Dear Friends,

As you know, I lost my Momma Co in December, and have been dealing with almost losing my Mom and her continuing health problems.

What I have not shared are some health problems I’ve been having.

Three weeks ago today, I had surgery for cancer. I will know if the Drs got it all on Feb 23. If they didn’t, I suppose I’ll have more surgery. I don’t know if chemo or radiation will be involved. The biopsies were internal and I hemorrhaged, resulting in horrible and extremely painful circumstances. I hemorrhaged again during the surgery and my heart went wonky, but all in all, the pain wasn’t too bad and I am gaining strength day by day.

In early December, my legs quit working right. I can no longer squat down to pick up something. My knees won’t work. I have to literally pull myself up with my arms. I also have been tripping on flat floors, walking into door edges, etc., and have been experiencing a huge amount of pain in my legs and feet. I am having trouble swallowing my meds and food.

I have had to undergo some tests and yesterday I learned what the problem is and what it’s called. I have, among other things, something called Mixed Connective Tissue Disease. It's an overlap of symptoms from Lupus, Schleraderma and Polymyositis with Raynauld's thrown in to boot. It can get a lot worse or it can stay the same. It's a wait and see thing.

If the pain meds I'm on aren't enough she wants to try me on nuerontin, but I believe that it interferes with psych meds. I'm doing really well there and don't want it ruined.

I was casted yesterday for braces called AFOs. They will extend from the bottom of my toes, under my feet and up and around the back of my legs to the bottom of the back of my knees. They are hand made just to fit me and will have hinges at the ankles to force my feet to be at certain angles so my muscles, etc. will not atrophy. This is to help the nueropathy, which is deadening of the nerves. The nerves in my feet are effected and so are my legs.

I have to wear thick heavy weight support hose along with the braces and I have to see a vascular surgeon to see if he needs to laser zap some of my veins. Eeeeek!

My sed rate is 99, which is roughly 3 times greater than normal and indicates a lot of inflammation, but it, too, could be a lot worse.

I'll be able to go without the braces when I dress up as long as I'm careful and concentrate on how I'm walking.

I ordered my braces in flesh tones so I won't look so strange in shorts or skirts this summer, but I decided to put a little rose on each. That way they will still be feminine.

I start Physical Therapy next week. I have to make some lifestyle changes. I have to start working out here at home and then go there and work. I will have to work every day to keep what muscle tone and coordination I have as long as I can. Somehow I have to move my computer around so I can sit in the recliner and use it so I can keep my legs elevated as much as possible.

That's the scoop. It could all be worse and at least now I have the answers.

All prayers and good wishes are more than welcome.

Jan