Re: Hi! I'm new to the group...

[Guest guest]

Hi Nikki...

wanted to write back to you in specific because you sounded so upset

about this... I was fairly recently diagnosed (like,within the last

couple years) and I went through kinda an opposite reaction from

yours. Part of it was that we can go back through my medical records

and the doctors realized I've probably had this for over 20 years,

and I have photos of me holding my son when he was first born (he's

now 19) with the rash across my face.

Of course, since I wasn't diagnosed, there was no treatment for all

that time. I was in and out of remission, and there were times I was

very ill but had little help from the doctors.

At this point I guess I figure if I'd lived with it this long with

it, It isn't going to kill me now (literally or figuratively)

One of the things I figured out early is the more I stress out about

it, the more I contribute to the illness. Now instead of finding ways

to " get ahead " I try to find ways to cut back...and kick back.

This may sound strange, but there are times when I think that being

sick has been good for me, in that I am now taking more time to enjoy

life, spending more time with my kids,and really looking at what

makes ME happy.

[Guest guest]

Nikki,

Welcome to the group. You sound a lot like me when I first joined this

group a couple of months ago. I've been diagnosed with Lupus a little over

ten years now and I just turned 22. My mom and family would give me books

and information from websites to read up on this diease, but like you that

just scared me even further.

There is medicine that regulate this disease and you CAN live a long time

with having Lupus. It's not a death sentence. This is a very supportive

group and a lot of the women here have a immense amount of information about

this illness. Just ask questions ... they'll get answered.

-.

Hi! I'm new to the group...

> Hi my name is Nikki and I am new to the group.

> Actually this is the first time I have joined any

> group online so please forgive me if I do something

> incorrectly!