hi Jeff, if it wasn't for this place, none of us would have an outlet. Thankfully we do and with people who understand our daily battles, so please do not apologize. Our lives do change forever and that I believe is the hardest hurdle to overcome (for me at least). I am 40, worked for 25 years, college educated, always independent even in my marriage and now this big wammie! OMG, frost it with pain, throw in people who don't understand it, and add a bunch of doctors who really don't know what to do with us...yea I would say our stress level is a bit on the high side most days (which is exactly what our body does not need to fuel this ugly beast)

All I can offer you is what I do, wrap yourself in a nice warm electric blanket, get a book or magazine (something you can get lost in and think about nothing else for an hour) have some hot tea or cocoa and let your brain and body just rest, completely relax. We need time to regroup ourselves. As much as the internet is helpful, I think we consume our life researching answers that may not be there and think about nothing else in our lives, especially the things that make us smile and before we know it, another day has passed us by...so whether we spend it consuming ourselves with the "beast" in pain or spend it with happier things/people, our bodies will feel the same, but how will our minds feel? That may make a big difference!!

Be well!