Re: Hello, I'm new to the group.

[Guest guest]

Debbie Mc, Honey, welcome to the group. And, your experience with diagnoses, testing and treat-

ment sounds very familiar. Each of us has gone through our own personal hell with the whole darn

thing...months, years, even decades of testing, pain, fatigue, weird fevers, swellings, flu-like illnesses

with no known cause, etc. And, THEN being told by our doctors that: a. It's all in our heads; b. It

can't be Lupus, the ANA is negative.; c. "Let me refer you to another doctor.", etc. ad infinitum ad

naseum. Been there, done that.

Well, you are not alone anymore. Everyone here has had your experience, more or less, or is caring

for someone who has. And, in answer to your question about the future, it holds whatever it holds.

The trick is to get ready for the maybe and then forget about it. Time, as the old saying goes, will

tell. Do what you can for yourself, be your own best advocate with the medical community, do not

let anyone TELL you how you feel, or what to think. I speak from experience, here. There is nothing

wrong, and everything right, about being assertive in your own health care. It is your body, your pain, and ultimately decisions belong to you. Unless you are too sick to make coherent decisions,

YOU are the ultimate authority on your own body. Learn everything you can about your condition,

be aware of changes in your condition, and stay up to date on developments. It's a big job, but if

you don't take the interest, who will, right?

So, again, welcome. If you find you are overwhelmed at the number of emails you are receiving,

we can change your status to either daily digest, or no email, and you can go to the main board and

read the day's postings. Just let us know.

Oh, and little about me, I am the 55 year old single adoptive mother of four, grandmother of two,

with two kids still at home ages 12 and 16. I live in No. Calif. about 50 miles from San Francisco,

and was dx'd with RA, SLE, Fibro, chronic Lyme's, anemia, non-insulin dependent diabetes, Sjogren's,

and now a large ulcer, and congestive heart failure. Ain't I a package, though? LOL

So, you see, we are all, even the owners and moderators, more or less ill at any given time, but we

refuse to give up or stop living because of it. Write often, and feel free to jump into any conversation going on the board. It really helps to share. Loving hugs, MM aka: Mike, one of

the owner/moderators