DH hasd been sick with a cold and I am trying not to catch it! Still watering and another worker coming Thursday. Gotta get furniture for at least the basement family room picked out nad delivered so we can have the new carpet laid and they won't tack it up goinjg down the steps.

I need to see a neurologist...having troulbe seeing at times...things get spotty....happened when I was drifing the new car DH got me and it is happening now so I can't read what I am typing! SEe the rhume tomoorrow, got a bad foot for a year now..plantar facitis I think or a spur.......

Hello......to all..my head is hurting since I can't see..gotta sign off

Oh those Dr. appointments. Don't you just hate them? Went to Nashville today to the Rheumatologist ... do not like making that trip. Got a steroid shot in my ankle, talked to him about getting on disability, got all my scripts filled and got him to fill out the papers for my placard for hubby's truck ... I have a HC plate for my van but sometimes we go places in his truck and he winds up having to park 1/2 mile away or something. I don't mind so bad if it's a pretty day (and I'm having a 'good' day) but if it's raining or really cold I can't make it. He's pretty good about dropping me off and parking and walking back but if it's a concert or something big, then we get separated. I'm lucky to have an understanding Rheumatologist. Hubby is wanting me to get on disability now so he can retire in a year or 2 and I will have insurance. Dr. understood about that, too. He said that just with one of my disabilities I would be able to work but with all of them put together there wouldn't be a job I could do. He said for me to give him a few minutes for him to "Dr. up" his notes and then he began to type on his computer. I don't know what he wrote but he was 'grinning' the whole time he was typing. He was talking about the Rheumatoid arthritis and the osteoarthritis, the Fibromyalgia and how serious the anemia was and then about the surgery I had on both my knees and the tendonitis in my left foot and ankle and how the MRI had shown both kinds of arthritis in my right foot and ankle. By the time he finished I was beginning to feel sorry for myself! Hubby's SIL works for the Social Security Office here and she said she would help me file online ... he said she made it sound easy. I want to go see my Neurologist first ... have an appointment with him Dec. 4. I'm supposed to have a MRI of my head done Thur to see if I have a tumor. I have a really loud ringing in my ears ... driving me nuts. I really think it's from the Topamax, though ... not a tumma (as Arnold S. would say) Kindergarten Cop was one of my favorite movies!

Having pets is supposed to help you live a longer, less stressful life. I'm sure they aren't counting the first couple of years!!! I swear to you one and all, mine thinks she is a kid. She has no clue she is a dog. (My biggest worry is ... I'm beginning to believe it, too!)

hi all...
i'm new here, and so relieved to have found you all!
i'm 52, Hep C positive, been told i have fibromyalgia (personally, i think it's the hep) depression, autoimmune issues, and fat on top of it all!
i'm starting effexor next week, i'm told it might be helpful losing weight, and wondered if anyone had that experience. i'm also going to try and wean myself off the vicodin i'm taking for pain. i think that might be making me feel so lazy all the time...but it takes the pain away, for sure.
i have a 13 yr old daughter, a 4 yr old german shepherd, a 5 month old kitten ( we just put our 14 yr old cat to sleep ) and live in iowa. i love the fall and spring seasons...winter? not so much!
hope to get to know you all, and hope you're all doing well.
thanks!
-gina

Welcome Gina-- Yes it is probably the vicodin making you lathargic.. I need to take pain meds at night. I have oa. I refuse to take anything but advil during the day . I don't like the down feelings.. I hope you can resolve some of your medical problems..
Tammy, the older names seem to be in fashion now..My son told me that the baby is really cute. Some of the asian features are showing. My sons wife is half Japanese,her mother is full Japanese.. That is quiet a story in itself..She married a service man and came to America after ww2.
Meme- Get all the benefits you can.. Sounds like you need them.. I agree about the dogs. Christie is more like a child every day. Untrainable!!She has a mind of her own. I need the dog whisperer..
Happy- We have been in the 60's lately.. that won't last long.. I am sorta hoping it stays. When it gets really chilly I will be thinking different. Walking Christie will not be so nice then.. We live next to bayous. The breeze off of them is cold..
I have said I would have to wait till G/children starts having babies to have more g/children..
Candice- Go to a Dr.. There is nothing worse than problems with the eyes. Well I guess there are worse things.
I was not happy with the election..
Joanne

You aren't the only one unhappy with the election! My fear is ... many who voted for him are going to be unhappy before his term is over. But ... life goes on.

Have been staying off the foot and ankle today. Last night I thought I was getting a blood clot in my leg ... put it up on pillows and it got better by this morning ... now it just throbs. I think they put too much numbing medicine in that shot.

Joanne, Ginger does pretty good. Her biggest problem is, she won't go on her paper if I am in the bathroom (where the paper is). She needs her 'privacy'! Also, if I'm eating, she thinks I should give her some of whatever I'm having. I usually just put her in the bathroom. I wait and feed her when we eat and leave her in there until we finish. Can't stand the 'puppy-dog eyes'! I still haven't gotten to the point where I trust her in the house while we are gone either. She is still bad to get into things She sleeps with me but I have my bathroom gated in half - half for me and half for her! The rest of the time when we are home she pretty much has the run of the house (& she thinks she is the boss of the house, too.) They are sweet, entertaining and good company but they're still a lot of trouble. Ginger is pretty smart. I have been able to teach her several things like sit, give me five, dead and roll over and I'm sure she can do more if I'd put more time into it. She seems to just know what I'm saying to her. She's the third poodle I've had and they've all been pretty smart. The one outside is the one I should have been working with all these years. She is really smart. Golden Retriever. She does several things but I haven't worked with her like I should have.

Hi...another new member here. I'm fighting the "How did I get so fat?" issue along with Fibromyalgia which I was diagnosed with 19 years ago. I was doing okay there for awhile but FM has reared it's ugly head the past few years (since moving to Florida from New England). I'm following the South Beach plan, am in phase 2, and managing my FM pain with very little medication. What works for me is Tramadol with Advil, twice a day. I am quite active for a woman of size and finally have the luxury of staying at home and being a housewife. I have a very large Great Pyrenees who is spoiled rotten and loved dearly. Looking forward to reading the forums here.

Anne, it has been in the mid-70's this week here! It has been wonderful!! I know we are probably in for a nasty winter since it has been this nice.

Candice, I hope you and hubby are feeling better!! I have a sinus infection, and I've started on an antibiotic. Not fun. When do you see the neurologist? Keeping you in prayers!

Meme, Bob had wanted me to get a hand. thing for the car when I was having major problems, but I never did. He ended up having one for the van and the car when he was so sick last Sept. There were a couple times recently when I was hurting so bad that I considered using one of them, but I didn't. I guess I should throw them away now. Have to agree with you about the dog not thinking it's a dog!!

Welcome to Gina!! We are about the same age. I'm 53. I have a 20 year old son, a 3 month old dachsund, and I live in Ohio. My husband of 27 years passed away in July, so I am still dealing with that right now. Making it hard to even want to lose weight some days.

Joanne & Meme, I agree with you about the election.

Meme, love the pictures!!! Maurice has been great with training. I keep him in the kennel when I leave the house and at night. When I let him out he goes to the back door to go out right away. I do have one of those pads near his cage just in case he doesn't make it to the back door. I agree about the puppy dog eyes!!!

Welcome to Kate!!!! I have the South Beach book somewhere. Maybe I should give it a try again. I wish I would just make up my mind to do it!!! Staying home is a good thing!! I retired 1 1/2 years ago after 30 years of teaching. I've gone back in and helped a couple of friends in their classrooms, but I wouldn't want to be doing it full time anymore.

Well, I guess I should get something accomplished other than spending the whole day on the computer! Have a great day everyone!!!!

Welcome Kate.. I did the South beach diet and lost some weight with it. The one thing I found was My colesterol went up while I was on it. I then went back to the weight watchers plan. I have lost 74 lbs and kept it off for 5 years. I am always trying to lose more.Just another 5 lbs would be good.
We are a good group .Stay around and we all can help each other.
Meme- Your little baby has grown.. I never trust Christie when we go away or sleep. She goes into her crate. I don't sleep with her . She sheds and snores. One person in the bed snoring is about enought.She hates trucks of any kind and wants to eat the tires off of them. She makes quiet a fuss when she sees or hears one go by.. Otherwise she is a joy.. She is really smart.. She knows just how to get what she wants.
Hello Everybody..Joanne

Quiet group! We had some snow today! Yuck. I am not ready for winter. I liked the 70+ degree days that we had last week.

I'm leaving in a few minutes to go to the church for the closing ceremony for the Emmaus weekend. There's a carry-in afterwards, but my plans are to just come home and eat. I always eat too much of the "wrong" foods at those things.

Hello to all!

Good morning all.....weigh in this morning and am down another 2 pounds...had some fun over the weekend so wasn't sure if I'd have a loss this week. Fibro not acting up too badly lately maybe because the weather has been sunny and warm. Trying to keep things quiet around here as my hubby has been working nights past few weeks and needs to sleep during the day. I just wish the neighbors dog would figure that out!!
Wishing a great week to everyone.

Kate - Where in Fl. do you live.. I am in Tarpon Springs.. Nice weight loss..
Hello Everybody..
This is short. I am sitting here with color on my hair. I keep saying I am going to stop doing this and then go buy the color. Vanity! Maybe I just look in the mirrow and decided I didn't like what I saw..
Joanne

Joanne, I still color my hair, too. I've thought about having it stripped. It would be solid white, I'm sure. I started getting white hair when I was in my twenties. I'd like to have it stripped, lightened and streaked but then I'd have to keep going back and keep it up and I can't afford it. An eight dollar box of dark brown color every 3 or 4 weeks is a lot cheaper and easier!

My best friend is having GB surgery in the morning. Guess I will go up and sit with her hubby. It's early ... she's first, 6:30. Hope she doesn't have the problems afterward I'm having. Still have to take a handfull of pills before I eat & stick close to the bathroom after I eat.

Welcome Gina and Kate. I don't have a lot of weight left to lose now. Maybe 5 or 6 more pounds and I'm good. I've lost about 50, though. I was diagnosed with fibro about 30 years ago and I also have Rheumatoid & Osteoarthritis and anemia. I take methothrexate for the arthritis. The last thing I tried for the fibro was Lyrica ... didn't like it. I took gold shots for years until they could no longer get it here. They really helped. I was taking Flexeril (long term) had stopped but Dr. wants me to start back. Guess I'll give it another spin on a low dose at night. Not sleeping well. I take Darvocet for the pain. Just had my GB out and between that and IBS all NSAIDS mess with my stomach big time. I have a very active life and it's hard to have to stay close to a bathroom! I had 3 Drs. tell me years ago, when my kids were still in grade school, that it was just a matter of a few years until I would be in a wheelchair and then in bed ... I cried for 2 weeks. Then I got mad ... I said they just didn't know me at all. I had a family to take care of and I wasn't going to bed. I still have a lot of pain but I live my life anyway. I'm not the type of person to just go to bed. There are a lot of days I'd like nothing better but I drag my lazy butt up and get in the shower! I'm not saying I always feel better afterward either. But I'm up and I'm keeping my promise to myself that I made 30 years ago ... the promise that I won't give up and I won't give IN because when you give IN the disease wins.

I'm 61, have 2 kids, boy (42) & girl (38) and 4 grandchildren - 13, 12 11 & 9 and I live in middle TN

Good morning from Ft myers-got home about 7 last night-we were on the road 13 days-8 of them on the train. We could have had a bigger room if I had a handicap sticker. I def would get one if I went again.
Tammy-the train fro Chicago to AZ has the most awesome scenery/ We had to go to Ch because there is no train from here out West. they lost their track rights after Katrina -at least to New Orleans-crazy.
I did not have anymore bleeding but I only can take Tylenol-ouch. NowI have a lot of pain in my left heel/ That's a new one.
The Grand Canyon was awesome!!! We were there for 3 days -it was freezing. Glad to be in FL again. The train was fun during the day because you met so many nice people-and some weird. All the meals were provided because we had a sleeper.
Best comment about the election-some of us will not find it as bad as we thinks it's going to be and the others will not find it as good as they think it will be. God is in charge.
Today I will have at least 2 naps.
There is an awesome pic of Jim in the newslettter on http//www.anotherwastedyear.org They mad him into a baseball card .Bye for now Mima

Kate, congrats on the loss! I remember when my hubby worked nights, and it seemed like the whole neighborhood went crazy during the day making noise.

Joanne, I color my hair too. I've considered letting it grow out, but I'm scared to see how it would look! Tim said I would look like one of my aunts, so that's scary in itself!!!!! lol

Meme, praying that your friend comes through the surgery with no complications now and afterwards.

Mima, I really would like to take a train trip. I know there is a station in northern Ohio somewhere.

I go to the reflexologist at 10:00 this morning, then tonight I have a board meeting for the Emmaus community I am involved in. I will be the secretary starting in January (for 3 years), so I want to get myself familiar with things.

Hi Joanne, I live just north of Vero Beach on the east coast. I am originally from Cape Cod. And Meme, right there with ya on the IBS and FM. I was diagnosed when I was 15 with the IBS and I'm 55 now. Ive been using a fiber regimen at night and that has helped immensely over the years. I should have bought stock in the company that manufactures Immodium, too! I have found that I have become almost "normal" while on the SB diet. I guess not eating refined foods/sugar/carbs does make a difference for me. My FM comes and goes. I had a few brief years with no symptoms but when it came back, it really took over. I've been to every doctor/chiro/pain mangement specialist I can think of and so far the only control I have over it is to stay active, stay on schedule with my meds (Tramadol and Advil) and see my chiropractor when I get tight. I know what you mean about not wanting to get out of bed some days. I have to force myself to get moving some mornings. My big dog keeps me going with a 2 mile walk everyday. I have an elliptical trainer I have to get back on but I just feel like someone beat the crap out of me some days. And like you, I won't let it get the best of me!! I will just keep on moving.....My current primary care physician wants me to try Lyrica but I don't like taking any medications. I only take the Tramadol because I do find some relief with it. Good luck with your health issues.