Hello there chaps and chapesses....
Long time no speak but I have been verrrrry busy with me boat! It's finished
enough for us to have started her first long voyage which takes just 40 mins
by road but 4 days by boat!!!

You guys are about the best support and advice I'm getting right now.
Please help me make a decision. I've already posted about the
rheumatologist who is helping make a diagnosis (Dr. W)and how I am not
going to stay with him. I trust him and I know he's on cutting edge as

we finally returned from Florida yesterday with a bit too much going on  (got
bumped from from a flight in Atlanta yesterday, spent almost 9 hours in the
airport with me getting an ever worsening cold, ended up finally getting to
our place about 3:15 am only to find out Mike had ...

You probably didn't even miss me :-), but I've been away from this group too
long!  So, I'm going to park here for a spell and see what's going on with
all of you.  Things over on AMF are "dragging", so decided I needed a
perking up!  Hi Rosie, Hi Alex, Hi Squirrely, Hi Denise, ...

I have not forgotten you nor have I been totally absent--I have read your
posts and I have prayed for you all--As you know I have not been well since
the hurricanes and a bad fall in December finished off the job--well
almost--and I have been in bed mostly since--but now am ...

kind of an apology, but more in the way of an explanation.  i'm sorry i
haven't been as active on asa.  i've focused my limited energies on trying
to keep up and catch up with my emails and the daily, as well as eventful,
hectivities around here.  some emails that i hadn't gotten ...

OK, have been having some strange symptoms pop up every time I get
really sick.  
Seems like right after I have gone through a period of being really
sick, I develop this problem of having very strong hot flashes for a

Monday I have two appointments in Sacramento.  First with the audiologist
and then with the surgeon that does cochlear implants.
I simply have to qualify this time.  The isolation and sensory depravation
are getting to me in ways I fear could be permanent.  Feeling like why

How did the surgery go. Enquiring minds want to know. I hope it went well.
Have been thinking of you alot since you posted about it and since I know
the surgery was on the 30th.

Hey everybody, first an apology for not being around much, at least not
visibly. I've been checking posts every day and sending love and good wishes
to all that need them, but haven't really felt up to participating much.
I'm having a problem with the middle finger on my right ...

Okay, has anyone actually made reservations for Portland yet? I was just
checking out the web site for the hotel and realized I have no idea if we
are getting a group rate or on which floor I should ask to be located in
order to be close to everyone.

Oh my gosh!  I finally found a few websites that explain what I have and
what it's all about.....check this out:
"Some patients with Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID) who may not be
receiving optimal gamma globulin therapy may also develop a painful

[don't know if it's my newsreader or what - this isn't showing up for me]
http://money.cnn.com/2005/04/07/news/fortune500/bextra/index.htm?cnn=yes
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7418345/
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2005-04-07-bextra_x.htm

Saw the knee surgeon today for my well baby check up on
the new right knee. Asked him which kind and he says it
is a DePuy [Johnson and Johnson] made of some sort of
shiny substance. I heard the word but can't find it

Here's a note Ashley asked me to post here for her, with her email addy at
the bottom. Please let her know if you have any idea what's going on...
***********************************************
On Wednesday afternoon I noticed a small, hard lump on my neck where I