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<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#9999FF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="06776ba3.gif"> <div> <B>YOU ARE NOT ALONE!</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="8dc759e0.gif" border=0 width="117" height="158" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Butterfly by:</div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.pixelating.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.pixelating.com"><U><B><IMG SRC="14164140.gif" border=0 width="100" height="20" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#99CCFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="06876ba3.gif"> <div> <IMG SRC="614d43c0.jpg" border=0 width="468" height="60" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>Judy's Story</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="4a6352e0.gif" border=0 width="53" height="46" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> Hi </div> <div> My name is Judy. This is a very nice site you have created. I have been on the internet many hours reading info and stories. Tonight I read Rita's story and it is just so - me. I have not yet been diagnosised with lupus and it is very frustrating. </div> <bR> <div> I just went off a tapering-down of prednisone for a rheumatology appt on this Thursday. Am hoping so much I can get some answers at that appt. </div> <bR> <div> I can trace my physical and mental problems back to 16 (that is how old my son is, and my problems started when he was a year old)years ago, with fatigue, lymph swelling and pain and dizziness. I limped along thru the years with good periods of time in my life and overwhelming times. Finally in the summer of '99 things came closing in. </div> <bR> <div> I am a registered nurse have done home care nursing for years. Very seldom ever call in sick and was known to be a good nurse. But in that summer I was extremely tired. We were short staffed and every one was pitching in and doing extra. I remember my boss fussing at me for not doing extra and I remember being so tired i knew I could hardly do my normal load let alone any extra. We were getting ready to move to a new facility and I kept telling myself when we moved I would get real organized and we would have better working conditions and everything would be OK. That summer I had an annoying pain in my rt. side and a friend also a nurse said I was probably developing gall bladder problems. At the end of the summer, I got very sick chills and pain and severe fatigue and the pain went down my leg like a terrible tooth ache. I thought I was dying. I went to the ER three times, the third time I was put in the hospital, and sonograms and all kinds of exams were done to find nothing. I went home feeling terrible and like a hypochondriac. Several days later I broke out blisters on the shoulder and groin area. I had shingles for the fourth time in my life. From that time on I went back to work but never seem to recooperate. By Jan. of 2000 I was aching from head to toe, and so tired. I went to the dr. and they did an ANA and it was positive they gave me arthritis med. I was still so fatigued. And every day I went to work I prayed each home visit that I did that I would make it thru it. Finally in April I got shingles again and then UTI that would not clear. I was unfunctionable by this time. My husband and I decided we would take my retirement which was not a lot but could live off of it for awhile, I did not figure I would be here to see retirement. This could be an extrememely long story so lets see how I can shorten it. Thru the next few months I would see former co-workers and they would say must be great to be home now, and I would think if you only knew how bad I felt. I continued to feel so bad, like I had the flu all the time, I ran a low grade fever, so fatigued, ached from head to toe, my vision was terrible, I had a cough at times, neuralgias, much more I could tell. Finally one day I read on the internet about fibromyalgia and at the next dr. appt. I asked about it, that day the dr. was very rude and said I was preoccupied with physical ailments and was not supportive. I was devastated, I felt I had tolerated feeling so badly for so long and continued to work and do my job etc. long after I felt like I was dying, and now that I was finally seeking some help - she was so uncaring. My daughter had called there twice telling her there was something terrible wrong with her mother (she is actually sort of shy) so she told me to make my family happy would send me to a rheumatologist. I went she did nothing. I went several times, and the last visit told her I knew there was nothing she could do for my fibro, but I did not know who to tell other than the dr. how bad my vision was getting, and mydifficulties breathing and the pain. She told me there was not much she could do for me and said to go back to my regular dr. When I left that day, I decided I would just go home and die and never mention how bad I felt again. </div> <bR> <div> Several months later I came across a book about fibro. to make this part short, I switched to CNP. to one who was endorsing the simple program. She was very suppportive did blood work .....and several months later told me I had lupus. gave me lots of great litature, I was devastated for a day or so and then rellieved to have a diag. for all my problems. She set me up with a rheum, the appt was 3 mo. away. meanwhile I came in feeling really bady a month later, drooping eye, fogged mentally, (I had felt this way many times before) and she said I had suffered long enough and gave me pred. dose pack. My whole life changed. I felt like a new person, I felt like getting out of bed, pain was almost gone and it was wonderful I went to the rheumatologist on 30 mg. of pred. and he said I did not have lupus, back to the NP who believed they had missed diag. completely and set me up with her dr. over her, who too was conservative. They said I had myasthenia gravis,I had a neg. acetyl cho test and they never did an emg or tensilon test and sent to neurolgist that was last Oct. they keep bouncing me around and now on med. for myasthenia gravis. I go to rheum. on Thurs and I believe it is lupus The symptoms I have experienced are severe fatigue, aching all over like flu, low grade fever l00 most of the time, blurred vision, mental fog (forgetfulness) dizziness, puffy hands, numb area, lots of neuralgias.......I also have a rash on my neck and upper chest most of the time. I have had three positive ANA test. The DNA test was neg. They did lymes, hepatitus, Aides, B12.....all neg..It all points to lupus I think. </div> <bR> <div> To top it all off, I have no money, cannot work, dr. wont even let me work. Dr. told me I need to apply for perm. dis. which I recently did but they say it takes a very long time. </div> <div> That is all the long negative story. I do have a very supportive husband who is so understanding and helps me so much physically and mentally. I have two great kids and a wonderful little grandson. My folks are still living and in quite good health. So for the most part I stay in good spirits, cause I do have a lot to be thankful for. My mother in law gave us some money several months ago and we paid most of our bills thru March after that have no idea how we are going to live financially. I have been on the internet for hours in the past trying to find something I could do at home, but in vain so far. I just have to believe the Lord will provide and take care. If you like I will write an update after dr. visit and tell what this rheum. says. </div> <bR> <div> Thanks for this site to tell our stories. For the most part I keep quiet about my story elsewhere. I feel like I am whining otherwise. </div> <div> God Bless, Judy</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="3cb50420.jpg" border=0 width="80" height="66" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="4170e0e0.gif" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B><A HREF="id52.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="True Lupus Stories"><U><B>True Stories Main</B></U></A><B>  <IMG SRC="0fb0e0e0.gif" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </B><A HREF="id64.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Amys Story"><U><B>Amy's Story</B></U></A><B>  <IMG SRC="1150e0e0.gif" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B><A HREF="id48.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lupus Links Rings"><U><B>next page</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B>My Lupus World Index</B></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="417" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="96"><div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="My Lupus World"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <bR> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id75.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MLW Introduction"><U><B>Introduction</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="96"><div> <A HREF="id35.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="My Story"><U><B>My Story</B></U></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About Lupus"><U><B>About Lupus</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="96"><div> <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Family"><U><B>Family</B></U></A></div> <bR> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="96"><div> <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Friends"><U><B>Friends</B></U></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="96"><div> <A HREF="id24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Positive Mental Attitude"><U><B>P.M.A.</B></U></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Suggestions"><U><B>Suggestions</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 33 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id38.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Helpful Tips"><U><B>Helpful Tips</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Latest Topic"><U><B>Latest Topic</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id52.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="True Lupus Stories"><U><B>True</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id52.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="True Lupus Stories"><U><B>Lupus Stories</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="96"><div> <B>Reserved for Future</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 32 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id48.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lupus Links Rings"><U><B>Lupus</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id48.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lupus Links Rings"><U><B>Links & Rings</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="96"><div> <A HREF="id45.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Card Shop "><U><B>The</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id45.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Card Shop "><U><B>Card Shop</B></U></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="96"><div> <A HREF="id59.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Riddles Jokes"><U><B>Riddles</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id59.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Riddles Jokes"><U><B>'n' Jokes</B></U></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="96"><div> <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Forum Guest Book"><U><B>Forum &</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Forum Guest Book"><U><B>Guest Book</B></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 33 WIDTH="96"><div> <A HREF="id33.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Your Chat Room"><U><B>Chat Room</B></U></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="96"><div> <A HREF="id107.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Shop"><U><B>Shop and Help Lupus</B></U></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="96"><div> <A HREF="id32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mail Room"><U><B>Mail Room</B></U></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="96"><div> <B>Reserved for Future</B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>