beauty4ashes
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| Rank | Senior Member |
| Online Status | OFFLINE |
| Member Since | 10/17/2008 02:01 PM |
| Last Online | 05/23/2010 07:43 PM |
| Gender: | Female |
| Birthdate: | 05/06/1974 |
| City: | Keizer |
| State: | Oregon |
| Occupation: | Survivor! |
| Website: | myspace.com/t_74 |
| Blog: | lifesresidue.blogspot.com |
| A little about me: | Well, I disappeared from here for about 8 months... a lot of personal trials. I don't know how much I'll get to come visit on here, but thought I should update my profile, and am hoping to say hey to some MUCH MISSED friends here, especially my fellow Lymies. :) ____________________________________ I'm 35, and I have been through the wringer! I do my best not to let my issues define me, though that too, is a constant battle. I've been through a lot in life, but I am a survivor. Everything I've been through has only made me stronger, and I am determined to continue on that way no matter what else crosses my path. I wasdiagnosed with Late Stage Chronic Lyme Disease w/ Neurological & Arthritic involvement, and Lyme Meningitis in October 2008. It was thought that I've had it for a little over 3 years, but now looks as though I've been infected for at possibly 20 years. That was news I wasn't expecting, but honestly it really explains a lot with my medical history. I never know what to expect with each new day, but I just take them as they come,.. one day at a time. I cling to both optimism & sarcasm. I am both refreshing & dry. It's my coping mechanism. I've been with my husband for over 18 years, and married for 17 1/2 of those years. The day we met, we both knew we were meant to be together. He proposed that same month, and we were married 7 months later. We've been through a lot together over the years, good & bad, and have helped eachother grow in many ways. Currently, we are separated, but we're trying to work on things. Life is full of all sorts of twists & turns; no path is completely clear of stones. You're going to stumble from time to time; to quote Lao-tzu, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." But the best thing I could say to sum it all up would be that, "With love, all things are possible". We have three beautiful daughters, and I homeschool all of them. I have since the very beginning. They are in grades 4th, 6th & 8th this year. It is a huge challenge, but in my heart is totally worth it. It takes patience & dedication, of which these days I have low reserves, but somehow I pull it off! :) Our youngest daughter has Neurofibromatosis and has three brain tumors, two of those are bilateral optic nerve gliomas w/ chiasm involvement. My heart skips beats all the time with concerns in this life, but ultimately,.. it keeps beating. We own our own business, and that has been a HUGE blessing. It has also allowed us to choose our own health insurance so we finally have good coverage, and with all the medical issues our family faces, we desperately need it. Dec. 20, 2008, we lost our building, and the majority of it's contents, to a fire... of which we are still working to recover from. It was been devestating, but we are surviving it. In February we actually opened a second location in Idaho so God is good! Four days after the fire, the night before Christmas Eve, there was a death in my family. My last grandparent passed on. It was really hard, but she is at peace now, and that is very reassuring. I have lost so very many loved ones over the years... I'm a Christian, and my faith in God is unwaivering. I am truly humbled by His grace. He alone has carried me through all of life's many trials... He is my Saviour. I have a huge heart, and am usually an optimist even when there's no reason to be. That's what big faith will get you! I have a creative personality, a big {& sensitive} heart, and an old soul. Music moves me, nature moves me,.. 'life' moves me. When I can find time & I'm up for it, I enjoy writing, illustrating, painting, and photography. I am also fond of sitting still, being quiet, and taking in the blessings that surround me. I find it's a good way to wash away the negatives, and regroup. I have had children's books "in the works" for years now, but unfinished. One, I wrote for my children when they were coping with their grandmother's cancer, has been ready to send off for years, but I haven't had the courage to try,.. guess it's my stupid fear of rejection. The other has been sitting stagnant in it's "idea" stage,.. on NF, and I SO want to complete that. It is GREATLY needed in the NF community! With everything else going on with me though, I just sort of lost some of my drive for awhile. I'll get it back,... one day. :) I am also a childhood sexual/physical/mental abuse survivor, and a survivor of teen rape. I am further, a domestic abuse survivor. For the first time in my life though, the cycle seems to have been broken *knock on wood*, and I am finally beginning to heal. Thankfully, I've gotten a pretty good handle on things in my life, emotionally, whereas in the past I didn't. I don't have the panic attacks like I used to, they are now rare. The OCD doesn't rule my life, and I seldom have flashbacks anymore. I've come to a place in my life where I think I can conquer just about anything now. Except, for all the chronic pain,.. that's what has taken over. Now I'm in miserable pain all the time. I'm pretty good at hiding it-- that comes with a price, because then no one knows just how bad off you are. I am a very open person, and do not mind sharing my life experiences (what I can still recall for that matter... I feel like my head is in a fog most of the time anymore), but I am always willing to lend a shoulder to cry on, or an ear to chew on. Everyone needs the chance to laugh, cry and even vent now and then. ;) That's me in a nutshell,.... Pretty big nut! All that glitters is NOT always gold, but it's me. It's who I am. So, that's more than just 'a little' about me, but I'm a complicated person! It's too tough to sum me up in just a few lines... and even then, there's SO much more to me than what's on paper. Here's just a little insight on my medical history though: 2nd Trimester Miscarriage - May 1992 Gastritis - July 1992 1st Trimester Miscarriage - April 1993 GTD (Gestational Trophoblastic Disease) - June 1994 2nd Trimester Emergency D&C - June 1994 DD Born: July 1996 - 10# DD Born: Jan. 1998 - 8.3# DD Born: Sept. 1999 - 9.5# GRD (Grave's Disease)/HypERthyroidism - Aug. 2000 RAI (RadioIodine) Therapy - Sept. 2000 HYPO (HypOthyroidism) - Jan. 2001 DUB (Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding)/Menorrhagia - Feb. 2001 TAH-BSO (Total Abdominal Hysterectomy-Bilateral Salpingo-Oopherectomy) - June 2001 Adenomyosis - June 2001 (Pathology) PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) - June 2001 (Pathology) VPS (Vulvar Pain Syndrome) - May 2004 Dyshidrosis - May 2004 PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) - Oct. 2004 SAD (Social Anxiety Disorder) - Oct. 2004 OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) - Oct. 2004 CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) - Oct. 2004 EM Rash (Bull's Eye/Lyme Disease) - Aug. 2005 (undiagnosed Lyme until Nov. 2008) GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) - June 2006 FMS (Fibromyalgia Syndrome) - Feb. 2007 CTD (Connective Tissue Disorder) - Feb. 2007 IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) - Feb. 2007 LD+ (Lyme Disease + co-infections) - Nov. 2008 (LLMD believes I may have had it for 20-25 years though) Current: Being treated for LD+, and tested/treated for vit/min deficiencies, hormonal imbalances and heavy metal toxicity aka: I am one messed up puppy!... but sick of all the "labels" :( + DH w/ CMVD (Congenital Mitral Valve Disease) - Open-Heart May 2006 - Severe Sleep Apnea Sept. 2007 DD1 Healthy! *knock on wood* DD2 w/ MPA (Milk Protein Allergy) induced Enco since Jan. 1998 DD3 w/ NF1 (Neurofibromatosis Type 1) since Sept. 1999 & Bilateral Optic Nerve Gliomas since Nov. 2003 ________________ There's so much more to me 'behind the scenes'......... Don't be afraid to get to know me. All that I have been through has not destroyed me, it has not ruined me,... it has made me stronger, and I know I have a lot to offer to others in terms of support & understanding. (((BIG HUGS))) |
My Awareness Ribbons
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"Because Lyme Disease sucks more than any other condition I have..." |
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My Hugs
 | Just sending out a quick hug to everyone. I know the struggle can really wear you down, but there is always a light at the end of the tunnel...you can and will get better...should you fall...we will help you dust yourself off and pick yourself up...You are each and everyone of you worth it...Lots of love to everyone... |
| You are special and deserve to be treated as such. Never allow anyone to tell you any different. For if they do, then they do not deserve to know you, much less have the right to call you a friend. |
| Sending hugs and prayers to you, my fellow Lyme Warriors.... Let us stand strong and united this weekend for Worldwide Lyme Disease Protest day... Let us speak the truth... the ugly, shocking, scary, unbelievable truth... Let us be heard... and Let us be healed. *hugs and prayers* purple |
Give beauty4ashes...
My Diary
Therapy is expensive, poppin bubble wrap is cheap!
Just some insight into my life...
Just some insight into my life...
| Title | Date | Views | Comments |
| Good Bugs; Bad Bugs | 11/20/2008 | 791 | 2 |
| Hinesights 20/20 | 11/06/2008 | 771 | 0 |
| I will NOT be a victim. | 11/06/2008 | 1108 | 1 |
| My Life in the "Lyme" Light (UNEDITED) | 11/01/2008 | 4095 | 8 |
| Lyme: State Info & Maps (west coast) | 10/31/2008 | 686 | 3 |
| There is NO Lyme in Oregon!! (copied from some of my recent posts) | 10/31/2008 | 720 | 2 |
| SPLITTING headache! :( | 10/28/2008 | 715 | 0 |
| Ping, Ping, Ping! | 10/27/2008 | 707 | 2 |
| Sick & Tired of Being Sick & Tired! (My Ranting) | 10/26/2008 | 2204 | 0 |
| Neurofibromatosis (NF) Links | 10/26/2008 | 774 | 0 |
My Health Topics Contributions
I started discussions in the following health topics:
cafe au lai, EM Rash, HRT, milk protein, Miscarriage, NF, Survivor.
cafe au lai, EM Rash, HRT, milk protein, Miscarriage, NF, Survivor.
My Photos
My Support Groups
Anxiety Disorders Support Group
Celiac Disease Support Group
Congenital Heart Disease Support Group
Dyshidrosis Support Group
Eczema Support Group
Fibromyalgia Support Group
Food Allergies Support Group
GERD Support Group
Healthy Nutrition Support Group
Hypothyroidism Support Group
Hysterectomy Support Group
Lyme Disease Support Group
Menopause Support Group
Miscarriage Support Group
Narcolepsy Support Group
Neurofibromatosis Support Group
Ovarian Cancer Support Group
Parenting Tweens Support Group
Post Traumatic Stress Support Group
Sexual Abuse Support Group
Social Anxiety Disorder Support Group
Celiac Disease Support Group
Congenital Heart Disease Support Group
Dyshidrosis Support Group
Eczema Support Group
Fibromyalgia Support Group
Food Allergies Support Group
GERD Support Group
Healthy Nutrition Support Group
Hypothyroidism Support Group
Hysterectomy Support Group
Lyme Disease Support Group
Menopause Support Group
Miscarriage Support Group
Narcolepsy Support Group
Neurofibromatosis Support Group
Ovarian Cancer Support Group
Parenting Tweens Support Group
Post Traumatic Stress Support Group
Sexual Abuse Support Group
Social Anxiety Disorder Support Group
My Friends
My Recent Posts
| I'm still kickin'!! | 09/14/2009 | ||
| On a temporary hiatus, guys! | 02/12/2009 | ||
| support groups australia | 02/12/2009 | ||
| On a temporary hiatus, guys! | 02/12/2009 | ||
| On a temporary hiatus, guys! | 02/12/2009 | ||
| PLEASE READ & ACT: Our voices ... | 02/12/2009 | ||
| PLEASE READ & ACT: Our voices ... | 02/12/2009 | ||
| PLEASE READ & ACT: Our voices ... | 02/12/2009 | ||
| ALL MEMBERS PARTICIPATION NEED... | 02/12/2009 | ||
| ALL MEMBERS PARTICIPATION NEED... | 02/04/2009 | ||
| Lyme and Brain lesions?? | 02/04/2009 | ||
| ALL MEMBERS PARTICIPATION NEED... | 02/04/2009 | ||
| Little Stella | 02/04/2009 | ||
| Idaho Lymies? | 02/03/2009 | ||
| Idaho Lymies? | 02/03/2009 | ||
My Articles
| Title | Date |
|---|---|
| Fibromyalgia: The "invisible" disability | 10/25/2008 |
| Neurofibromatosis & Celiac | 10/22/2008 |
| FIBROMYALGIA: What Doctors Don't Know or Don't Tell You | 10/22/2008 |
| How’s Your Heartburn? | 10/22/2008 |
| The Celiac Disease/Autoimmune/Thyroid Connection | 10/22/2008 |
| Diagnosis of NF1 | 10/19/2008 |
| What is NF? | 10/19/2008 |
| Encopresis: An Intimidating Word and a Solvable Problem | 10/18/2008 |