re: Cheryl/ welcome Micha

[Guest guest]

Hi Cheryl, Thanks for welcoming me and for the nice pictures.

Sorry, it took me so long to respond. Please, don't feel as if you need to reply. I see how many emails are been sent, which is nice.

That's nice you used to ballroom dance. I used to go bird watching too! The beach is only a half hour away from where I live, by train.

Therefor I went birdwatching just for a few hours, well I needed to stay until late in the evening for I always got disorientated in nature. Indeed, it's hard to overcome all the losses. I think it's the best to count our blessings, like you do. I try to focus on things I can do, but -sigh- it really isn't easy sometimes. I used to know a lot of many people, but now it's so quiet, so less input from others too.

A while back my family-doctor described an anti-depressant, which is a pain-killer too, but I didn't take it yet. Aspirin doesn't do much for the most pains either. I tried carnitene, but this increased the fatigue.

You went through a lot yourself. I'm glad you survived the cancer.

There are and has been so many people around me with cancer. It's just incredible, including both my parents.

I just searched for osteoporosis on the internet. I don't hear it much around here. During my youth, there was this campaign to drink three pints of milk a day. On the internet I found that calcium can prevent osteoporosis, yet I wonder if a lack of calcium is the only cause. About osteoarthrosis, that's what I have, people in general think it's an aging disease, while it's not so known it can be triggered after injuries or accidents. In my situation it's triggered through injuries of the abuse, along with a genetic factor. Rheumatic conditions, and others like MS, run through the generations within my family. my grand-mother had MS and arthritis. That's why I wonder about the nodules on my hand-bones. I can't say my family-doctor is of much help.

I can relate to brain fog. As I am diagnosed with fibromyalgia, I call it fibro fog, as in common used amongst people with fibro.

Is there a difference for you between the lupus fog and the fibro fog? This is the first time I heard about lupus fog. I can't read books anymore due to all the cognitive trouble, especially novels.

I need to write everything down. I have special daily notebooks, yet sometimes forgotten I noted things. LOL.

I write with American survivors for quit some time, so I know a little about the health care, the mental health care in particular.

Never the less, when it comes to research, many researches in the mental health seem to be done in the States. In general, there's more done on research & development than in Europe. This has pro's and con's, though.

I do understand it mustn't be easy to live with a partner who has a bipolar condition. Yet, I liked the way you put it. It sounds like you look at your situation with your partner in a realistic way, and also as you accept the situation.

I borrowed a wheel-chair from a home-service in medical equipment. My first thought was to go on a wheel-chair dance course, but I forgot one need to be there every week. Until now, I didn't have had much change to try out my wheel-chair in this flare. I'm doing a bit better, but I'm not over it yet.

One day, I will be wheel-chair dancing on the streets, perhaps. I want to look at the bright sides if things too.

Thanks for writing.

Micha.

welcome Micha

welcome

Micha,

You have sure had a rough time. I’m sorry you have lost so much of your former life! Most of us get depressed about that problem too, I know I do. I see you love to dance. My husband and I used to ballroom dance together every week. We went on day hikes and bird watching. We went to the gym together. I used to be very athletic when I was young. Because of my progressing illnesses, we hardly dance. My husband has had to suffer because he lost his dance partner. I feel sorry for myself sometimes but try to count my blessings where I see them. At least he hasn’t left me and went off dancing into the sunset with someone else. hah

I want to say that we are a friendly group and we like to tease, have fun, and exchange information too. I have been in the group for so long (I have lupus fog) that I forgot how long now. I have lupus, fibromyalgia, IBS, interstitial cystitis, degenerative disk disease, TMJ dysfunction, arthritis, osteoporosis, and chemical depression. I am a cancer survivor and have had several seizures and a brain hemorrhage quite awhile ago. I can drive now but I am on permanent disability. I am married to a faithful, kind husband. He is a little nuts though and we have our go-arounds. He is bipolar. It is a difficult mental illness as you know and the mental health care system in the USA is disgraceful!!!. With his healthy body and the healthy half of my brain put together we almost make one whole person.