I'm here.....
May 5, 2008 1:11pm
Oh my. It will take me at least w eek to get to all the hugs. I'm coming close to getting emotional here. It was a …
Progress
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shelley
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About Me
shelley
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About Me
I just graduated from college, 5-11-o6. I had part of my master's work done for entry and a resume almost completed. I'm an artist, B.A. in Fine Arts, minor in Art History, & another minor in Sociology. I wanted to become a Clinical Social Worker and help the vets coming home through the V.A. I also attended American Academy of Art in Chicago. I am a daughter of a Combat Engineer in Vietnam. My father was there from 68-70. PTSD and Agent Orange have been in my life from the time I was concieved. He has many medals as well as 3 Purple Hearts. My artwork was going to be my therapy with the anticipation of a great deal of stress counseling. However, I understand Vets and nothing shocks me, story wise. I wanted to help, one vet at a time. My illness has taken over physically and and emotionally. I am coming to grips after finally, been sick for over a year. I am fianlly ready to start a new series of artwork while still exploring with the last series. I do hope to do some portraits, I love for people to have them, rendered from me...forever. I'm stubborn. compassionate, somber at times, and I have a good ear. I'm young, but have experianced quite a bit already on the 34 yrs. on this Earth. God Bless all of you.
I just graduated from college, 5-11-o6. I had part of my master's work done for entry and a resume almost completed. I'm an artist, B.A. in Fine Arts, minor in Art History, & another minor in Sociology. I wanted to become a Clinical Social Worker and help the vets coming home through the V.A. I also attended American Academy of Art in Chicago. I am a daughter of a Combat Engineer in Vietnam. My father was there from 68-70. PTSD and Agent Orange have been in my life from the time I was concieved.
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Interests
Drawing with pencil or pastel, and oils. I love to read, a movie fanatic, weather intrests me, I love animals, decorating, and hanging with my friends and family. I love to dance as well as my fiance. Walking with my Beagle Sadie is cherished. I am 1/8 Cherokee and love to wear authentic jewelry from Native American artisians. (the Cherokee was not into jewelry as much as the Sioux, Navajo, and Zuni...my favorite). I hope to be able to travel the world and experiance different cultures. I love nature, starry nights, biographys, museums (Field and Science and Industry), plays, and music! The Art Institute of Chicago is my favorite, I know it like the back of my hand.(I can take the Southshore Line or 45min. drive)
Drawing with pencil or pastel, and oils. I love to read, a movie fanatic, weather intrests me, I love
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Recent Activity
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Journal
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Journal Entry for February 10, 2008
February 10, 2008 3:52pm
I am coming out of my deep depression finally. I have had a very hard time dealing with the symptoms that are more evident than …
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Journal Entry for January 29, 2008
January 29, 2008 11:54pm
I'm feeling really nausiated today. My dinner is cooked, but I have to wait till 1am to eat it. I have my benadryl then...so I …
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Journal Entry for January 22, 2008
January 22, 2008 1:07am
I jst finished eating. I had a thin sliced pork chop baked with organic basil on it. Annie's Ranch sauce to dip it in. …
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Journal Entry for January 7, 2008
January 7, 2008 7:09pm
It's close to med time so this is short. I've been still doing my jewelry and I hope top start a pastel tonight. The swimming is …
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Hugbook
Hug
Hi. Remember me?
Moment of Peace
how are u
Rainbow
hello my friend. i haven't forgotten you.. terry
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Hug
MISSPLACED YOUR NUMBER..CALL ME.. TERRY
Hug
Hope you are doing good.
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Photos
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Goals
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Support Groups
Close Food Allergies
I am diagnosed as 7-07-06 with Chronic Idiopathic Angiodema/Uticaria. Anaphylactoid, meaning "like anaphylaxis" is the main symptom along with 10 others. Anaphylactoid does not involve the iGe, C1, or C4 antibodies, it works more off of sensitization rather than the antibodies wich are normal with my blood work-up. It is just as deadly and is treated just like anaphylaxis. My body rejects all foods(no matter how organic or pure, apples, plain chicken, ect.) beverages, except water, chemicals like bleach, Arm & Hammer Carpet Refresher, ect., I hive in the cold and heat. Stress also compounds the symptoms, so I do stay in a controlled environment as much as possible. The prognosis is POOR, 1 yr. to life. We don't know. I go to a allergist/immunologists in Indianapolis. Primary is here in Hobart.
Treatments
- Avoid Certain Foods / Chemicals Not Working
- Well, there is nothing to say, all of it. I had a choice of Meds. to keep me alive or a tube by the heart going to my stomach to feed. I chose the Meds. I still would react, I'm sure, to the tube food.
- EpiPen Working / Worked
- I carry 2 always, but have not used them. I have a fear of needles. I take a lot of Benadryl. I will use them now though if needed.
- Prednisone Working / Worked
- I take 2.5mgs a day. Both of my doctors want me off, but my throat closes to were you can't see the back at all and I am less functional. It's a NASTY drug, but is allowing me somewhat of a life.
- Benadryl Working / Worked
- I take 50 mgs every 6 hrs. and I will take more if needed. I take over 200 Bens. a month. Without the Ben., my doctor has said and I know, would die. It is saving my life. I've been on it since 6-26-06 constantly.
- Zyrtec Working / Worked
- 10 mgs. every day helps keep my lungs open. I am also asthmatic, however I can not do any Nebulizer treatments or hit my inhaler, it makes my heart race and the reactions more severe.
- Xanax Working / Worked
- It helps with the anxiety from this chronic condition. Before this hit me, I had no anxiety problems.
- Zantac Working / Worked
- I now experiance Acid Reflux. 150mgs. in the morning usually does it for the day. Plus I it helps with the nausia.
- Darvon Working / Worked
- I only take this when my daily headaches are to were I can't take it anymore. I am a Migraine suffer, but only get hem 1 or 2 a yr. I also react to those meds as well(before the chronic illness.
Close Asthma
I was just diagnosed as an adult with asthma in Dec. of 03. I had a lung infection for over a month, my lips would turn blue. My sister had it all her life, both my parents were diagnosed as adults. Thereis some scarring in the lungs. As a child I always had the flu, bronchitis , or pneumonia.
Treatments
- Advair Working / Worked
- I'm on it for 2 weeks for my Upper Respitory Infection that is viral...YUCK!
- Breathing Exercises Not Working
- I hope to get back into Yoga, last time I did a few moves, hives began to appear.
- Entocort Not Working
- Did not try.
- Immunotherapy Not Working
- Never tried. My immune system is in Hypersensitive mode, I react to almost everything.
- Inhaler Not Working
- Makes my heart race, therefore increasing the allergic reactions wich is worse before after I hit the enhaler. If I have an Ashma attack, I take additional Benadryl.
- Singulair Not Working
- Severe allergic reaction, throat closure & other symptoms this past July.
- Benadryl Working / Worked
- 50mgs. every 6 hrs. keeps me alive.
- Zyrtec Working / Worked
- 10 mgs. in the morning and 10mgs. at night.
- Flonase Working / Worked
- It is helping so much that my lungs haven't felt this good and open in months!! @ puffs in the morning and 2 puffs at night!!
- Nasacort AQ Working / Worked
- That is also helping with my sinuses!!!! 2 hits each nostral.
Open Depression
Type: Clinical (Major) DepressionI have known depression all my life. I have been able to maintain quite well off of meds since I was 20. I was diagnosed with clinical depression at the age of 18, with a 21/2 week hospitalization. I know, since I have been diagnosed with a very rare chronic disorder (explained on my Allergies community statement), my deprssion has developed and almost out of control at times. I experiance meltdowns almost everyday, there are some that I am coping ok. I am diagnosed, through recent pyschological testing with two rare disorders that have been induced from the chronic illness that has stolen my well being. I fight for my life every day.
Treatments
- Prozac Not Working
- I reacted to the generic.
- Psychotherapy Working / Worked
- It is helping a great deal. My family can only withstand so much.
- Celexa Not Working
- I reacted with throat closure.
- Prozac Not Working
- I reacted with throat closure.
- Zoloft Not Working
- It was working as well for the amount of dosage and was to expensive for me out of pocket.
- Celexa Working / Worked
- YES! It is working and I have no throat closure! I'm soooo happy about that, I can't be having 1-3 meltdowns every day.
Open TMJ
I was diagnosed about ten years ago. Since I experiance so much facila swelling, my jaw doesn't pop like it use to. I do grind though and thats a problem for me!
Open Scoliosis
I was dignosed with Scoliosis at the age of 7. I have an S curve and was treated for it at The University of Illinois in Chicago. I took part in a study that is in the medical books. I was the guinia pig for the Modified Boston Backbrace, the first one. It is similair to the Milwaukee Brace. The Boston doesn't have the head rods. I had to sleep in it every night for well over a year. It did work. I also had to do exercise's out of it. My spine had shifted my lungs and so forth. I am lucky that it wasn't worse, rods and bolts were a last resort. My curve did get to 23%. However, 40% on up, if correct is when the surgery comes in. My left hip and leg are 1cm. off. When I do bend over, I do go crooked some and you can see the 2 curves, one lower, one upper. I do have pain in the lower section on the left side around a disk.
Treatments
- Brace Working / Worked
- I was the study for the Modified Boston Backbrace at the University of Illinois. in Chicago. I have meet one person that wore this brace. I told her, I was the study for that and am glad it helped her! I remember having all these handsome doctors standing around me!
- Physical Exercise Working / Worked
- I had to do exercises out of the brace. It did help, although there were times I hated them. Now, I appreciate all the work that my folks, doctors, therapy, and I did. Well worth it.
Open Hives
Well, my story is with the food and allergies section. I'm diagnosed with Chronic Idiopathic Angiodema/Urticaria. My body regects all food, beverages (except water), most chemicals, cold conditions, hot ones, mold, ragweed, a lot of meds, vitamins, ect.
Treatments
- Avoid Certain Foods / Chemicals Not Working
- Everything is rejected ny my body food wise. There are some chemicals that my body is fine with, some it's not.
- Benadryl Working / Worked
- I take 50mgs. every 6 hrs. So, I take at least 220 25mg. capulats a month plus some extra for some foods. This drug is what is keeping me alive. I've been on Ben. every day since 6-26-06
- Prednisone Working / Worked
- 2.5mgs every morning. Due to the long term diagnosis, they want me on a low dosage...this drug is nasty.
- Zyrtec Working / Worked
- 10mgs. every morning. It, along with the Prednisone assits the Benadryl.
Open Migraine Headaches
I have had Migraines after my first concussion in 1982. I was finally diagnosed in 1985. I do lose vision ans see auras before a Migraine starts. Luckily, I don't have them to often. However, I have had one previously for 11 days, that was awlful.
Treatments
- Imitrex Not Working
- Allergic.
- Dextropropoxyphene Working / Worked
- This is the only drug I can take to relieve my daily headaches or a Migraine.
Open Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
I have Carpel Tunnel in my right hand. It began when I was working in a factory. Now, if I hold onto something tight, even my paaintbrushes or pencils, the tingeling and numbness occurs. It feels as if there are a thousand tiny knives sticking my hand.
Treatments
- Wrist Splint Considering
- I know I will have to wear one soon.
Open War & Terrorism
I am a daughter of a combat Vietnam Vet. He was a Combat Engineer for the Army through 1968-70. He has 3 Purple Hearts along with a slew of medals. He has PTSD and sprayed Agent Orange 9 times by hand. He also was a pointman, did mine patrol, cleared villages, radio, manned the bridges, made booby traps, lived with the vietnamese for 6 months, lived in the jungle 2 weeks at a time and was in the largest convoy that went to Cambodia. I was born 2 years after he came home. I love him, I know he did what he had to do to survive. He has seen more than he's willing to admit to me, although him and I can talk about it openly. I love him, he is my hero. WELCOME HOME AND GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU.
Treatments
- Psychotherapy Working / Worked
- I and my family were in therapy to help us deal with his PTSD wich has led to him being 100% disabled. His sleepwalking and flashbacks were dangerous growing up. He also used substance abuse to self-medicate. He is completely clean now.
Open Endometriosis
Since my very first cycle at 12, it lasted 14 days. I thought that was normal. At the age of 22, I began having some serious problems. I ruptured a cyst on my right overie that caused a massive opelvic infection. That put me in the hospitol for 3 days with a Laporscopy performed. The infection, on antibiotics and bedrest fro 2 1/2 months...eventually double antibiotics. There were pin holes on my overies from the infection. So, I recovered and a few months later, I again began to experiance pain, severe pain. They went in by performiong a Laporatomy. My ligamnets to me overies had not stopped growing, they were laying on the tail of my spine when she went in. I lost part of my right overie due to a cyst and my appendix was removed becuase it was hot. I was finally diagnosed in 1997 through a emergency laporoscopy. To make this short, I began rupturing cysts every 2-3 months like clockwork. I began with those early problem in 1995. I had a Complete Hysterectomy at the age of 28...2002, I have no children. I had 3 scopes, 2 laporotimies, and 1 cystoscope.
Treatments
- Surgery Working / Worked
- Finally I had to have a Complete Hysterectomy, cervix and all at the age of 28. I do not have children and obviously can't.
