Amy's Story

<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> <div> <B><IMG SRC="576acd10.gif" border=0 width="172" height="209" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="4a4afa00.gif" border=0 width="175" height="160" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <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> </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>Amy's Story</B></div> <div> <B>by: Lynda Appel</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="4a6352e0.gif" border=0 width="53" height="46" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> Preliminary note: Amy is not her real name. I chose it for privacy reasons. She is a real woman. She and I have been dear friends with each other over twenty years. </div> <div> Also since every one is an individual, her coping is not meant to imply that her ways are the only methods that work. </div> <bR> <div> First a little primer on Lupus. Lupus is a chronic anti-inflammatory, auto-immune disease. There are basically two forms, discoid and systemic. The former is characterized by a rash across the cheeks and nose. It is butterfly shaped and makes the person look somewhat wolf like. In fact Lupus means wolf in Latin. </div> <div> Amy has the second much more serious type. This version attackes mostly women of child bearing age. It can adversely affect all systems of the body> Mostly like joints, liver, kidneys and nervouse system. She was in her mid thirties when she was diagnosed. I remember her reaction. She was greatly distressed, in tears, deeply worried about her future. Her lover, Joanna of over two decades was there to comfort her. She still is there to be of help and care.</div> <div>  </div> <div> Amy takes medication to cope with her arthritic symptoms. That is for her joint inflammation and pain. Her prescription drugs are prescribed by her rheumatologist. Amy felt her specialist not only was quite knowledgeable about her condition but of equal importance he was a genuinely caring of her Unfortunately he is retiring soon. She hopes and prays that she finds a doctor that is as knowing and caring as him.</div> <bR> <div> "My faith gives me hope and strength" she truly believes. "Primarily faith helps me with my condition. And without faith I would have not made it this far. With the lupus you also have depression." You do have mood swings. This can also be a side affect of the medication. </div> <bR> <div> Her current symptoms are lots of joint pain, trouble walking. Sometimes she is able to get around and sometimes not. She can get very fatigued. Joanna helps her spirtually, lovingly and emotionally. </div> <bR> <div> She looks for the rest of her future as being bright because she came to the realization that she must cope with her condition for the rest of her life. She was in denial in the beginning but now she realize Lupus is a life long condition. </div> <bR> <div> She tries her best to avoid rain and snow since dampness can worsen her condition. She also makes wholehearted attempts not to get to get too stressed out. But most of all Amy copes with her Lupus with a strong faith and equally with help and love from Joanna.</div> <bR> <div> For more information about Lupus and other auto-immune disorders please check out my web site<A HREF="http://www.internations.net/appellcore/home1.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.internations.net/appellcore/h"><U><B> </B></U></A><A HREF="http://www.internations.net/appellcore/home1.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.internations.net/appellcore/h"><U><B>"Lynda Appell Core DisABILITIES Resources"</B></U></A><A HREF="http://www.internations.net/appellcore/home1.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.internations.net/appellcore/h"><U><B> </B></U></A></div> <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="id51.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ritas Story"><U><B>Rita's Story </B></U></A><B> <IMG SRC="0fb0e0e0.gif" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B><A HREF="id61.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MARYS STORY "><U><B>Mary's </B></U></A><A HREF="id61.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MARYS STORY "><U><B>Story</B></U></A><B> </B><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> <B> <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 </B></U></A><A HREF="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About Lupus"><U><B>L</B></U></A><A HREF="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About Lupus"><U><B>upus</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></B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>