better last week. I

> can remember my husband standing at my bedside, carressing my face

> and sayi8ng " please dont leave me yet " But...I wanted to. I am

> tired of this constant struggle. I reallly believe that if my

> children and my husband would tell me that it was ok if I just gave

> up now, that I would probably die soon. I am now using supplemental

> oxygen in my nose as well as the oxygen in my neck. I really felt

> despondant until.......Kathie came over. She is visiting her

> relatives and they live 2 min. from my house. When I met her, it

> motivated me so much. She has had this disease 12 years, I never

> heard her complain. She lives each day finding the things she can

> still do. I was awestricken with her. Made me get off of my self

> pity wagon. She used to be on 10L and now is on 5. I want to be

> like her. I want to still have hope and find the good things of

> life.

> She came back yesterday, while my son and wife were here from Texas

> to see me. pictures will be posted. I let the neck thing on me show

> on purpose so that all of you can see what it is like. My husband

> put it in while she was here to she could see that there is no painj

> or distress involved. She will post the pictures probably this

> weekend. She is a very gentle, kind loving lady and I aam so

> fortunate to have met her. She has helped me to have hope again. I

> will not be posting often. I still must rest and rest and rest to

> get over all this junk in my lungs. But most of all, I need to be

> able to drink. I have trouble even with a sip. Hope all of you are

> doing as well as you can be doing. One more thing I want to tell

> you. Some of you may think if was medication causeing it but I

> beliee it really happened. One morning, while I was really really

> sick and struggling......I saw many faces surrounding me. Many many

> people. And I saw my Mom (she is deceased). I could tell she was

> looking for me but she is so short and could not see over the

> people. So, I remember waving and trying to get her to see me. But

> she didnt. I believe that God probably sends someone to help us over

> the transition to death and who else but your Mother who loves you so

> much? It was so comforting but yet a little disconcerting. I just

> figured she didnt see me cause it was just not yet my time. But I am

> ready to see her again. Tired of being sick. Tired of trying so

> hard and tired of pretending to people that I am not as sick as I

> really am. Maybe some of you can understand what all this means.

> I appreciate all of you. I really do.

> L

>