Hi, I think I have finally found out to introduce myself! My name is Michelle, and I have been reading and posting the past few days, but have not figured out how to introduce myself until, hopefully now! I am 55 years old, married for 36 years to a wonderful husband, and have a cute kitten named KC Cat, which is where my name comes from on the board. We live in Kentwood Michigan. I am on disability, and have been for about 11 years. That was a hard road to go down, but we made it. I have Sjogrens, Fibromyalgia, Osteo Arthritis, Low Thyroid, Spondylosis in my neck and back, Gastroparesis, small bowl inertia, (colon has been removed), and depression. Have no idea why the depression? LOL! It seems you can never get just one thing can you? My joy each day comes from making cards to send to others. I also love to read when my brain is not foggy and I can understand what I am reading. I used to love gardening, but my back does not like that very much anymore. My skin also does not like being out in heat or sun.
I look forward to making some friends, sharing helpful tips, and guiding people through difficult times that we all go through. Nobody can understand what it is like to live with a chronic illness each day, unless they live it. It is hard to understand.
Thank you for all that you do for eachother!
Blessings,
Michelle
Welcome,
You've been through a lot and probably have a lot to share. This is a very pleasant and friendly group, that's been a big help to me over the years.
Looking forward to hearing more.
Welcome.
I suggest that you find and read "Spoon Theory" on the net if you have not done so yet.
For your brain fog you may consider supplementing with R-lipoic acid and Acetyl-L-Carnitine.
I have found that Cistanchi helps with depression and loss of energy. My 30 day test provided some very positive results for me.
Enough of my raving for now.
Thank you Warm Waters and Joe for the Welcome, I appreciate it. I am glad I finally figured out how to introduce myself!! LOL! I will have to look up the spoon theory and see what that is, thank you for the advice. My depression is pretty under control, I do get frustrated at times with not being able to do all that I want to do. My brain has more ideas than my body can hold
out for, but I am guessing that is with a lot of us with auto immune disorders. I just try to pace myself through the day, and do the best that I can. I miss what I used to be, but our past, and our now, makes us who we are, and we need to be happy with who we are, and try our best each day. Not always the easiest thing to do, but our choices are limited in that area.
Hoping your day is a good one!!
Michelle
Welcome!!,????????
Welcome, and you sound delightful in that though you have all these things going on you sound up beat which is great. I guess a better way to say it is you are already an encouragement, and I have been here a long time. lol...
I know you will find lots of friends here, and have lots to share with everyone.
Hope we can be a blessing to you.
Hugs,
susanep :)
Thank you Susanep and Chris for the welcome, I am hoping to make some friends on this site!! I do try to be upbeat, but I have had a bit of a rough patch lately which
has brought me to this site. With a long list of diagnosis it is hard, and I was just diagnosed with Gastroparesis a few months ago, and that was just THE LAST STRAW!
You know how all of these things affect your every day, I can't drive anymore, my energy tells me how my day is going to go, my pain tells me what I am going to do,
and now with this stomach diagnosis that tells me how I am going to be able to eat. Last May I was in the hospital a week with a bowel obstruction, and things have
not been right since then. I have already had my colon removed in 2002 because of inertia, and my small intestine has it, and my stomach muscles have it also, that is
what Gastroparesis is. So, nothing going in works right, or coming out! Lovely topic! LOL! So, I have a bit of a down time, but I am trying to work through it and come
back out of it. I have to, I have just been requested to make 4 sets of cards for our church auction April 18!! That will keep me busy! LOL!
Thank you so much for your kindness, and I hope to be a support to all of you!!
Does anyone else have Inertia problems??
Michelle
Hi, KCcat,
I don't have problems with inertia, but I have Barret's esophagus, gastritis, esophagitis, and had to have my esophagus dilated, my GI doc also thought I had a slight gastroparesis, but I think I'm okay right now.
Also, I think a lack of moisture predisposes all of us to chronic constipation. How fun! Being on the right meds has helped me quite a bit.
I'm sorry that you have all these GI symptoms. That has to be really hard. I hope you can get it all under control. You've been through quite a bit with surgery and everything else.
Nice to meet you.
Kathy
Greetings KCcat, welcome to the group. So glad to have you. :)
Hi nannysbaby Kathy 57, nice to meet you!! Kathy I am sorry for your esophagus problems, that does not sound fun either!! My inertia problems started as IBS which I am sure
many of us start with, but then my muscles just quit working. Test revealed that I had no working muscle anywhere in my colon which is why it was removed. Now I am showing signs
of that in my small intestine, and in my stomach muscles as well. Sjogrens related? Doctors are not sure. My gastroenterologist says Sjogrens does not help. My rheumatologist
says, he doesn't think so, so I have never gotten a true answer to any of this, but I have to believe that it has played a part in all of my inertia problems. Whatever has caused it,
it has been a part of my history, and still is. What are you going to do? Live with it!!
I hope everyone has a good weekend planned, my husband left for Florida on business, so my KC Cat and I are on our own for awhile!!
Take Care!!
Michelle ;)