Question:
In article <408D9FB9.A1F8…@execulink.com>, J <Buck…@example.net> wrote [ >Besides what's mentioned there, I use a high powered vacuum cleaner with a >crevice tool >it's a pointy thing to do the perimeter of every room, it's also great to go >around the edges of rooms, baseboards, and behind furniture, window ledges, >under stoves and fridges or the perimeter of the celing for dust and spider >webs. >I even do my car at least twice a year.
If you're vacuuming to get rid of allergens, you need to use a cleaner with a filter that prevents what is sucked in at the sucky end coming out the vents! One such type of filter is HEPA, I believe. Various consumer organisations do tests on these - not every machine is as wonderful as the makers say. -- Andy Taylor [Chair, N E Lupus Group] See http://www.northeastlupus.org.uk for more!
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -JB wrote: > Thanks to each of you who have responded to my long email – J, BJ, and Andy. > I can pretty well guess that all my long history is not SLE. > I think I’ll feel better when I can get in to see my primary physician, who > is a conversationalist, and who takes time with me. If not for him, I would > never have gone to the rheumatologist in the first place. I was just > troubled with my dry mouth, not wanting it to get worse, and one eye was > becoming dryer too (my eyelid was sticking to my eye after I went to sleep > at night). I need also to get in to see an ophthalmologist to explore why my > eyes are dry, apparently. My MD feels there is more we might know about it. > The test for Sjogren’s was negative, so far; yet, the Rheum. says I could > have it, regardless. I have noticed that backing off my allergy and sinus > medication has helped, I’ll still have to take it to sometimes, but I think > I’ll wait until I’m uncomfortable rather than dose daily, like my MD had me > doing. > About seven yrs. ago, I had a nasal surgery, at the recommendation of an ENT > specialist, who said my dry nose and sores were related to turbulence from a > broken nose I suffered years before. When he did the surgery, he removed > polyps too. Since the surgery, my sinus headaches have been worse, believe > it or not, and the sore on the septum never went away (my sinuses have a > constant, clear drip right where the sore is). Nasal gel makes it feel > worse, and saline spray is hard to keep up with, remembering to do it with > any regularity. My allergies are year round, due to dust mites, but now I’m > taking allergy shots, hoping to require less medication. I did get temporary > relief recently when an allergist gave me bactroban ointment to try, but it > just came back when I ran out of the medication. He stated that most nasal > ulcers have bacteria in them when biopsied, but he also said with my long > history he suspected I may never get rid of it. He told me I couldn’t use > nasal steroids for sure, though steroids never caused it. > I’ll explore the web site and FAQ’s you mentioned, thanks. > I am not ready to seek disability, I must work and bring in a good income > for now. Disability in this country doesn’t pay the bills, I don’t believe. > Thanks again,
Best wishes to you then, If there’s anything we can do to help (info/support), please let us know. Keep in touch and thanks for explaining J
Response:
Hi JB I posted this earlier, maybe help with your mites/allergy? There were tons (probably) at work too and paper dust. Nobody wanted to bother cleaning so I got stuck with vacuuming and tidying up and dusting. Sometimes the guys would clean off their own desks. The worst was the boss ! These things live by the millions in our bedding, pillows, curtains, mattresses/down the inside sides of mattresses, clothing, mops, cloth chairs, shoes/boots or couches and carpets. I also think they may live in certain types of wallpaper, stacks or bags of papers etc. Dust mites ! http://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/HGIC2551.htm Besides what’s mentioned there, I use a high powered vacuum cleaner with a crevice tool it’s a pointy thing to do the perimeter of every room, it’s also great to go around the edges of rooms, baseboards, and behind furniture, window ledges, under stoves and fridges or the perimeter of the celing for dust and spider webs. I even do my car at least twice a year. http://www.vacuum-cleaner.com/1571.html I’m not advocating any product there, just showing you what crevice tool is. So I try to do each room, bit by bit, at least 4 or 5 times a year. So if you or someone in your family has breathing problems, there’s some tips that might help. FYI and FWIW J
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -"JB" <apr…@pokynet.com> wrote in message news:… > Thanks to each of you who have responded to my long email – J, BJ, and Andy. > I can pretty well guess that all my long history is not SLE. > I think I’ll feel better when I can get in to see my primary physician, who > is a conversationalist, and who takes time with me. If not for him, I would > never have gone to the rheumatologist in the first place. I was just > troubled with my dry mouth, not wanting it to get worse, and one eye was > becoming dryer too (my eyelid was sticking to my eye after I went to sleep > at night). I need also to get in to see an ophthalmologist to explore why my > eyes are dry, apparently. My MD feels there is more we might know about it. > The test for Sjogren’s was negative, so far; yet, the Rheum. says I could > have it, regardless. I have noticed that backing off my allergy and sinus > medication has helped, I’ll still have to take it to sometimes, but I think > I’ll wait until I’m uncomfortable rather than dose daily, like my MD had me > doing. > About seven yrs. ago, I had a nasal surgery, at the recommendation of an ENT > specialist, who said my dry nose and sores were related to turbulence from a > broken nose I suffered years before. When he did the surgery, he removed > polyps too. Since the surgery, my sinus headaches have been worse, believe > it or not, and the sore on the septum never went away (my sinuses have a > constant, clear drip right where the sore is). Nasal gel makes it feel > worse, and saline spray is hard to keep up with, remembering to do it with > any regularity. My allergies are year round, due to dust mites, but now I’m > taking allergy shots, hoping to require less medication. I did get temporary > relief recently when an allergist gave me bactroban ointment to try, but it > just came back when I ran out of the medication. He stated that most nasal > ulcers have bacteria in them when biopsied, but he also said with my long > history he suspected I may never get rid of it. He told me I couldn’t use > nasal steroids for sure, though steroids never caused it. > I’ll explore the web site and FAQ’s you mentioned, thanks. > I am not ready to seek disability, I must work and bring in a good income > for now. Disability in this country doesn’t pay the bills, I don’t believe. > Thanks again, > JB > "BJ" <B…@sk.nojunk.ca> wrote in message > news:108neqseq95vk0b@corp.supernews.com… > > Hi JB, > > I am BJ from Canada. Now we are going to cause confusion with our > initials, > > aren’t we? <g> I would like to extend a welcome to you. We have another > > newly diagnosed member to the group, DeAnne. Both of you are at a > difficult > > and confusing time. It takes a while for the news to settle in your mind. > So > > many of the things you mentioned sound familiar to me. I have found that > > often answers as to why things happen, and the exact cause of them are > never > > given. You may have a clearer picture, once all of your other test results > > come back. We may be able to be of more help then, if you would like to > post > > the details to us. Please feel free to jump right in, and talk to us about > > anything. > > BJ-Sk. Canada > > "JB" <apr…@pokynet.com> wrote in message
Response:
Thanks to each of you who have responded to my long email – J, BJ, and Andy. I can pretty well guess that all my long history is not SLE. I think I’ll feel better when I can get in to see my primary physician, who is a conversationalist, and who takes time with me. If not for him, I would never have gone to the rheumatologist in the first place. I was just troubled with my dry mouth, not wanting it to get worse, and one eye was becoming dryer too (my eyelid was sticking to my eye after I went to sleep at night). I need also to get in to see an ophthalmologist to explore why my eyes are dry, apparently. My MD feels there is more we might know about it. The test for Sjogren’s was negative, so far; yet, the Rheum. says I could have it, regardless. I have noticed that backing off my allergy and sinus medication has helped, I’ll still have to take it to sometimes, but I think I’ll wait until I’m uncomfortable rather than dose daily, like my MD had me doing. About seven yrs. ago, I had a nasal surgery, at the recommendation of an ENT specialist, who said my dry nose and sores were related to turbulence from a broken nose I suffered years before. When he did the surgery, he removed polyps too. Since the surgery, my sinus headaches have been worse, believe it or not, and the sore on the septum never went away (my sinuses have a constant, clear drip right where the sore is). Nasal gel makes it feel worse, and saline spray is hard to keep up with, remembering to do it with any regularity. My allergies are year round, due to dust mites, but now I’m taking allergy shots, hoping to require less medication. I did get temporary relief recently when an allergist gave me bactroban ointment to try, but it just came back when I ran out of the medication. He stated that most nasal ulcers have bacteria in them when biopsied, but he also said with my long history he suspected I may never get rid of it. He told me I couldn’t use nasal steroids for sure, though steroids never caused it. I’ll explore the web site and FAQ’s you mentioned, thanks. I am not ready to seek disability, I must work and bring in a good income for now. Disability in this country doesn’t pay the bills, I don’t believe. Thanks again, JB "BJ" <B…@sk.nojunk.ca> wrote in message
news:108neqseq95vk0b@corp.supernews.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi JB, > I am BJ from Canada. Now we are going to cause confusion with our initials, > aren’t we? <g> I would like to extend a welcome to you. We have another > newly diagnosed member to the group, DeAnne. Both of you are at a difficult > and confusing time. It takes a while for the news to settle in your mind. So > many of the things you mentioned sound familiar to me. I have found that > often answers as to why things happen, and the exact cause of them are never > given. You may have a clearer picture, once all of your other test results > come back. We may be able to be of more help then, if you would like to post > the details to us. Please feel free to jump right in, and talk to us about > anything. > BJ-Sk. Canada > "JB" <apr…@pokynet.com> wrote in message > news:108mf5gp6frku93@corp.supernews.com… > > Hello, I’m new to this group. > > I found out I have SLE just this week. > > Have had chronic fatigue/mono for 16 years (waxing/waning pattern), and > > don’t know if the two are the same, one developing into the other, or if I > > now have both. What I have now seems to me to be a continuation of the > same. > > The chronic mono has become less severe over the years, and I have learned > > to live with it pretty well. > > I have had so many symptoms over these years. > > Initially I had extreme fatigue (that felt like muscle weakness) with > muscle > > soreness and burning (especially in the upper body and extremities, much > > less noticeable in my legs), and very painful pleurisy with trouble > > breathing. In addition, my heart would race at around 120 beats per > minute > > for hours at a time. Early on, the exhaustion allowed me sleep, but that > did > > not last. > > After a couple years, the symptoms began to lessen in severity, and the > > heart racing stopped, as did the pleurisy finally also, and eventually the > > exacerbations lessened in length, and frequency; though I never could > always > > explain or predict why I’d have a relapse. In addition to the above, I > also > > experienced a mental fog, some headaches(possibly for a variety of > reasons, > > including a very mild pattern of vascular migraines, and allergies), and a > > strange visual change that would start sometimes at the beginning of a > > flare – similar to the color glow of photographs – an enhancement of the > > color which is very hard to describe. > > All of this, and in the stronger episodes, there was also a feeling of > heat > > in the muscles, and sometimes a sensation of a tremor, though not visible > > shaking. I’m not sure when it started, but I began to notice my right > eyelid > > would feel like it was sagging when my muscles became tired, though it was > > just a sensation, and not a visible sagging. > > The syndrome began with what was called mononucleosis, though the monospot > > was negative. I had a high epstein-barr titer and a specked ANA, negative > > CMV, and no one ever explained the compliment testing that was done then. > > Now, I have a homogenous pattern ANA, with low compliment testing, a low > > white cell count, and a positive anti-DNA. That is all I know right now. > > More testing is being done, and more results are yet to come in from what > > was already done. > > I had non-hodgkins lymphoma about 5 years after the chronic mono started, > > and went through chemo and radiation, actually feeling better during and > > immediately after the treatment. > > My heart beat stopped the racing it did 14-16 years ago, as I mentioned > > before, but when my lymphoma was diagnosed, I experienced instead a > > fluttering in my chest one night, and the sensations of a flip-flop, and > > momentary fullness in my chest and throat. I’m able to palpate the > > irregularity at times, when I feel the fullness and flip-flop sensation, > but > > I never have any other complaints with it. I can go for long periods and > not > > feel a thing, and then one day, I’ll notice it again. I’ve tried to pay > > attention to medications and to caffeine, but can’t relate the changes to > > either. When I’m at the doctor’s office, or on the rare occasions I’ve > had > > an EKG, the irregularity wasn’t present, and I haven’t made an issue of > it, > > fearful of the consequences that might come of a diagnosis (I need to have > a > > job), as well as the fact that I am asymptomatic when it happens, and I’d > > rather not be on medication if I don’t absolutely have to do it. > > I have developed chest wall complaints, sometimes quite painful, in the > > last several years, and pleurisy has been my companion most of the last > > year. The fatigue, muscle aches and burning, and eyelid sagging sensation > > make up the primary recurring symptoms now, though I do also get the > visual > > glow, and tremor sometimes, too. > > In the last several years, my joints have become problematic (apparently > > more bursitis and tendonitis, with some osteoarthritis, and not easily > > attributed to SLE (more related to "over use" says the rheumatologist)). > > I’ve had a nasal septal ulcer for 10 years, and don’t know if that’s > lupus > > related or not. > > I also get small circular, red, raised, and scaling spots occasionally, > too. > > I’ve had them on my arms and legs (not elbows or knees), one at a time; > > but I’ve always thought them to be mild psoriasis, though I only began to > > see them in the last 10 years, after recovery from radiation and chemo. > > My eyes have been dry, requiring artificial tears for ten years, and in > > recent months my mouth has become dry on the upper palate, mostly > noticeable > > when I try to eat a sandwich. My eyes have been extremely sensitive to > light > > for many years. My face turns red hot easily for various reasons, > including > > room temperature, exertion, and embarrassment, and my muscles burn when > > exposed to even warm inside lighting. Yet I don’t believe I’ve ever had a > > butterfly or malar rash like I’ve seen in the SLE literature. I have had > > moderately severe seborrheic dermatitis in my scalp most of my adult life, > > and atopic dermatitis around my nose for many years – but it is scaly, and > > easily controlled with gentle, liquid facial soap washing twice a day > > ((steroid cream would probably make it disappear (at least with consistent > > use), but I haven’t made a habit of using it)). > > Parts of my abdomen and back have become partially numb, in the last year. > > The abdominal area started about a year ago and seems to extend down from > > where the chest wall soreness stays so often, but the numbness in my back > > is further up, mid-back. > > I don’t know what to think about what I’ve been told. I don’t know what to > > think of all my body aches and complaints, either. The rheumatologist is > not > > easy to talk with, not a conversationalist, and doesn’t explain what she > > does say. I don’t know what I’m going to do, or be able to do to help > > myself or change my lifestyle . > > If there is risk to various organ deterioration (I know nothing of the > > extent of things as they are), I will need to try to avoid things that > might > > trigger relapses, but I can’t imagine giving up work that I must do to pay > > my bills. > > Your comment here about gravity not being your friend sounds like what I > > call "mud in my blood". I feel heavy, like if I could just lay down, I > would > > feel such relief, and if I can, I do feel relief. Sometimes, just 15 > > minutes lying down can make such a difference, but when one is at work, or > > otherwise involved, it isn’t possible, so I’ve
… read more »
Response:
In article <408B7C48.D3A15…@execulink.com>, J <StockBri…@anon.anon> wrote >Hello and welcome to alt.support.lupus
Seconded [ >Do you think it's time to try applying for disability benefits? Instead of one >word (diagnosis), it sometimes helps to list each problem and how it prevents a >person from being able to cope (at home and at work), because if we can't cope >at home, then it's difficult to keep the work thing going (unless a person is >rich or paid a high salary and can afford cooks, maids, chauffeurs etc).
If you're doing this, emphasise how bad life is when it's bad, not how well you can cope when it's good. -- Andy Taylor [Chair, N E Lupus Group] See http://www.northeastlupus.org.uk for more!
Response:
Hi JB, I am BJ from Canada. Now we are going to cause confusion with our initials, aren’t we? <g> I would like to extend a welcome to you. We have another newly diagnosed member to the group, DeAnne. Both of you are at a difficult and confusing time. It takes a while for the news to settle in your mind. So many of the things you mentioned sound familiar to me. I have found that often answers as to why things happen, and the exact cause of them are never given. You may have a clearer picture, once all of your other test results come back. We may be able to be of more help then, if you would like to post the details to us. Please feel free to jump right in, and talk to us about anything. BJ-Sk. Canada "JB" <apr…@pokynet.com> wrote in message
news:108mf5gp6frku93@corp.supernews.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hello, I’m new to this group. > I found out I have SLE just this week. > Have had chronic fatigue/mono for 16 years (waxing/waning pattern), and > don’t know if the two are the same, one developing into the other, or if I > now have both. What I have now seems to me to be a continuation of the same. > The chronic mono has become less severe over the years, and I have learned > to live with it pretty well. > I have had so many symptoms over these years. > Initially I had extreme fatigue (that felt like muscle weakness) with muscle > soreness and burning (especially in the upper body and extremities, much > less noticeable in my legs), and very painful pleurisy with trouble > breathing. In addition, my heart would race at around 120 beats per minute > for hours at a time. Early on, the exhaustion allowed me sleep, but that did > not last. > After a couple years, the symptoms began to lessen in severity, and the > heart racing stopped, as did the pleurisy finally also, and eventually the > exacerbations lessened in length, and frequency; though I never could always > explain or predict why I’d have a relapse. In addition to the above, I also > experienced a mental fog, some headaches(possibly for a variety of reasons, > including a very mild pattern of vascular migraines, and allergies), and a > strange visual change that would start sometimes at the beginning of a > flare – similar to the color glow of photographs – an enhancement of the > color which is very hard to describe. > All of this, and in the stronger episodes, there was also a feeling of heat > in the muscles, and sometimes a sensation of a tremor, though not visible > shaking. I’m not sure when it started, but I began to notice my right eyelid > would feel like it was sagging when my muscles became tired, though it was > just a sensation, and not a visible sagging. > The syndrome began with what was called mononucleosis, though the monospot > was negative. I had a high epstein-barr titer and a specked ANA, negative > CMV, and no one ever explained the compliment testing that was done then. > Now, I have a homogenous pattern ANA, with low compliment testing, a low > white cell count, and a positive anti-DNA. That is all I know right now. > More testing is being done, and more results are yet to come in from what > was already done. > I had non-hodgkins lymphoma about 5 years after the chronic mono started, > and went through chemo and radiation, actually feeling better during and > immediately after the treatment. > My heart beat stopped the racing it did 14-16 years ago, as I mentioned > before, but when my lymphoma was diagnosed, I experienced instead a > fluttering in my chest one night, and the sensations of a flip-flop, and > momentary fullness in my chest and throat. I’m able to palpate the > irregularity at times, when I feel the fullness and flip-flop sensation, but > I never have any other complaints with it. I can go for long periods and not > feel a thing, and then one day, I’ll notice it again. I’ve tried to pay > attention to medications and to caffeine, but can’t relate the changes to > either. When I’m at the doctor’s office, or on the rare occasions I’ve had > an EKG, the irregularity wasn’t present, and I haven’t made an issue of it, > fearful of the consequences that might come of a diagnosis (I need to have a > job), as well as the fact that I am asymptomatic when it happens, and I’d > rather not be on medication if I don’t absolutely have to do it. > I have developed chest wall complaints, sometimes quite painful, in the > last several years, and pleurisy has been my companion most of the last > year. The fatigue, muscle aches and burning, and eyelid sagging sensation > make up the primary recurring symptoms now, though I do also get the visual > glow, and tremor sometimes, too. > In the last several years, my joints have become problematic (apparently > more bursitis and tendonitis, with some osteoarthritis, and not easily > attributed to SLE (more related to "over use" says the rheumatologist)). > I’ve had a nasal septal ulcer for 10 years, and don’t know if that’s lupus > related or not. > I also get small circular, red, raised, and scaling spots occasionally, too. > I’ve had them on my arms and legs (not elbows or knees), one at a time; > but I’ve always thought them to be mild psoriasis, though I only began to > see them in the last 10 years, after recovery from radiation and chemo. > My eyes have been dry, requiring artificial tears for ten years, and in > recent months my mouth has become dry on the upper palate, mostly noticeable > when I try to eat a sandwich. My eyes have been extremely sensitive to light > for many years. My face turns red hot easily for various reasons, including > room temperature, exertion, and embarrassment, and my muscles burn when > exposed to even warm inside lighting. Yet I don’t believe I’ve ever had a > butterfly or malar rash like I’ve seen in the SLE literature. I have had > moderately severe seborrheic dermatitis in my scalp most of my adult life, > and atopic dermatitis around my nose for many years – but it is scaly, and > easily controlled with gentle, liquid facial soap washing twice a day > ((steroid cream would probably make it disappear (at least with consistent > use), but I haven’t made a habit of using it)). > Parts of my abdomen and back have become partially numb, in the last year. > The abdominal area started about a year ago and seems to extend down from > where the chest wall soreness stays so often, but the numbness in my back > is further up, mid-back. > I don’t know what to think about what I’ve been told. I don’t know what to > think of all my body aches and complaints, either. The rheumatologist is not > easy to talk with, not a conversationalist, and doesn’t explain what she > does say. I don’t know what I’m going to do, or be able to do to help > myself or change my lifestyle . > If there is risk to various organ deterioration (I know nothing of the > extent of things as they are), I will need to try to avoid things that might > trigger relapses, but I can’t imagine giving up work that I must do to pay > my bills. > Your comment here about gravity not being your friend sounds like what I > call "mud in my blood". I feel heavy, like if I could just lay down, I would > feel such relief, and if I can, I do feel relief. Sometimes, just 15 > minutes lying down can make such a difference, but when one is at work, or > otherwise involved, it isn’t possible, so I’ve learned just to suffer > through, because I felt I had no choice. For me, the extreme feelings do > pass in time too, when I am forced to work through them, so I’ve learned to > hold on to that hope, and not to allow myself to give in to the moment. > Please respond with any insight or guidance, given your experience. > Thanks, JB > "Mermaid" <ptaw…@tflt.com> wrote in message > news:108cqksje8bkhbe@corp.supernews.com… > > Gosh I just don’t know what is wrong with me lately. Do you ever feel like > > gravity is not your friend? Especially in the mornings, I feel like a ton > of > > concrete is on top of me. No energy and wish I could sleep for 3 days. Oh > > top of everything else, my husband is going to have knee repair surgery > May > > 21th. And he is not known for being a good patient. He will be a whinny > baby > > for a while. Wonder how he would feel having Lupus? LOL Still missing my > > doggie. However, not sure why, but a cat has shown up at the house. It > only > > comes around at night. Sweet thing. Marked like Morris, only with long > hair. > > Friendly and very talkative. I think it may have another home somewhere > and > > we are the moonlighting job. Anyway, that’s it for me. > > Just checking in and dragging my behind, > > Paulette Ethyl Mermaid
Response:
Hello and welcome to alt.support.lupus When I was reading about your eyes and nose, a few thoughts came to mind. Wondering if you’ve got some Sj
Posted in Lupus Symptoms | 
No Comments » | 
Good to have you back, Melody. How are you ? Did the flu shots work out ok for you? It’s been so long since we’ve heard from you. Hugs J 
> > "Maureen" <BlueEyedMoeTRASH S…@telus.net> wrote in message > > news:bvbzc.7272$eA.7192@clgrps13… > > > "Jennifer" <Jnos…@shaw.ca> wrote in message > > > news:Ii7zc.713746$Pk3.369861@pd7tw1no… > > > > lol..gotta love when they think we are hysterical women. > > > > Case in point… my neuro gave me the diagnosis and told > > > me" its ok if you > > > > cry". I looked at him like he was crazy. After that I > > > stood up and fell down > > > > because I had a stress fracture in my ankle. He started > > > tsk tsking me and I > > > > told him that if he would have xrayed my foot first they > > > would have noticed > > > > why I couldn’t stand on it. > > > > Another of my favs…..diagnosed June 1 of 00. Have a > > > cushy summer job doing > > > > admin work at the skating club. Mom and dad took time off > > > to drive me to and > > > > from. Everyone was accomodating. Neuro states. "i think > > > you should take time > > > > off and rest". I ask him.." Are you going to pay Mr. > > > Mastercard and > > > > Mr.Visa?" He stutters a bit and I say " well unless you > > > are paying I’m not > > > > taking a break." That particular neuro thought I was made > > > of china or > > > > something. > > > > My new neuro is all for me figure skating and practically > > > cracking my head > > > > open. I literally had a purple bum from falling on it and > > > my knees were > > > > pretty bruised too. He thinks its great. Now my butt on > > > the other hand > > > > wasn’t too happy at me. Neuro is really supportive as long > > > as I take time > > > > off if I feel like I am havnig a flare up. > > > > I also like him because he ordered me to take a vacation. > > > Now if only he > > > > would pay for it….hehe > > > > Jen > > > It’s amazing how male doctors treat some women patients. > > > I’m very small in height/weight, but have always been > > > physical fit, and am very strong for my size. I still try > > > to go for walks, etc., although I can’t go very far right > > > now, so I go short distances, and still do stretching (the > > > stretching hurts like hell), but I feel like it helps when > > > the muscles are really tight. My neuro isn’t very big and > > > when I’m well I could probably lift more than him. > > > It’s great to hear that you skate. It must be difficult at > > > times….isn’t dizziness a problem? I like to skate also, > > > but wasn’t sure how stable I’d be on skates this past > > > winter. Your doctor sounds like he’s supportive. My GP > > > told me take it real easy, and go swimming or something like > > > that, as I normally go overboard with fitness….oh well. > > > Maureen 