Full Circle

By Merely Me, Health Guide Monday, October 12, 2009
As I write this I am thinking about the first time I posted on this site.  I had MS for a little over a year and was writing about my experiences on my personal blog. I was so grateful for the help and information I had received that I wanted to give back.  And my writing was a way to do th...
Anonymous
Jeannette
10/12/09 3:08pm

Dearest Merely Me,

I am in tears as I read of your absence from this site.I understand and feel your reasons. The mark of a greatness is ones impat upon another .I can feel you,thus your absence will be acutely lost for me.The blessing of extreme presence,coexists with the pain of absence. I feel your existential and tangible loss from my moments.I wish you to be embraced with well being in every aspect of your life.

 With deepest of sincerity,

Jeannette

Merely Me, Health Guide
10/12/09 3:56pm

Oooooh nooooo now I am gonna cry too.  This is really hard.  I am glad that I did make a difference.  That is what I was hoping for.  But know that you all helped me probably way more than I could help anyone. 

 

Well...I am hoping to leave you in good hands.  My good friend Vicki Bridges is still here and she has been such a comfort to me from the beginning.  I have always looked to her...to know...hey if she is surviving this as well as she does then maybe I can too. 

 

I will be over on those other sites and especially the depression site...I hope you all can come over and visit me there. 

 

Your comment means the world to me...thank you so much.  And I wish you the best in everything.  Let's hope for a cure for this disease...perhaps in our lifetime even

 

Thank you again for your touching words...

10/12/09 4:05pm

Handbags Are Us!

 

Merely, You will be truly missed, who is going to keep me in line....Undecided  You know I have a tendendy to step out every now and then, and I need that push, what am I going to do?  Well now I guess it will be left up to the others, they have got their work cut out for them!  I will continue to buy handbags, in fact I am due to buy a new one now, it has been a while since I have bought myself one, so I will buy a new one in your honor!  I will surely miss you on this site, but we will be in touch.  I am not going to cry right now, I am playing in my new Mac makeup!  Take care Merely and always stay positive like you always are!

sherry/smomdukesKiss

Merely Me, Health Guide
10/12/09 4:52pm

Thanks so much Sherry!  I know you won't be a stranger...you are only a Health Central site away.  Of course I will visit over here now and then just to see how you all are doing. 

 

Shuckaroo....this is hard.  It has been an honor to get to know you all.  You guys are great!

10/12/09 5:17pm

I have been an observer from your beginning at this and other sites. I know full well the power of written words, when wielded by an expert craftsman, to form art; a gift, to convey all the human emotions from strength to frailty to fear to triumph and joy.

 

You, better than anyone else I have ever read, are able to connect with others. To tell your story and give so much in doing so. I regret your having to leave writing anywhere. I like that Vicki will be here because her writing and spirit capture the personality of so many good people caught up in this affliction. Where your and their strength comes from, I cannot fathom.

 

I personally feel that you have transformed this site from when you began. All the innovations, the interviews with patients and doctors, Questions of The Week, the discussions of alternative care, discussions about the pros and cons of using or not using the MS medications has really helped to create community here. It is thriving.

 

You are going to be missed; a hole I do not believe can be filled, though Vicki may, in her own way, succeed as well. Maybe someday you will come back to write in peace and gather people once again with your gift. Thank you for all you have given.

 

 

 

Merely Me, Health Guide
10/12/09 5:50pm

Thanks Paul!

 

Your words are much too kind. I have been fading out for months now so I am just amazed that anyone still comes to comment on my stuff.  I feel very guilty that I could not do everything I wanted to do.  If only things had been different....and I could have been more visible here and could have contributed more.  But there are some things you just cannot change.  I can only change myself so...I am hoping my leaving will be a good thing.  But know that I am very sad about it. 

 

Sorry for my jibberjabber.

 

The members are what make the site great.  I hope everyone in limbo gets some answers soon.  Some stories will last in my mind for a very long time.  I am hoping we will get some new fantastic drugs in our future so we don't have to worry about MS anymore.  Anything is possible!

 

Thanks so much for your words...they mean a lot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10/12/09 8:02pm

Your writing and your aproach to our illness has been inspirational. I found your choice and handling of your weekly question was creative and on-point.  I think I will mostly miss your honesty and compassion.  Good Luck. God Bless and  maybe we will meet on another site. Sincerely, Helen

Merely Me, Health Guide
10/12/09 10:09pm

Thank you!

 

It has been a real pleasure to write here and I wish I could have stayed on to get to know you all better.  But you are right...I am merely a site or two away!  Any time you want to visit me y'all know where I am.  Smile

 

I love your attitude and positive spirit...I do hope you keep reaching out to others who need your support.  Thank you for being such a wonderful part of this community!

10/13/09 11:02am

Gonna miss you writting here MM, but we know where to find you.  We all wish you Gods SpeedWink  sherry/smomdukesKiss

Merely Me, Health Guide
10/14/09 3:11pm

Hi guys...just a little note...the question of the week which I usually do each Thursday...I am going to ask that Vicki Bridges take over this feature.  Vicki has been doing such discussions for a long time on her own personal blogs so...I think she will be wonderful at generating such discussions here as well. 

10/20/09 3:00pm

I am going to miss your encouraging and enlightening posts as well as the support you've given me personally!  Take care and God be with you and your family!

 

Holly

Anonymous
JO
1/21/11 3:14pm

I REALLY BELIEVE THAT GOD PUTS US WHERE HE WANTS US TO BE.WITHOUT A DOUBT.AND I THINK WE ALWAYS HAVE A LITTLE INKLING TO WHAT IS HAPPENING TO US.WE REALLY FEEL THIS IS A FORK IN THE ROAD.AND ALTHOUGH IT IS HARD TO SAY GOOD-BYES TO THOSE YOU TALK TO EACH DAY.THERE WILL BE NEW PEOPLE BROUGHT INTO YOUR LIFE.AND FOR A REASON.YOU WILL BE THERE TO HELP THEM.

I ONCE HAD A SUPERVISOR WHO TOLD ME SHE WISHED SHE HAD 3 OF ME.ONE TO WORK IN REGISTRATION AND GREETING PATIENTS ONE TO WORK IN MEDICAL HISTORY AND XRAY,A THIRD TO KINDLY WEIGH THE PATIENT AND CALM HER FEARS AS WE WALKED DOWN THAT HALL THAT ALWAYS GIVES US EACH A CHILL BECAUSE IT IS US GOING IN.I CONSIDERED THAT ONE OF THE GREATEST COMPLIMENTS I EVER RECEIVED.

HAVE NO REGRETS.THERE IS ALWAYS A REASON.THANK-YOU FOR YOUR SWEET AND KIND HEARTED CONCERN TO ANSWERING OUR QUESTIONS AND GIVING US YOUR OPINION.AND FACTS AS WELL.WE WILL SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SITES I AM SURE.GOD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU AS YOU CONTINUE YOUR JOURNEY IN HELPING OTHERS.I FEEL YOU ARE DOING GOD'S WORK.JO

Merely Me, Health Guide
1/21/11 3:46pm

Thank you...this is so nice...I want you to know...you just made my day. 

 

This is a message I needed to hear.

 

I hope you are well and doing good.

Anonymous
JO
1/27/11 2:42pm

ME...THAT WAS TRULY A STATEMENT THAT MADE MY DAY.NO ONE HAS GIVEN THAT STATEMENT TO ME IN MANY YEARS.AND I HAVE ALWAYS KNOWN THAT THE GIVER IS THE ONE WHO RECEIVES THE BLESSINGS.BUT I WANT US TO BOTH BE BLESSED.I HAD TO MAKE A DECISION EITHER TO LAY IN BED AND SMOKE MYSELF TO DEATH.OR ENTER INTO THE HOSPITAL AND GO THROUGH SOME ECT'S.GUESS WHAT.THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD WHO ARE INDEED MENTALLY ILL.BUT THEY ARE ALSO BESIDES THEIR MENTAL ILLNESS,THEY ARE STILL THE SAME RUDE AND INCONSIDERATE PEOPLE I HAVE EVER BEEN AROUND.

THE INSURANCE COMPANIES HAVE A LOT TO DO WITH THIS.THIS CAN BE A NEW BIT OF INFO FOR YOU FYI.I MUST HAVE HAD 4 DIFFERENT ROOM MATES IN THE 9 DAYS I WAS THERE.NO TV IN YOUR ROOM.NO DRAPES OR BLINDS TO CLOSE WHEN THE SUN ROSE AT 5 OR 6 AM IN THE MORNING YOU MIGHT AS WELL GET UP AND DO WHAT THEY SAY.

I HAVE NEVER KNOWN WHAT IT MEANT TO HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO SAY ABOUT HOW MY DAY WOULD GO.I WAS BASICALLY BLACKMAILED .I MAY NOT HAVE TOLD YOU THIS IN EARLIER POST.BUT I HAD 29 ORAL SURGERIES WHICH MY HUSBAND PAID FOR EVERY ONE OUT OF HIS POCKET.THERE WAS A NEW PROCEDURE THE DENTAL IMPLANTS.SO FINALLY AFTER ENOUGH NEEDLES STUCK IN MY MOUTH I AGREED TO HAVE ALL OF MY TEETH PULLED AND THESE ORAL IMPLANTS PUT IN.

THE FIRST 3 WEEKS I SCREAMED FROM THE PAIN.THE NEXT 8 MONTHS I FELT AS IF I HAD REACHED INSANITY FROM THE PAIN.THEN WHEN IT BECAME TIME TO PUT THE TEETH IN EVERY TIME I BIT DOWN ON FOOD IT WAS LIKE BITING ON AN OPEN NERVE.SO MY EATING NATURALLY CAME DOWN TO OATMEAL AND A FEW OTHER BLAND THINGS.

TO ALL THE DOCTORS THEY SAID I DID NOT HAVE AN INFECTION.BUT PUSS WAS RUNNING DOWN MY FACE SO BADLY I HAD TO WALK AROUND WITH A CLOTH SO IT WOULD NOT RUN OUT OF MY MOUTH TALKING TO PEOPLE.AND EVERY TIME WE WOULD GO TO THE ORAL SURGEON HE WOULD TAKE A PAN XRAY  AND SAID SEE NO INFECTION.

ABOUT THE 5TH TIME AND A YEAR AFTER THE ORIGINAL IMPLANTS.I TOOK A GLOVE AND PALPATED AROUND THE ONE IMPLANT AND CAME UP WITH SOME NASTY LOOKING STUFF.I SAID WELL WHAT IS THIS THEN.THEN IT TOOK ANOTHER YEAR TO FIND AN ENT WHO HAD ENOUGH COMMON SENSE AND SHE DID DO THE SURGERY FOR MY SINISES.AND I ASKED HER TO CHECK THAT ONE IMPLANT FOR ANYTHING AND SHE DID.I HAD STAPH AND YEAST INFECTION THAT I WAS CHEWING WITH MY FOOD AND DRINK.THE TASTE BUDS ON MY TONGUE HAVE CHANGED.

SO 4 YEARS LATER I AM IN A PLACE TO HAVE ECTS.AND TOLD UNLESS I ATE 70% OF MY FOOD I WOULD NOT RECEIVE MY PAIN MEDS.3 WHOLE MEALS AND 2 SNACKS.WHO REALLY EATS THAT MUCH.BUT MY LIFE IS STILL FILLED WITH PAIN.

I AM CONSIDERING A NEW HEALTH DEVICE CALLED A SCS (THE PRECIISION PLUS) FROM DR.FLORETE.MY PAIN MANG DR.WHOM I TRUST WITH ALL MY HEART.AND HE KNOCKS YOU OUT TO DO ALMOST ANYTHING HE CAN.SOMETIMES HE BRINGS YOU TO SO THAT HE CAN BE SURE HE IS ON THE RIGHT NERVE.BUT A KINDER DOCTOR I HAVE EVER MET.HE IS TERRIFIED OF GOING TO THE DENTIST.I FOUND THAT HUMOROUS.HE HATES PAIN TOO.WHEN ANYONE ASK ME WHO TO GO TO IN JAX.FL.FOR PAIN MANG.I TELL THEM DR.FLORETE.

I KNOW I RAMBLE FROM ONE SUBJECT TO THE NEXT.BUT DO YOU THINK I SHOULD TURN THAT ORAL SURGEON IN.BECAUSE OF HIM I HAD TO TAKE STRONG ANTIBIOTICS TO CLEAR UP THAT INFECTION THAT COULD HAVE KILLED ME.IT WAS 12 THOUSAND DOLLARS.RIGHT NOW THE ECONOMY IS SO BAD.

MY HUSBAND BUILDS HOUSES.IN THE LAST 30 YEARS HE HAS WORKED 6 DAYS A WEEK AND 12 HOURS A DAY.THE ECONOMY HAS CHANGED SINCE OBAMAM TOOK OFFICE.NO ONE CAN AFFORD TO BUILD A HOUSE RIGHT NOW.

HE TAKES CARE OF ME.DOES MOST OF THE HOUSE WORK.ALL THE CLEANING AND COOKING AND GROCERY SHOPPING.LUCKILY I MARRIED A MAN 8 YEARS YOUNGER THAN I AM.BUT NOW HIS BACK IS GIVING HIM PROBLEMS.AND THIS MAKES ME FEEL SO GUILTY.

HE SEES ANOTHER SPINE CLINIC AND RECEIVES INJECTIONS WHICH HELP HIM.I ASKED HIM WHY DIDNT HE GO TO THE ONE DAY SURGICAL PLACE I WENT TO.HE SAID BECAUSE I HAVE TO GET UP AND GO TO WORK.HOW MUCH MORE GUILT CAN I TAKE.

I DID STOP SMOKING.SO THAT IS A GOOD THING.SO MM IF YOU WANT TO LOOK INTO THINGS YOU CAN HELP.LOOK TO THE INSURANCE COMPANIES.

ONE WOMAN CAME INTO MY ROOM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT STOOD IN THE WINDOW KICKING IT AND SCREAMING.DID I GET ONE NIGHTS SLEEP THERE.NO I DID NOT.AND THEY HAD ROOMS VACANT THEY COULD HAVE PUT EITHER OF US IN.BUT THEY MUST KEEP THEM EMPTY SO THEY CAN BRING IN OTHERS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.MEN AND WOMEN ARE ON THE SAME FLOOR.THE GUY IN THE ROOM NEXT TO ME WHOM EVERYONE COMPLAINED ABOUT ,WAS CAUGHT DOING SEXUAL THINGS TO HIMSELF.

WHAT WOULD HAVE STOPPED HIM FROM COMING INTO MY  ROOM? THEY SHOULD HAVE WOMEN AND MEN ON DIFFERENT FLOORS.AGAIN ITS ABOUT MONEY.FINALLY MY ROOMATE MUST HAVE GOTTEN RELIEF BECAUSE SHE SLEPT ALL NIGHT AND ALL DAY AND SNORED LIKE A BUZZSAW.SO IN 9 DAYS I DID NOT SLEEP ONCE.HOW TERRIBLE IS THAT WHEN YOU ALREADY ARE ENDURING CHRONIC PAIN.

I DID NOT KNOW THIS WAS ALL GOING TO COME OUT.BUT IT JUST DID.I GUESS GOD MEANT FOR ME TO TELL YOU.GOD BLESS YOU MM AND GO FORTH AND DO WHAT GOOD YOU CAN.ONE PERSON CAN MAKE A DIFFERANCE.ALL MY LOVE FOR YOU AND BE CAREFUL....JO

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By Merely Me, Health Guide— Last Modified: 03/19/13, First Published: 10/12/09