WoW! Where Do I Begin

[Karenica]

First time here on the new Board, But I've been a member for a long time. Hi everyone!, some of you probably remember me, some might not, It's me Karenica, I had cervical fusions, well not at all one time mind you, I'm fused from C3 to C7, my first one was almost 7 years ago back in 2004 at C6-7, and then in 2006 I and C5-6 done, and then in 2008 I was double fused at C3-4, 4-5, I've also had ulnar nerve transpositions, my right arm done 2 times, but the 3 time it was only a release, and then my left one done just once.
I also have auto-immune diseases, sjogrens, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and now I have costochondritis that I'm dealing with.
I also have degeneration in my thoracic spine, and lumbar spine with L3-4, L4-5, L5,S1 being very bad, I had the RFA procedure done on that area 4 years ago and it worked great, and now I'm having that procedure repeated again in two weeks.

I've made it this far, and I vow to make it even farther in life. If it weren't for my family and friends I wouldn't have come through any of this, they are my ROCK!!!.
My rheumatoid arthritis is what destroyed my neck, it destroyed it at a very very fast pace. Right now it order to try and slow down the progression of my disease and slow down the degeneration of the rest of my body I started on methotrexate this past summer, and keeping my fingers crossed that this will work.

Ya I'm on a ton of meds, but it's what is keeping me healthy and keeping me going. I live in chronic pain each and every day of my life, but I'm thankful that I'm able to live my life as best as I can.
I may not have good days, but I've learned to appreciate the little things in life.
I'm happily married for 24 years, I have two wonderful sons, who are now both in college, ya! we became official empty nesters this past august, when my youngest son went off to college, he is a freshman, and my oldest is a sophomore.
I'm also a mommy to two sweet little shih tzus', Muffin she is 14, and Molly is 2, like others say about our animals they sure do know when mommy is not feeling well, they snuggle right along side of me and give me such sweet love.
It's so nice to be back.
Missed you all.
As for tonight, even tho it's 1:09am I cannot sleep, sjogrens is kicking in, causing me to feel like I have no air in my lungs, don't worry tho, I have plenty, it's just an unpleasant effect of this darn disease that some of us feel, and the costochondroitis is not feeling very good tonight, so I"m up on the computer and watching
American Pickers on the TV and catching up on some computer work.
You all take care.

[Naominjw]

Hello, Karenica. I also am a long-time member but mostly a lurker on the spinal and chronic pain boards. Your name sounded familiar to me. I read about your types of troubles and that's one reason I do not usually post. It is like migraines. I KNOW what a "real" migraine is because one of my children who had really really major, life-disabling migraines. What I get are technically "migraines" but in my mind, to call them such diminishes the meaning of the word "migraine." Too many people already think a "headache" is a "migraine" or a "migraine" is just a "headache."
Tha't how I have felt about my hands, back, hips, and neck... and more and more I am facing up to the fact... sigh... I think ... maybe... I am maybe.. closer to "disabled" than I am ready to admit... but I go around and around on needing a job to pay for medical insurance soon, but everything I come up with ... is a problem... even being on the computer ...

So, hello, and welcome back. I am sure there are many other lurkers who would say hello, but like I said - we generally just... lurk... on some of the boards (I am more active on some of the others).

[alex44]

Welcome Back
Alex44

[Diandra]

Hi Karenica, It is good to have you back. You are one of those folks who I wondered if you would find your way here. Whenever I don't see people I like to think they are doing well and don't need support. Despite all you have going on healthwise, you certainly have a great attitude. I think that is key, to just keep pushing on as best you can and experience what you can. Well....it is almost 1am and I am off to bed. Connecticut is supposed to get a snowstorm tomorrow....before Halloween....that is a first in my memory. Take care and again, good to have you back. Diandra

[Mark N]

Karen, it is good to see you again after all these years. I hope the new medicine does the job of slowing down your RA. We are now empty nesters this year as our youngest one is now in college. Even though we miss the kids I bet you and your hubby are like us and are enjoying our time together once again. It is a bit odd to only consider what the two of us want to do now. I bet both of our houses are much quieter now and much less stressful. Are you still in AZ, we have moved back down to Southern Indiana once again since my total disability started.

Despite daily severe pain I am happy to wake up each day to see what it brings. It isn't an easy life is it with all the pain and meds we take? Like you, I am very thankful for my family as they have been a big part of me still being here. My kids have grown up with my spinal disease and they accepted the continuing deteriorating without complaining about what I couldn't do any more. My wife has struggled with my disability but she has come to accept it and the impact it has caused her. You and I are lucky as our spouses could walk away and never have to deal with our disabilities any more but they have lived up to their marriage promises just as we would do for them. I hope you come around now and then to let everyone know how you are doing. It is good to see some of the oldtimers coming back again.

Naominjw, it is good to see you again and see that you have found our site once again. With the crashes and changing the site we have lost many of the older timers but we seem to slowly find this place once again.

[alex44]

Karenica - It IS good to see you back. It is my sincere hope that this finds you as well as can be. You have been gone for a long time - you will find some things have changed while others are the same. I wish more members like you would check in.
Blessings
Alex44

[joy]

Hi Karenica, wow what a beautiful name! You certainly have plenty wrong with you. I had a fear strike me tho when I read part of your post. It was where you said you feel you had no air in your lungs. I just made this same statement to my doctor myself my last visit. I usually glib over stuff even tho I do have chronic pain, (i post in emotional forum because I jump all over the place :o) it had gotten much worse and I was not going to bed because I could not breathe it seemed. doctor walked me over to the heart doctor and put the oxygen measuring thingy on finger and saw how low it was so for once I got plenty of attention that day. Lots of testing later I have two blood clots in my lungs.

It might be worth mentioning. I sure hope not but better safe than sorry. Good luck, maybe drop by emotional forum some as well. Good group of folks there as well.