My Introduction

Hi everyone,

I just stopped by to introduce myself. I am a disabled, widowed, cancer patient with CFS/FM as well as ADD. I had emergency cancer surgery/diagnoses for advanced stage colon cancer in March of 2002 along with a complete hysterectomy for uterine cancer. Ten months later my husband died while I was still going through chemotherapy. Seven months after this my left leg went out from under me and every bone in my ankle broke. The ambulance took me to the hospital where they put in two metal plates and several screws to hold what was left of my ankle together.

For everyone here who suffers from chronic fatigue my heart goes out to you.  For me it is the worse part of everything I am going through.  I am now alone trying to complete the repairs on our older home that my husband and I started before my emergency surgery. There is electrical, plumbing, carpentry to do. I have been painting and finishing the job of pulling up the rest of the old carpets. The ADD makes life interesting. I need a well organized environment to function well and with everything still torn up around here there is no order at all. With being sick and now with the house torn up in the process of repairs is making life more than just a little challenging. It has become too much to tackle alone.

If you would like to learn more you may visit my personal site at: 

http://mypeoplepc.com/members/jspr007/patricia/

One thing is so true - laughter is truly the best medicine. As long as I continue to see the humor it will somehow be all right.

Take care everyone. I’m looking foreword to getting to know you.

Patricia

Dearest Annie,

Thanks for the warm welcome to the family.

Wow, you too have your trials don’t you? How is your MS? As for the anxiety/panic attacks, I suffered terribly from that condition for about five years. I had been is a serious car accident in 1993 were a driver ran a red light and slammed into the passenger’s side of the car caving it in where it caused the dash board to fold up like an accordion and breaking out all the windows in the car. The anxiety/panic, ptsd started while driving down the highway at 6AM one morning. I had to ask myself, “What are you afraid of? There are only a few cars on the road at this hour in the morning.” I then had to repeatedly tell myself that I was in fact safe and not going to just up and die. This went on for several months. It was at that time it progressed to general panic/anxiety attacks just out of the blue that would occur just about anywhere at anytime. My husband spent the next five years gently loving me though this ordeal.

As for your fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue, how do you cope? This is the most difficult part of what I am going through. People who have not had to deal with this incredible disabling physical condition think it is something you can just go sleep off. Or else they think it is all in your head as is the case with some doctors. All I can say is, “Don’t we wish we could just sleep it off!” Oh, what a happy day that would be. I have had this fatigue/pain for nine years now. The medication I take helps but does not eliminate the symptoms where I would be allowed to hold down a full time job. But even at that I am grateful for any relief that comes my way no matter how small.

I am grateful that I do not have the depression on top of everything else to cope with. How do you manage? Do you have a good support group at home that helps you cope? I think, for me, the social isolation imposed by a society that does not want to be bothered with a disabled, widowed, cancer patient is one of the most difficult parts of all that I am going though. That part of the situation has caused a lot of heartache.

As for the ankle, it works most of the time. When it acts up I just rest until it settles down and allows me to resume my life.

Again, thank you Annie for the warm welcome.. You’re terrific.

Patricia

Hi Patricia,
I wanted to see how you are doing today, we think I got fibro far a car accident 11 yrs ago.... I was driving in the winter time and I heard something in my back tire so I pulled the car over and saw a big chunk of ice on my tire and I took a ice scraper to bang off the ice from the tire and this car by my car slid on ice and slammed into me and pinned me against my car then backed up proceded to hit and pin me again ... my children were in the car while this was all happening...then someone pulled me away from my car and then the car again hit my car for a 3rd time...so again with this trama the Dr think this is what caused Fibro and CFS....................... so.......how do I cope and manage to cope with all of this???? lots of meds and support
So that is my story, again how are you doing, hope to hear from you again soon.
Annie

Fibromyaligia, dx Oct 2004 but we are sure I have had this for about 4-5 yrs maybe longer.
Chronic fatigue Syndrome dx 1995
Anxiety/Panic attacks dx 1990
M.S. dx June 29th 2005
Anemia dx Jan 2005
Depression..lets just say for a while now.

Meds: Amitriptyline
Lorazepam
Celexa
Ferrous Glouconate
Ibuprofen 600mg
and soon to start on
Rebif or Avenox

Hi Patricia,

the officer said that it was a patch of black ice and that the car kept sliding into me.... you think they would of been smart enough to shut off the car. I did not get alot of finacial compensation...the insurance said that because I was not working...(excuse me I was a stay at home mom trying to take care of 2 toddlers) that I really was not losing money from employment.

I remember the Dr at the hospital saying "your gonna feel worse before you get better...and boy or boy was he right, the next day was the worst, every move I made was sooooo  painful that I wanted to die, and I was black and blue from head to toe, everytime I breath in you could here my chest cracking, it was just an aweful thing to go thru....I would not of wished that on my enemy.

My support comes from my husband and my 4 boys and other family, it really helps alot. but there are times when I can't be around them because I am in a mood where I just want to scream and yell and I don't want to do it to them, so I go to my bedroom for a good hour or so and when I feel that I have calmed down I came out and let them know how I was feeling.

I agree about the fibro and CFS, it is incredible thing to deal and live with...but we do it don't we.

I'm sorry to hear your under the weather, it's no fun when your sick. I don't know about you but with me when I get sick it takes for ever to get better. Well got go for now take care takes lots of Vitamin C for your cold and I hope you feel better soon.

Annie

Fibromyaligia, dx Oct 2004 but we are sure I have had this for about 4-5 yrs maybe longer. Chronic fatigue Syndrome dx 1995 Anxiety/Panic attacks dx 1990 M.S. dx June 29th 2005 Anemia dx Jan 2005 Depression..lets just say for  a while now. Meds: Amitriptyline Lorazepam Celexa Ferrous Glouconate Ibuprofen 600mg and soon to start on Rebif or Avenox

 

Post Edited (Annieoakley) : 11/2/2005 7:16:12 PM (GMT-7)

Hi Patricia,

I'm just checking up on you to see how you are doing theses days, haven't heard from you in a bit.How are things going? write when you get the chance o.k. take care.

Annie

Fibromyaligia, dx Oct 2004 was recently told 12 years.
Chronic fatigue Syndrome dx 1995
Anxiety/Panic attacks dx 1990
M.S. dx June 29th 2005
Anemia dx Jan 2005
Depression..lets just say for  a while now.

Meds: Amitriptyline
Lorazepam
Celexa
Ferrous Glouconate
Ibuprofen 600mg
and soon to start on
Rebif or Avenox

Hi Annie and Lyn,

Wow!!!  I've been down for the count for a while now. How are you two doing?  Lyn, I got your email.  I replied not knowing really what is was all about.  It was not until I went down my list of emails that I began putting it all together. LOL 

I am just hanging on really tight waiting for some help to come along. LOL 

I hope your having a pretty good day. LOL  For us pretty good is fantastic. LOL

Patricia