Guest guest Posted April 21, 2002 Report Share Posted April 21, 2002 First of all I want to preface this e-mail by saying that this is the best E-Group that I have ever been a member of. The people here are absolutely wonderful; caring, compassionate, and very supportive. I love all of you and it has been a real pleasure reading the posts every day. I have been a lurker as I am a kind of shy person and need to be sure of the territory before I volunteer my opinions and feelings. A bit about me and my background so that you might know me better:) : I am a 51 year old single mom with a 15 year old daughter living in the desert region of southern California. I am on SSI and would consider myself on the poverty level. However, my daughter and I are good survivor types and we make due with whatever we have the best that we can. I am on sub-standard state-issued government Medi-Cal and needless to say, I have a few doctor horror stories to share...and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight! I have had CFS since 1968. I had a horrific bout with Mononucleosis when I was 17 that left me so ill that I almost died. Since then, my EBV titer has been always positive and always off the graph. I still did have remissions throughout my life and even though I never could have a normal life, I had my remission times to play at being like everyone else. 15 years ago, about one year after my daughter was born, I suffered my second serious bout with Mono and after that, I have never had a remission. My life has been a living hell health-wise. I am always exhausted, can barely function even on the most primitive level and have no one except my daughter to help me. When she was a child and unable to help me, I had a great female roomie who helped me. Unfortunately for me but wonderful for her, she moved out and got married and now is living in Fresno. My daughter does the best she can but she can't drive and I have to do a lot of that as I live in a rural area with no other recourse. I hate to drive as it takes so much out of me and after I have to drive around for a day to various doctor appointments, household errands, shopping, going to the pharmacy, etc, I am so exhausted and in pain that I sometimes cry. I have no family or friends. My family is deceased. I am not feeling sorry for myself just stating facts....sometimes it's good when someone can write down their sad story..it might make someone else feel as if their life is not so bad! Anyway, I also have Fibro especially in my back. I have severe muscle spasms and no relief for that. At night it's hard to sleep because of the stabbing pains throughout my body. I also have a bad gallbladder and have a very limited diet. I just went to an orthopedic surgeon last week and after he looked at my neck x-ray, he was aghast. He said he had never seen such gross bony abnormalities. I also have osteoporosis and bone spurs (osteophytes) in my upper back. Needless to say, I am pain 90% of the time. Thank God I was approved for SSI as there is no way that I could work! This is very hard for me to accept as I had worked my whole life and did not live in such poverty. Anyway, I don't want to write too long of an e-mail (it may get truncated) ...I just wanted to extend my hand of friendship to the group! Take care all and be well. Love, Lynne __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 21, 2002 Report Share Posted April 21, 2002 Lynne, I am so sorry to hear about all of your medical problems and you are so young with such a young daughter. I wish that you did have someone close to you to help out. I'm sorry that you have no close family but it is good that you have your daughter to help out. She must be a very good girl to be so helpful to her mother. Is there anything that can be done about neck and are you on any medications for pain. I know that you need that with all of your pain. We are here if you need to talk about anything or if you want to rant and rave about what fate has done to you. All of us have done that at one time on another. Jump in if you have questions or want information. Since you have been reading the posts, you know you will get an answer from someone. In face, more than one someone. Take care, Irene Books may well be the only true magic Alice Hoffman. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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