Unfortunatly, my brother and sister have been through treatment but it never works. Neither one really believes in getting help for anything. They stray away from doctors and used to put me down for seeing a psychiatrist. They think I'm talking about them. I've tried to tell them that I don't. That we just talk about what's going on with me and follow up on my meds. I just don't talk to them about it anymore.

It does really bother me sometimes that I can't have a caring sister and don't see her much. I would be so different if I had a little sister. I'm the youngest. I have an older brother in FL that is the opposite of the ones here. He cares about me very much but we don't get to see each other often either. He usually stays with me when he comes up. He sees how the others are and it hurts him too. He is a religous man and doesn't like to be around the alcohol either.

Anyway, I did really enjoy my friends company yesterday. We did some shopping, cooked out then went for a walk. The weather here is nice today. It looks like it's going to rain but can't make up it's mind. We are in the low 70s and looks like we're going to have a high of 78 for July 4th. I'm so glad. My son and his girlfriend and my other family will be going to our cabin on the river for picnic and fireworks. I will ride with my son. He doesn't drink either. I'm looking forward to a good time. Love it when I have something to look forward to.

I'm going to be going to a concert with my male friend in about 3 weeks. We'll see Orleans and Ambrosia. Can't wait. I love concerts. It's outdoors too. I'm feeling good today, going to try and get some house-work done. Will be talking to you soon. Have a wonderful day. Faith

Well, my daughter-26 and my son-29 both live here. My brother lives here too but he lives for alcohol. I never see him except for when we go down to the river. My sister lives a little over an hour from here. She has been struggling with her alcohol problem lately, trying to quit. If I'm in dire need of help, my kids will help me. My sister never even came to see me in the hosptial last time I had an MI. I was in Intensive Care for five days. They'll send my brother to see me just to make sure I'm ok then get the update from him. I would really like to say we're close but, when it comes down to it, maybe not so close. If my sister had a heart attack I'd want to be there with her. I'm the little black sheep. I don't drink. And I seem to care more about the little things. I need to do my breathing treatment soon. The weather has gone from nearly 100 degrees to 75 today. I have a guy friend who lives an hour away, he's coming up to see me today. We're going to cook out and watch a movie. He keeps me hopping. He's very full of energy. Hope you have a good day. Faith

I have a great air conditioner. I just got a new one donated in my name by a friend who works at the heating and air  place that my apts use. I live in Government housing. It's a decent place since I live in a fairly small town. I actually live in Columbus, IN. Anyway, my old one was shot. I have the biggest and best one of anyone out here. I got lucky. I didn't know that you could have your doc write a presciption for one. Thanks for letting me know that. It was kinda funny last summer. I was fighting with the management here about my old one and they called this place and got a surprise in my honor. I loved it. I want to thank you also for putting your comments to me on your page so that I can go back over them. If you didn't do that, by the time I got here I would have forgotten most of what you said.. It's going to be another hot day. We have a heat adv again. Tomorrow it is suppose to storm and a cold front will move in then we will be back down into the low 80s. I'm so glad.

YOU ARE SO YOUNG. I AM HAPPY TO HEAR YOUR BREATHING IS IMPROVING AND THAT YOU WILL BE INCREASING YOUR TREATMENTS. IT IS MUGGY HERE. WE HAVE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF RAIN.  YOU SAID YOU ARE ON DISABILITY. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE AN AIR CONDITIONER, ASK YOUR DOCTOR TO WRITE A PRESCRIPTION FOR IT. YOUR MEDICAL INSURANCE WILL PAY FOR IT.  IT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY THAT YOU HAVE ONE TO RELIEVE YOUR COPD. IT SHOULD BE ON ALL THE TIME. SWEATING CAN CAUSE DEHYDRATION, SO DRINK A LOT OF FLUIDS. ICE POPS ARE GOOD TOO. I TOO WORKED ALL OF MY LIFE BUT DID NOT QUALIFY FOR REGULAR DISABILITY SO I HAD TO GO ON SSI. I JUST RECENTY SWITCHED TO REGULAR SS RETIREMENT. HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR DAY OUT. TAKE CARE. MARY

I'll have to ask them about my meds possibly making me pee so much when I lay down cause it does aggravate me very much. And yes, stress has taken it's toll on me over the years but it is better now. I'm on disability. I worked all my life. I'm only 47 but I was on my own at 16 and working.  You are such a wonderful person.

Thanks for all the wonerful advice. I will try the massage thing. I feel a difference in the way I feel now by taking my breathing treatments. It was you and several other people who got me doing those and for that I'm so thankful. You just got it through to me how important it was. I'm going to start taking two a day starting Monday.

About your cat. haha. My son found a cat on a country road, I'm surprised he didn't come up with a name like Slayer. He named him Gizmo.

It's been so hot here the past week that I've had to stay in. My daughter is supposed to come by and take me to a friend's pool today for just a little bit. That will be great. We're suppose to get back down to the low 80 s next week. Yea. Hope you're having a great day. Faith

I WAS THINKING ABOUT WHY YOU MIGHT BE URINATING MORE AT NIGHT THAN DURING THE DAY. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT ONE OF THE MEDS YOU ARE ON HAS A DIURETIC IN IT OR HAS A SIDE EFFECT OF ONE. IF YOU ARE TAKING THAT MED LATE IN THE DAY, IT COULD BE CAUSING YOU TO BE UP ALL NIGHT. CALL YOUR PHARMACIST AND ASK . IF YOU FIND THIS TO BE TRUE, ASK YOUR DOCTOR IF YOU CAN TAKE THAT MED EARLIER IN THE DAY. I SAY THIS BECAUSE I USED TO FORGET TO TAKE MY LASIX WHEN I WOKE UP IN THE AM. THEN I WOULD TAKE IT ;LATE AND BE UP ALL NIGHT IN THE BATHROOM. TAKE CARE. THANK YOU.

ALL THE STRESS THAT YOU SUFFERED FROM IS NOW CAUSING HAVOC IN YOUR BODY.WHILE YOU WERE GOING THROUGH ALL THAT YOU DID NOT HAVE TIME TO REST OR RELAX. NOW YOU DO  AND THE STRESS IS SHOWING ITSELF IN ALL YOUR SYMPTOMS, HOWEVER, I CAN TELL FROM YOUR POSTS THAT YOU ARE A STRONG WOMAN AND THAT YOU ARE FIGHTING BACK, BY GOING TO THE DOCTOR, TAKING YOUR MEDS AND DOING YOUR TREATMENTS YOU WILL NOT LET STRESS WIN. WE ARE ALL HERE FOR YOU AND LOOK FORWARD TO ALL YOUR POSTS.  DO YOU HAVE CHILDREN. I HAVE A DAUGHTER AND SON BOTH IN THEIR 30S AND ON THEIR OWN. I HAVE A SISTER WHO WILL BE TURNING 60 THIS YEAR. SHE SUFFERS FROM ARTHRITIS. I CAN FEEL HER PAIN WHEN I TALK TO HER. SHE HAD A HEART ATTACK THIS JANUARY AND HAS 2 STENTS IN HER ARTERIES. I KNOW SHE IS ON PLAVIX  SHE TIRES EASILY BUT CONTINUES TO WORK. I AM GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOUR FAMILY HAS COME TOGETHER. THEY SAY TIME HEALS. TAKE CARE.    MARY

My PTDS started when me and my siblings started witnessing the severe beating of our mother. My sister saved her a few times, she was only 13 then. My mom divorced my dad and moved out of the city but of course, he had visitation rights and found out where we lived. Sept. 4, 1972 he came back to our house after dropping me and my sister off earlier and stabbed my mother to death. My sister and I were made ward of the court of a judge that had dated her not long before she died. He blamed us for not trying to save her. He had us put in jail four times by the time  I was 14. I was almost raped at 12. We were emotionally abused and had foster fathers come on to us. The judge separated us alot. Then I grew up and found all the abusive men I could find to be with. I was almost killed several times myself. I finally got help and brought my kids and I back up here from TX where I had moved to at age 18. Went through some more abuse by none other but my family, mostly my step-mother. I broke away from them for yrs. Now that we are all sick in some way or another, we all get along better. They all feel guilty about how they treated me. I tell them not to, lets just make happy memories now.

My brother-inlaw's brother went through almost everything you went through. He had his leg amp. because he had kept getting infections in his leg from a car crash. He didn't take care of himself and died at age 50.

I don't fish very often anymore. I just happened to do it that day with live green worms. I can put the worm on but can't take the fish off. This one just happened to be barely hanging on the hook to where I didn't have to touch him, then I grabbed him by the tail and threw him back.

My kitty's name is Miss Kitty. She is a tortie. And very high maintenence. But I love her so much. She is six yrs old. She has helped me in many ways.

I'll end here and wait for your next story. Hope you're having as good a day as possible. Faith

I was thinking for a long time that I was going to die soon. I wasn't making plans for the future because I thought I had none. I was just preparing for death. I got out of that a while back and started to try to think positive but I know I have a long way to go with that. Thanks for your advice.