Hi Ken,
Yes it is getting me down. I was so happy and loved life before this this crap hit me. So the pain is really getting to me. Making life more tolerable now, and withdrawing later on as you said sounds great, but with a progressive illness and being young, that terrifies me. I know no one has the answers though and in taking this one day at a time (which is all anyone has anyway), I guess I have to think of now and maybe willing to try something.