I'm just trying to cope:

With an 82 year old mother with Alzheimer's, family life with a loving husband and two grown sons, a writing career that seems to be always on the edge of winning (actually publishing). I write scripts (optioned), novels and short stories.

When she was pregnant with me, my mother had esophageal cancer. She was told it was terminal and she'd not live to have me. She held strong and put off her surgery until after my birth. She's lived with her own health problems since then.

(Due to Mom's cancer?) I had a growth removed from my forehead at a year old (Doctors told Mom it "would eat into my brain if let untreated") and I was radiated on my forehead and throat (Shorter than I should be --> no metabolism --> skull twice as thick <-- Proven --> Thyroid destroyed???).

I'm VERY involved in the battle against a serious drug sensitivity problem. I can't tolerate "extended release" ANYTHING (I quit breathing), ANY Sulfa drugs (Makes me sicker) and Wheat (Pill bindings -- which affects the performance of the medication). From all this "watch-dogging", I live with depression -- which I can't relieve with medication -- for obvious reasons. It's tiring. To top it off, from the long two year battle of "finding a safe place for Mom" -- I've noticed my own serious memory lapses (mental blackouts) and worry this is early Alzheimer's.

I survived over a year with a high-priced (and Sainted) endocrinologist telling me my foot pain was Diabetic Neuropathy -- furthering my depression -- when in fact it was from the drug sensitivity, wheat allergy and pseudo-gout from eating shrimp. I "fired" the clown. My feet are now more than 75% better and very manageable.

Other than all that -- I'm usually a "Happy Camper" ...though I hate to camp.

I am Hypothyroid -- Hear me whine! ...and grumble. ...and pout. 

As you can see, I cope by laughing about the "drama" (at least trying).