Hi-I'm a 59 year old RN who was forced to retire about 4 yrs ago due to my health issues (imagine that!) I am still troubled by the fact that I can no longer work. I am on disability from Soc. Sec. and the VA. I joined the MI Army National Guard in 1983 and my unit was deployed to Saudi Arabia in Nov. 1990 and spent 6 mos on active duty, then returned to my status in the National Guard. It was quite a feat for a 40 yr.old women. I began having medical issues not long after I returned from Saudi Arabia, although being a nurse I tried to overlook most every symptom until I just couldn't deny them anymore. The memory loss and the inability to concentrate and the fatigue finally became so overwhelming that I was afraid that I could no longer provide safe nursing care to patients.

Trying to deal with multiple chronic illnesses has been brutal.  My condition changes from day to day-I never know when I wake up in the morning what the day has in store for me. Thank god I have a wonderful husband who has been my rock for the last 10 or so years since many of these illnesses began and he has never for one minute doubted that I was ill and has gone round and round with the multiple doctors I have seen and contiue to see. I am in therapy learning how to cope with my situation.

Thanx for listening, Serena