Re: Thought I'd introduce myself (CA)

Hi there, GardenerintheFog.

(I came back to edit - I didn't notice this thread was an older one. I hope Gardener is still here and doing well).

I like your name. I'm new too, just signed up today and I love flowers and working in the dirt.

I guess I could introduce myself here instead starting another thread. This is the largest site I've ever seen and I'm like you - there is so much information to take in it will probably take me a year to read it all!

I'm 49 and spent almost 20 years without medical insurance, which meant I lived without any health care. I also had tremendous Depression and stress due to an unhappy first marriage. Anxiety attacks began at age 8 for no apparent reason.

When I remarried 7 years ago I was immediately diagnosed with breast cancer, had a mastectomy and chemo (cancer-free now 7 years).

Since then I've had one health problem after another: ruptured disk in lower back requiring surgery; I'm on medications for depression, panic/anxiety and a hiatal hernia. Last year my blood pressure went out of control and they gave me ANOTHER medicine. A few days ago I was diagnosed with 'low thyroid'. Today I started a medicine for that.

I'm tired of this. A good friend told me about this site and also about a holistic type doctor/nutritionist that she sees. I've got an appt with him on Friday. I hope there's some way I can get off these horrible medicines and get myself and my life under control. It seems like something else is constantly happening to me and I don't know why.

I don't mean to make this a long story (too late! haha....) but I have a lot of hope now that I am young enough still to turn my deteriorating health around.

I know I'll enjoy meeting you all.

Elishebeth