Greetings

Hello ArthritisInsight, salutation and greeting on this fall morning. I was informed of your presence on the WWW by Spelunker/Shug and was told that an introduction was de rigueur. I have seldom been effective at the intro level, however will dive in without too much ado and hope I do not, as usual, overdo the intro phase.

I am 62, a retired life-flight nurse, who was also a midwife for more years than I care to think upon; I have a Ph.D. in Public Health and another in, of all things, Art History. I am married to my best friend, no children, but a slew of nieces and nephews, great, greater, and greatest. We live “butted-up against the US/Mexico border in the shadow of Huachucha Mountain and within sight of Mexico’s San Pedro Peak. For reference, our corner of the world is southwest of Tombstone, Arizona; west of Bisbee, and south of Sierra Vista.

We, my husband and I, have a passel of puppies, a vegetable/fruit garden, and share a zest for living in the moment. I am an old hippie who dabbles in what many old hippies do: alternative healing, paganism, retro-art, divination, and being in touch with the Great Goddess Gaia, the Earth. I am a picket-walkin’, card-carrying, vocal, and troublesome environmental activist, a health-care advocate (although less that enthralled with the current “reform” bills), and a generally jovial woman.

I was diagnosed with RA circa 2004 after a year-long cycle of increase polyarthritic inflammation and increasing disability from the same. I am sero-negative, but with a high ESR and radiological evidence of synovitis and erosion.. I am on Enbrel, Arava, and Plaquenil for the escalating signs and symptoms of SS. I have a lovely assortment of pain medications to, as the doctor says, “See you through the rough patches.”

I readily answer question, but will, right now, only reiterate, HELLO.

Welcome Joan! Sorry you have a need to be here but it is a place you can get good support and understanding. Sounds like you will be able to give us a lot of information and advice. Impressive education and work history. Was the PhD in history just for fun or was that for another career? Doesn't quite go with the nursing and public health! You must have enjoyed school. Thanks for being so open with your introduction.

Hi.  Welcome to AI.  No wonder you and Shug hit it off, you have a lot in common, even in how you communicate, you must really enjoy conversing with each other.    I hope you'll share more about yourself and the things you've learned in your RA journey.  I've read quite a bit on paganism and its ancient and modern practices and beliefs and find it interesting and challenging, too.  We're all both body and soul, eh, when it comes to health and healing the two aren't mutually exclusive. 

A life flight nurse, eh? When I was doing my clinical rotation in one of our local trauma centers, there was a life flight nurse that I idolized. She strode in with confidence, gave her report, managed to get everyone on task, and then left to go save another life. She even managed to look good in her horrid jumpsuit. I was a respiratory therapist and I never really wanted to be a life flight nurse, but I would of if I could have been her.
Anyway, welcome to our lively board.
Leila

Hi! Glad to see you found you way.