Hi, everyone. I went to my niece’s last night and helped hand out candy while she took her kids trick-or-treating. It was great fun.
Well, I opened my big mouth yesterday about how I hardly ever get a cold. Of course, this morning I have a cold. Half my head is stopped up, sneezing constantly, head feels like it’s ready to explode. Grrrhhh …
JoAnn - I would normally never suggest this, but I'll do it anyhow because I know that it could help. One of the reasons that I'm still
vaping even though it has been over
three years since my last cigarette is because nicotine helps to relieve nerve pain. Many of us here with neurological disorders use the nicotine to alleviate our symptoms to some degree. I tried reducing my nic level from 18mg down to 6mg and I was amazed at how much worse my MS symptoms felt. When I caught on to that, I found that when my symptoms are particularly bad, if I
vape 24mg or even occasionally 36mg for just a few minutes, it provides some relief. I then readminister as needed. I understand that your hubby is a non-smoker and is probably not a vaper, but it might be worth an experiment when he is having a rough time.
Rave, I discovered the same thing! I’ve been vaping for over 3 years, and I just cannot go below 18mg without getting pain attacks. I still do 24mg on occasion.
Awsum, glad to hear your power is back on.
Hmmm, you are right!
I'm going to die LET'S PARTY!

Konstantine, I don’t really know you that well, since I just recently returned to the forum after being gone for around 20 months. But just know I have been thinking of you & hoping you start feeling better, and that your situation, whatever it is, improves. If it really cannot improve, then hell yes – have a party!
Good morning all, we got the internet back but still no power, maybe tomorrow so they say. Thanks for the coffee Rave, I was up way too late last night and need all I can get. Awsum, glad to hear about your power just put the gas in your car. My Generac runs on Propane so I will just have to save the left overs for the grill. We had so much snow they closed the Blue Ridge Parkway which makes life very quiet up here, I love it. I'm waiting on the farmer from down the road to plow out the driveway and then I'm going out to assess the local damage. It's kinda weird only the top of the driveway has snow and the bottom half is just covered in leaves and small trees.
1st officer, glad to hear you weathered the storm and got your internet back. Welcome back.
Not much to update on Blues' situation. He and others are still working to clear debris and repair damages. It's rough because the more he gets done, the more he uncovers that needs to be done. Disheartening, to say the least. But - no animals were injured and the families that he sheltered were all safe.
Really happy to hear he’s okay and nobody was injured. TY for letting us know.
Stopping by to say hello. As Raven told you, we were hit hard by Sandy. All the animals and people were and are safe which is the important thing. We have damage to some of the buildings here which affects how we take care of the animals. But we're just doing things differently. The more we clean up the more damage we uncover. We'll make it through, things will just be difficult for a while.
I guess I shouldn't be surprised but I am, that some of you did not know about Raven's battle with MS. Although neither of us usually mention our disabilities unless we must and if we feel comfortable. I am a Vietnam war veteran and was left disabled from that.
I admire Raven's strength and ability to overcome. She is one of a kind.
Blues, I am very happy to hear you and yours made it safely thru the storm. Sorry to hear about the damage.
I really had never mentioned my lupus before on this forum or anywhere else, so I totally understand you and Rave not really wanting to talk about it. I managed to keep working after my disability claim was denied, but was finally forced to leave my job in November 2010. My sister and brother-in-law graciously invited me to live with them after all my financial resources were used up. The hardest part for me, I think, was letting go of my pride to allow them take care of the household expenses since I no longer had an income. Thankfully, I am now drawing regular Social Security (early at age 62), so that helps.
Kiko, I totally agree. When I first left my job due to lupus, I was soooooo despondent. I had always taken care of myself and never been dependent on anyone, at least not for my financial support. But within a few months of living with my sister and her husband, I started to relax, became happier, and eventually my health started improving. I was so skinny from being ill, but I’ve now gained 30 pounds in the last 2 years and will soon have to start watching my weight if I’m not careful!
Well, I have a house (actually the bank owns it but we call it ours

) and it is pretty cosy as well as close to you.
You know you are more than welcome to stay for as long as you want...
...don' t think for a minute that it is a nice gesture, I have an ultimate goal, I know you are an awesome chef and I would love to try all of your recipies!!
I agree with Rave – If I could like this post more than once, I would!
1st Officer, thank you so much for what you wrote about veterans. I feel the same way, and not just because I served in the Army. Vietnam vets were treated horribly by the American public and just as bad, if not worse, by their own government. I never went to Vietnam and was only in a supporting role, but those years were angry ones for me. I still have the very vivid memory of being spat upon one time when I was traveling (in uniform) to go visit my parents. It took me a long time to get over that. And of course, those troops returning from Vietnam were treated much worse than that. So anyway, thank you for those very kind words.
