Member Profile

I have mixed connective tissue disorder, epilepsy, osteoarthritis in my lumbo sacral region of my back, arthritis throughout my body, degenrative disc disease, osteoporosis, mild emphysema, inflammed lungs from the MCTD, fibromyalgia, sleep apnea, hypokalemia & peripheral vascular disease. I had to have the doctor write down most of the things I have because I couldn't even pronounce them let alone remember them. I'm not an old woman though you would think so. I'm only 55 years old. I don't know...Read More

I have mixed connective tissue disorder, epilepsy, osteoarthritis in my lumbo sacral region of my back, arthritis throughout my body, degenrative disc disease, osteoporosis, mild emphysema, inflammed lungs from the MCTD, fibromyalgia, sleep apnea, hypokalemia & peripheral vascular disease. I had to have the doctor write down most of the things I have because I couldn't even pronounce them let alone remember them. I'm not an old woman though you would think so. I'm only 55 years old. I don't know what I did to be blessed with this multitude of illnesses. I didn't live the most glamourous life style & I can't say I took very good care of myself. I smoked for 40 years & have been smoke free for two years. I was diagnosed with the emphysema after I quit smoking. Luckily it won't get any worse unless I start again. That is something I will not do. I am LDS & one of my goals is to go through the temple. I have been married 5 times to abusive men. I was very much in love with my first husband, who was my two daughters father. If I had known everything I would have gone through after we divorced I would never have left. Even though he was an alcoholic & had hurt me deeply, I still loved him with all my heart. Anyway, I'm alone now & have been for 8 years. I was taking care of my grandfather for the last 3 years with my mother until June when my grandfather and my father passed away. Now I try to take care of myself & help mom. I have really hard days & days when I feel pretty good. If you guys have any suggestions I would appreciate them. Sometimes it takes days to talk myself into even getting in the shower. I've been trying to talk myself into going to school on line. I have a degree, but it is for an administrative secratary & I can't work in an office so I want to do something on line. I want to go to school on line in criminal justice. I think it will give me a purpose to go on instead of just laying here. I also had my tailbone out in November. It hasn't been healing right so I haven't been able to sit since then. I can sit on a bubble for a little while, but mostly I just lay sideways on the couch. I'm really sick of this. My legs are very weak because of the artery disease & I can't walk to strengthen them because it makes them hurt worse. I know I sound like I'm complaining but I'm really not. I'm tired. I want some answers. I want to be well again. I want to do things with my daughters & my grandchildren. I have 10 grandchildren. My oldest granddaughter is getting married in October. I'm so excited. I have that to look forward to. I love when special occasions come up because then I have something to do. I never get out of the house. I don't have a car & my mother hates when I leave her. She gets upset if I go down the street to visit my daughter. That makes it hard. She doesn't even like it when I'm on the computer because I'm not visiting with her. I really need help. Between being sick, never getting out of the house, being lonely & feeling worthless I don't know what to do. How do I take care of myself?

I am caring for someone, Tommari, who is 56 years old, living at home.