It's been a long time. I wish I could tell you that my PN was all gone. Nope! But I've learned to live with it.

Life has gone on. My husband and I decided to downsize into a smaller house. We found one with a fenced yard for my little dogs and a sunroom for me to work in. I'm still making jewelry. But the house isn't really a retirement bungalo. It's a 4 bedroom with 2 baths But moving after 25 years in the same house gave it a good cleaning out. So we did downsize. We are in town now and I've got flower gardens. I also have access to medical transportation should I need it and ambulances/fire dept. I do miss the old place and all the trees. We have good neighbors.

I lost one of my little dogs last week. We had to put him down. It has been extremely hard for me. After all he was my baby for 10+ years.

I still cannot sit without lots of pain, but I can't stand or walk without pain either. So I pretty much do whatever I have to do and just suffer thru it.

I had double cataract surgery last month and really worried about it because of the Sjogren's. They don't tell you ahead of time that the surgery cuts some of the nerves that go to the lacrimal gland. But at the same time the surface of the eye doesn't have as many nerves as it did before. So dryness doesn't seem to be as big of an issue as it was.

I hoped there would be big news about a cure for this stuff, but none of you are posting about it. I sure need a cure. It's affecting my GI tract and lungs big time now.

I'll stay in touch more. I was feeling down and needed old friends.

Billye

Hi I was just thinking of some of the older members that have not been on the board. It is nice to hear from you.

I am so sorry about the loss of your pet. That is so hard and I wish I had the right words to comfort you. Glad you got moved. I am sure after so long in one home there is mixed emotions. I hope as time goes on you get more comfortable in your new place. It sounds like some positives with nice neighbors and pretty trees.

I remember from your posts how much you have and continue to go through. I wish there was an easy answer and cure to all of this. I guess we have to hold to hope one day there will be and till then like you say do the best we can with the limits we have.

Sending warm and pain free thoughts

Welcome back! It is always a good thing when someone returns.

But I am sorry you are still suffering so.

I also feel for you about your little doggie. We had to put our two old old cats, 20, and 24 to sleep this winter. It was devastating for me too. Tippy (20) had a stroke and Sheba (24) had kidney failure. I guess some of us with pain count on our pets for some distraction and love. But we have a new one, also black.
I have many proud pictures of her in my profile album.

And SheltieMom coined a new nickname for her... "smarty pants"!
Which is very appropriate. I like it better than "the weasel" my hubby calls her! LOL

--when I see someone who has not posted in a while posting again. (Even if said one does not report marked improvement, at least s/he is still in there fighting.)

Generally, when I haven't heard from someone in a while, I send them a private message or some such. But a few times I did this, some of the individuals I wrote to basically indicated they did not want to be bothered, so I stopped doing it. Now I have to be patient in such situations--not my strong suit, I can assure you.

Happy to see you back.

Hello Silverlady,
I do remember you and nice to see you posting. I am confused are you the lady who went to the Mayo clinic in Michigan or was it a lady named ShineySue (sp), haven't seen her posting lately, Hope you enjoy your new home.
Lanny

Hi, Billye (a/k/a/ Silverlady),

Was wondering what happened to you, and glad to see you back.

So very, very sorry to hear about your little dog. I know how devastating the loss of a pet can be, and I know how much pain you're in because of it. Hoping this will ease at least a little bit as time passes.

About your current state of health - sorry, too, that you're feeling so badly. Unfortunately, PN is still doing it's evil deeds and no magic bullet yet on the horizon.

As to the Sjogren's stuff, nothing there either. I found a local Sjogren's support group in early spring that meets five times a year, but was unable to attend because my husband fell this past winter and wound up with some bad ankle/leg fractures. All healed now, so looking forward to the next meeting (think it's July or August).

The group's coordinator is a woman who works for the Sjogren's Foundation, and she's very knowledgable (sp?). If there's anything specific you'd like me to ask when I do go, send me a PM.

You don't mention what, if anything, is being done for your lung problems. We've a niece who's had sarcoidosis since she was in her early 20's (now in her mid 50's) and lung issues associated with it. She does pretty well a lot of the time, but not to say she doesn't become ill with flares and other associated problems.

Best wishes,

Sheltiemom

Yes, I did go to Mayo in Mich. I'm not sure but Shiney Sue may have too. Seems like I remember that. I hope she is o.k. Thanks for the good wishes.