WELL, IT IS FEBRUARY 20TH AND I AM FEELING ALMOST HEALTHY AND VERY HAPPY.  I AM BACK WITH FAMILY (VERY, VERY IMPORTANT} AND NOT SMOKING.  I HAVE A NEW DOCTOR WHO SENT ME TO RHEUMATOLOGIST TO FIND OUT IF THE STIFFNESS IS DUE TO ARTHRITIS OR PREDNISONE WITHDRAWAL.  SHE HAS ME BACK ON PREDNISONE  5 MGS A DAY AND IS WEANING ME SLOWLY DOWN.  I CAN DO ALMOST EVERYTHING I USED TO DO BEFORE I GOT SICK.  I TAKE WALKS, HAVE NO TROUBLE IN THE SHOWER, AND THE STIFFNESS IS ALMOST GONE (TEMPORARILY ANYWAY).  TIME WILL TELL WHETHER IT WILL COME BACK.  I PRAY FOR EVERYONE ON THIS SIGHT TO FEEL AS WELL AS I DO TODAY.  I QUIT SMOKING,  LEFT THE FLORIDA TEMPERATURES AND I THINK JUST AS IMPORTANT, I AM SURROUNDING MYSELF WITH ALOT OF FAMILY AND SUPPORT.  I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM ANYONE WHO NEEDS ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT I HAVE PLENTY TO GIVE.