Hi @vickiekay. I love to see you popping in again 🙂 You've been so active on Connect over the past couple of months and i'm sure users really appreciate your support and guidance.

I'd love to learn a little more about you! I know you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. How are you doing? Do you struggle with any other health conditions? What brought you to Connect? I'd just like to get to know you a little better 🙂

Hi, Kelsey! Thank you for your message regarding my participation on Mayo Clinic Connect! I have enjoyed reading and contributing to the site. Are you the administrator? If so, I really wish that the program on which the site is written could be more user friendly – perhaps in more of a Facebook format. The threads are often difficult to follow….and then all of a sudden, after contributing, my inbox is full of comments from individuals. I happened to see the opportunity to sign up on a Mayo newsletter a long time ago and began participating.<br><br> <br><br>Yes, I have had rheumatoid arthritis since 1990 when I was just thirty years old. I have been a Mayo patient since that time and have undergone numerous surgeries (34 total) and tried many medications to control the disease. I also have fibromyalgia and Lyme Disease. It has not been an easy journey at all. I was a Professor of Education at the University of Northern Iowa until I was no longer able to maintain my teaching and research schedule in 2004. It has been very difficult to accept the “disability status” but I have now reconciled that MY job is to take care of myself. <br><br> <br><br>I do spend a lot of time researching health related issues, medications and alternative treatments. I have had some amazing medical doctors at Mayo and I have also interacted with many talented alternative practitioners, most of whom have really helped me.<br><br> <br><br>It is great to be connected with others who are experiencing the same types of problems and who have helpful advice!<br><br> <br><br>Many thanks to you for connecting with me via this site! Best wishes!<br><br>Vickie<br><br> <br>

That is one of the things that has helped me learn as well. Yes, I'm no more than a Novice with a computer too. I did however learn how to search items relative to health conditions and beyond (relaxation technicques, thinking,mind excercise, etc.). Looking back at your statement, through the things you noted, gave me more overall insight on the info I had originally sought and then some. Put it this way "if the answer would have been as easily attained, would we learn from it?" Since a lady next door told me "I wish everthing was perfect." I said after a conversation for a while "you no longer would see any sense in living--since with everything being perfect what would you do? how would you occupy your mind and thoughts? how would you learn, make friends, know what or how to say things--Learning is a part of our daily life, from the time of our birth. All on different stages with our growth. That is also something that will help people use and flourish through such programs as Mayo Connect. They'll ask questions constructively to meet their needs and with the help of others they'll often find the proper path to take toward their problems resolution. That is not to say "do it on your own." But use your doctor, friends, tests and resourses as a starting point to understanding the resolution to your problem.

irvkay312