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Nancy's Story

NGK1299@aol.com 

Hello my name is Nancy and this is my story-

Two years ago I got engaged to who I think is the most wonderful man in the word and my parents hate. I wsa kicked out of my home the night I got engaged and that is how it all started. Throughout the next year while planning my wedding, my parents still not talking to me, and now seeing a pshchologist I started to have pains in my knees. This was not a surprise to me because I had knee surgery a few years back for torn ligaments. I went to see an orthopediac who twisted and pulled and took some exrays. Then sent me on my way saying nothing was wrong. Because I was under extreme emotional stress I left believing it was all in my head. As I continued planning my wedding the pain spread from just my knees to my ankles and toes to by back and also my hands. That is when I started to panic. You see I am an avid crafter and love to crochet. With my hands not working I started to become my depressed. It was not until my minister suggested that I might limes disease (because all my joints hurt) that I went to my family doctor. After a few blood tests I got the call 2 months before my wedding that I had a serious case of rheumatoid arthritis. I cried for hours. How could this be hapening to me - the dancer, soccer player, swimmer, volleyball star?? I'm still asking that same question today. I still have pain everyday even with the medication I'm on. I've learned that my disease probably began earlier because of the extreme emotional stress I was under.

I thank my lucky stars that now have a husband who is always supportive. Without him I would be lost. I hope that some day the emotional pain that accompanies my psycial pain will subside. I hope that all of you will help be through the pain I endure. But I have learned to tell myself that it could be worse, and I could be alone.
Thanks for listening,
Nancy