That is great that you have been able to meet with some people who can understand you. I am sorry for all your suffering, but I hope you can find some peace doing some of the things you enjoy doing and can still do. I also find sci-fi very intriging (sp?). I wish I was a writer. I have tried in the past but haven't made anything of it. I love the beach! My family often visits the Oregon Coast and it is my favorite place to be. I love everything about it! I know it can be painful to talk about the things you can no longer do. I am new to this disease and am still learning how to "let" things go. I just graduated college for a degree that I probably won't be able to work in. My dream is no longer attainable know. I now have to change my entire outlook in life, my goals, my loves, my favorites, how to raise my young child, if I can even have more children like I want, marriage, everything I thought I was going to become is no longer able to be. But I have decided that this is a chance for a good change instead of a bad one. I will look at this as a way to rediscover myself and who I want to be. I get to dream up a new dream, find new favorites, new hobbies, new friends, it will be hard and it will be sad at times but if I stay positive I will make it through and I will find people who can relate and help me.
I hope this finds you in happy thoughts. may your dreams come true!!
Angelina

I am so happy for you that you have found somewhat of a control. I am sorry you are still in pain, but you are in company. It is great that you are learning to live with it better! That is the goal.. to keep living as normal as a life as we can right? I haven't tried Hyno-therapy, but I am thankful for my PT. It really does make a difference. Relaxing can be hard to do. I drink alot of Chamomile tea for that. lol I am pretty sure my weekend will be great for I will be celebrating my daughter's birthday! It will also be sad because she is having it at a skating rink so I will not be able to participate. I am very greatful for my family though, my siblings and my dad will be there to participate for me. So that is good.
Remember that the more steps you take the closer your destination gets! So keep moving forward, you will get to where you want to be. Have an amazing weekend too!
Angelina

There's no reason to apologize...

I think I took your post out of context but also wanted to let you know there is a place that won't get shuffled way back in the forum where we can introduce ourselves and share our stories.

I believe I stand corrected now that you are looking for more of a casual way to get to know each other as in what books we've read, what movie's we've seen..... what fun stuff we've done.

Then again I may still be wrong... written word can be so hard to comprehend as I can't see facial expression and can't hear inflection in anyone's voice.

Forgive me for hurt feelings I have caused. I sincerely apologize.
Abbie

My name is Shelly. I'm 39 years old. Prior to my RSD and multiple surgeries I was a 911 dispatcher.

I love animals. I am owned by 5 cats (ranging in age from 1 1/2 years old-13 years old), a dog, an aquatic turtle (red eared slider) who I have had for 16 years and a Chinchilla. Friends say I have a zoo...which is why my signature says "zookeeper". My animals are my world and sometimes I don't know what I would do without them. They keep me going when sometimes I rather do nothing. They make me laugh and smile and they are always willing to
hang out and snuggle when the pain is too bad.

I love TV. It is pretty much always on if only for background noise or if I am actually watching it.

I also enjoy reading. Dean Koontz is my favorite author. I also read a lot of animal books about training, behavior and just animal stories.

I love chinchillas! I used to have some. They were my world. I am looking forward to adopting more soon. They are the cutest and most loving animal. And boy do they have personality! lol My daughter would love a cat, but we only have a yorkie terrier right now. I think she sometimes thinks he is her dolly. lol but he loves her! Animals can be so comforting and they always seem to know when you are hurting or down. I also love to read. I am reading a series by Pitticus Lore. It is really good. What kind of shows do you like to watch?
Always follow your heart, it will lead you to your right path. It may not be the easiest path but it will be the right one.
Angelina

I love to read. Books are my savior. I also like music. I'm an okay singer, but since I had the blood clots I don't seem to have the air to breathe through anymore. I am 38. I used to be a 5K, 10K, triathlete so being incapacitated has been tough on me. I can walk some now, but my RSD spread fast and everywhere. I'm even seeing an opthomologst for my eye problems. My kids keep me out of th isolation that tends to come with rsd. I have a sr in high school, a 13 yr old, 12 yr old and a 10 yr old. One boy in the bunch. Lol, he's the 12. They have rolled with all the changes and help. I miss the old days. I like funny movies, also. I play on the computer, but not a big game person. I play temple run and word games lol. I study a lot. I'll have my M.Ed May 11th. If I can use it remains to be seen. Anyway, that's a bit about me

TK

Hi Andelina, I know from the replies to your thread that some people seem to be in legal things with their RSD so can't really post, but as I'm not I love the idea of talking about things other than RSD.

My name is Mandars (Amanda, but nobody calls me that), my late husband shortened my name to that & it's stuck I'm 50 this year, although I've had RSD for nearly 1/2 my life I have tried to ignore it & get on with life where possible. I'm a widow now & have been since 94, like you I have a daughter but she's grown up now. Suzi lives with me still & is engaged to a lovely lad, they plan to live with me even when they're married.

I used to run an animal rescue centre for cats, rabbits, guinea pigs & birds. I even had a little owl for several months. Although I stuck to taking only those I've told you about I did take in an iguana from some one who was posted abroad. I was living in a military area at the time in the south of England so had a high turn over of pets needing homes as people were posted else where. I had to give the centre up when I moved, but I still miss it. I have pets again now, an assistance dog that I trained myself, a guinea pig, 2 zebra finches & a quail. All the birds are rescued, some habits die hard

I do a lot of crafts also, I crochet, knit, cross stitch & sew. I have a grip thing to help me when I'm bad, the rest of the time I tuck the knitting needle down my brace & knit away! It's probably a sight that would give the avid knitter heart failure, but it's fun

I also love dolls housing, I use my ot therapy to make mini things for the houses we have. I use clay & femo to make foods & accessories, I sew fancy dresses for the dolls & make all sorts of soft furnishings for the houses. Whilst I was running the rescue centre for pleasure I was also working from home. I designed & made ball gowns for the military wives, also some wedding dresses.

Nice to chat to you

Books are so wonderful arn't they? They can take you to another world. I have so many books. I finally got an e-reader and I love it! I like to think that I am a good singer but I don't know if others would agree.. lol Even though you can't do those 5k and 10ks isn't it great to say that you did? I would love to have had that experience, not too many people can say that. I think that is so cool. I am sorry that your RSD has spread fast, but it is great that you can still walk, it is good that you still do. It is so important for us to keep moving. I wish you all the good luck I can give to help you in your RSD issues. Kids are also great in helping you to keep you upbeat and outgoing. My daughter keeps me moving, between dance and soccer and all her activities and not to mention taking her to the park and playing with her. She is my world and she keeps motivating me to keep pushing forward and to keep my head up. To stay positive and not loose hope. Speaking about word games I am addicted to Words with Friends Going to school is great! Good job!!! Even if you can't use it don't let that let you down. It is still an amazing achievement!! So way to go!!
"Once you choose hope anything is possible!!"
Angelina

I guess they can't post. I was not trying to get anyone in trouble. I just wanted a place to talk about things that make us happy. A place to encourage eachother in our times of need. It is amazing to me that you used to run a resuce center. I love animals. When I was younger my family used to have horses, cows, pigs, chickens, ducks, rabbits, cats, dogs, birds, fish and my brother had a huge snake. I also had chinchillas. They were my babies along with my horses.
It is good to try to keep living life as best as we can. To keep moving forward and keep our head up. Crochet has really helped me get through this. I made blankets for everyone for christmas this last year. I made 7 in 5 months. I really enjoy doing it. I am not really good at sewing but would like to learn and would like to learn to knit. That is great that you made ball gowns and wedding dresses!! What an achievement! That must have been alot of hard work!
"You were given this life because you were strong enough to live it. Everything happens for a reason, somethings fall apart so they can fall back together, but in the end what is meant to be will be."
It was also nice chatting with you.
Angelina

I agree! I also have been reading on my iPad because I can see it easier. My eye issue is making it ard to differentiate between letters and numbers at the moment. I told my cousin, who is running a marathon today, that someday even if I have to walk the whole thing and stop to rest, I will do another 10K. Lol I do love having the kids because it makes me focus less on my disease and more on them. Im so glad to have kids that recognize my limitations and know that sometimes we can't do everything. I try not to lose hope. I'm going through a rough period right now. I was approved for a scs in mid Jan (I may have said this-rsd brain lol) and the dr and hospital are in a huge fight so I've been in limbo since mid December when we started it in motion. Anyway, I tend to do retail therapy when I'm depressed so I've tried to stay off shopping sights haha. I also play words. I can't remember my ame, but I'm logged through Facebook. Oh yeah Facebook. I spend a lot of time there, here, and I funny. Oh my! Now it can be off color, but it never fails to make me smile.