I hope it's OK to post this here, I know it's not world news or the like but I wanted to make sure all those I've enjoyed conversing with here saw it. The Short Version: I wont be posting in P&R for an indefinite period; I know I've been away a bit but I always pop back in - however for at least a couple of months the only thing I'll be doing on DP is PMs. If I end up away longer than this, or permanently, I'd just like to say that conversing with most of you has been a pleasure and I hope you all find great success, both professionally and personally, in the future. I hope to be back. The Longer Version: As some of you know I have some health issues; I mean, I've always had health issues. I found out yesterday, after a long wait and a lot of tests, that I have a rare disease effecting the vascular system. I don't yet have a name for it as there are multiple varieties and some specialists are working to narrow it down; but basically some cells in my body are attacking other cells in the vascular system, believing them to be "enemies". The condition is very serious, regardless of which specific variety it is, and for the foreseeable future I'll be spending a lot of time resting - hence the decision to stop posting in P&R entirely for a time. (I will check back on any responses to this thread, if there are any and if it isn't deleted for being in the wrong place, for a little while. Then just PMs once or twice a week if I'm up to it.) Although not a lot is known about the disease at present (due to its rarity) and the fact that there is no cure - it was caught early and there is a very good chance that if my body responds well to treatment that it may go into remission indefinitely. However, if it does not go into remission and treatment is not entirely effective at relieving my symptoms, I may not be back here for a long, long time - so I just wanted to say how much I love (most of) you guys and how great it has been getting to know you all over the past year and a half or so. Your hatred of barbarity and oppression, of the mistreatment and abuse of women and children, your logic, your kindness and for many of you, your chivalry, are things I'll always love and admire. There are too many to name, but I believe you all know who you are. I wish you all the very best of luck and I hope that in the future I'll be back. (As I said I will check by this thread for a little while, but then I'm off for a long break.) I hope I'm not gone for too long. Alexis. xx
I'm really sorry to hear this Alexis, take good care of yourself. Wishing you health, and for this to go into remission quickly. Feel free to PM if you ever want to talk.
Hey alex, If it's any consolation, staying outta here has gotta be healthy. Good luck fighting the fight. We wish you well. ~ rob
I wish you all the luck Alexis. You are awesome and brave, and living proof that we don't need to fear a deity to be good. We'll miss you a lot until you come back.
Sorry to hear that Alexis. There is a disease called just like this that effects the tissue. The immune system attacks its own tissue. Its called Crohns disease and many people live as long as 80 like a regular person. HANG IN THERE.
Hello Alexis, From your description, It seems like an issue of an autoimmune disease. I am interested in knowing more about your exact situation. hope you get better soon and may god bless you.
Not sure we're all entitled to know more than someone elects to share in a personal health crisis. Probably to the interest of all if we respect the privacy of the individual and entrust her recovery to powers that she may not believe in, but you and I may. She's a good kid, has a good heart, and though I don't impose my own belief on anyone or require that they agree with me, their lack of faith in something I believe has no effect on whether or not I think prayer can potentially alter the outcome. Bad stuff happens to good people, but I still believe there's a binding power in the combined prayers of those that believe. Pretty sure I've never stated this inside this venue, but this occasion merits more candor than the norm. I'm not a fanatic, but I'm also not of the opinion prayer is ineffective. All fwiw, my 2 cents.
Sorry to hear about your health problem Alexis, May you recover & get better soon. Wish you the best.
Sorry it sounds so serious - otherwise those medicines can be as problematical as the symptoms. Good luck, there is much to discover as the Garden has no end.
Dear Alexis I guess you are young and strong so hope you can defeat this disease and recovery and health soon. Don't want to lose you in DP, as you know women in P&R is scarce, although you were ready to fight more than men here! Anyway I love to read your posts and hope you stay in contact.
I haven't had much talk or any events to know her but she is a rare person who's posts i like to read. My wishes be with you. Believe in good, i hope i see you back here. If some moron reports it and this thread moves to general chat section we will be there with you.
Sorry to hear that Alexis, we hope to see you around the forum sometime in the future. If we don't, then on behalf of Digital Point we wish you a long and prosperous life. You were never scared to disagree and stand up for what you personally believe in, I have a lot of respect for you for that. Good luck for the future, and I hope you find the fast road to recovery. ~ Seqqa x
I had hoped to pop by sooner but have been, as I'm sure you can all imagine, somewhat tied up. I appreciate all the kind words; I'm very moved and truly grateful to have so many wonderful friends here - even those with whom I may not always agree and vice versa. Regarding what I actually have, it is one of the rarer forms of vasculitis - although it is not yet clear which variety I have. (Currently narrowed down to two.) There seems to be some likelihood I am also suffering from a second form, which is just exhausting to consider. (Different varieties are treated in different ways.) Basically a lot of my time these next few months will be taken up by bed rest, frequent tests of varying degrees of invasive-ness and a whole lot of visits to different doctors and specialists as well as one who is responsible for monitoring my side effects to treatment, which frankly I expect to be worse than the disease itself. At the end of the day, it could be worse, much worse; although it puts me at significant risk of, well, death, it isn't cancer, it's been seen to early and could go into remission and while "flare ups" will put me in very immediate danger of the aforementioned death (yeah, I'm trying to sound funny) - with constant vigilance I'm sure all will be OK. In and of itself, provided I don't have to be on medication for many years at high doses, (which can cause all kinds of crap like organ failure,) the disease will not shorten my life; not if I watch for "flare ups" and immediately seek treatment to avoid aneurysms. (For those unfamiliar, the disease causes certain arteries to expand and if not caught quickly, burst.) I would like to encourage anyone here to see a doctor immediately if they get an unexplained rash - I had one on my feet and it turned out that what I thought was a severe allergic reaction was in fact many, many, burst blood vessels. Lastly I just want to thank everyone again, I really do hope I'll be back before too long and that when I am I'll be able to say it's in remission. And; @Luke - Yes, it's autoimmune - as is juvenile diabetes which I also suffer from. There may be a link. (To clarify to anyone unfamiliar, juvenile diabetes is not a lifestyle disease, it is genetic and occurs when your body decides to kill off your pancreas, or thereabouts.) @Rob - Thanks for the extra personal thoughts shared. I am sure once this initial episode has eased and I'm out of the present danger I'm in that I will be OK - so I thank you all again and I hope to see you very soon. Alexis. xx
surely I can't fully understand your feeling and emotion right now and don't want to advice you but guess you should not give up and be ready for a real fight. hope win soon.
Alexis, I am so sad to hear about your illness. I will pray for your speedy recovery (you may not beleive in God, but I'll try from my side). My best wishes are with you. Take care Lots of love
I've rashes on my foot as well and I went to 2 different doctors one of them suggested something similar to what you have or maybe exactly that. The other doctor which has much more credentials told me it's just dry skin and gave me medicine to put on it. The thing is it comes back from time to time maybe it's something else. I'll go check it out again. Unfortunately we didn't get to know each other very well. I wish you a very quick and easy recovery, stay strong, we will love to have you back here as soon as possible Daniel
Hey man, I'm really sorry to hear about your health. Take good care of yourself and avoid smoking too much if it helps. I've got to say thanks for all the help you've given me. I really hope that you recover soon.