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Beth's Story

sorensonclan@earthlink.net

My Name is Beth aka: MES, I am a 37 year old domestic engineer with RA. I have 3 beautiful kids, 20(you saw right), 10 and 6. My RA was diagnosed just 5 months ago suddenly. Normally I mountain bike with my hubby, train my 2 dogs(lab/chow mix and Cardigan Welsh Corgi), volunteer at the state park(irradicating non-native species of plants),church youth leader, and editor of the church newsletter. Most of that has been put on the back burner for now as I am getting increasingly worse in almost all my joints.

I am a veteran of another auto-immune disease - Ulcerative colitis. After 8 years with 4 nasty life-threatening flares, I had a pancolectomy(removed colon and have an ileostomy) done Dec 98 and was CURED! No more pain, bleeding or pills(prednisone, 6mp-immunosuppressor, plus 3 others! For a year and a half I was pill and pain free! Then wham!, RA stole it all away again, yes I am still mourning the loss of my "normal" life, but I am sure that I will get better. I've been taking Enbrel now for 4 weeks and was put on MTX yesterday because I'm worse, hopefully I'll really start to feel a difference soon. I also take Vioxx, Prilosec, a water pill, iron tabs, and folic acid. Yuc! I'm a tough old bird and I won't let this get me ya know!

I have a background as a Medical tech and home health aid - sometimes I wish I didn't know the prognosis, but it is better than not knowing, right? I am so glad that I found this site and have recommended it to some others, just knowing other people believe me( I don't really look all that bad yet) is such a comfort right now! Thanks!!! I am also known as "bethsore" on another forum that Diane2 frequents also; thanks for letting me know Nightowl!

I'm done whining now, so if you have any questions or just want to chat: sorensonclan@earthlink.net is where I can be reached.