"dear dr. Donohue"

[St Marys]

Earlier I met up with an ex-work colleague who has had Raynaud's for 2 decades, and now pins and needles in her fingers and a loss of power in her upper limbs.   She scalded herself whilst swapping the handstripper to remove wallpaper.   She earns money as a Typist.   She's had to change her car, FFS (can I say that) because at times she couldn't put on her handbrake!!!!   

As you reach a certain age we begin to fall to bits, that's only to be expected.   Historically, guys have been almost programmed to talk down ailments almost as though it is 'unmanly' to acknowledge pain.  Especially true for those of us who like to watch blue collar sports.

But to have an ailment that won't go away, or see a deterioration or yet another problem surface must be terribly frustrating - in these circumstances I don't think "devastating" is too strong a word.   I feel for my colleague as I do you.   My 'advice' to her was that she needs to get answers to her questions.   I'm trusting you have made contact with fellow sufferers.   

Sharing experiences and fears is good and "Agony Aunt"  types of columns, which I once lampooned, actually do help get the message across.

Take care.

[weeze]

ive learned a few things as ive moved along. one is if you DONT talk about it, its much much worse.

[St Marys]

Half watching the Detroit-Rangers game.  They go down to pitch side and the guy there is wearing a bow tie, says he's doing so honouring scoliosis research, or something like that.  He had surgery as a really young kid, and so has his daughter at age 12.