MY NEW YEARS WISHES FOR MY LIFE AND ALL MY FRIENDS

Friends and Relatives:  This is going to be my year 2011... the year I come out of the life of the living dead to a real person again.  I believe God is going to help me to feel better through the  Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Center in Las Vegas.  We are headed there on Monday.  We will be staying at Nellis AFB.  We also expect to do some shopping at their mall.  Then early Tuesday I meet with my doctor and they will start my treatments.  They will also send me to a lab to have as many as 40 tubes of blood taken.  I already know that I will get sicker as they attack some of the viruses' and other deceases that are in my system. 
Please pray for me that this is God's will for my life.  I understand why he allowed me to get sick.  I have been able to talk to lots of people that I wouldn't otherwise.  Now I want to get better so he can use me in the next phase of my life.
May God bless all of you this year and it be a great year for you as well.  Your Friend FMSJerry....

THESE RAINY DAYS ARE KILLING ME.

     I am sorry I have not been here this last week, but when we have rain like we have had mixed with cooler weather than normal for the desert southwest it has been hard on my body.  Thank God for my laptop so I can work from bed.

     I have put together my suggestions for how to apply for Social Security and get Approved.  It is available on my tab about "Social Security" on the top of the page..  You are welcome to print it out by pressing <CTRL> <PRINT SCREEN>.  It will be sent to your printer.  BTW you can use this to print out any web page.  If you have Microsoft 7 you can also use the neat new feature of Snipping Tool.  You use it to outline anything you want on a web page and paste it to your wordprocessor or paint program.

WELL I DIDN'T GET AN APPOINTMENT THIS MONTH...

     I still have my January 4th appointment anyways.  I have lived with this CRUD for 15 years, I guess I can make it another month.  I have been really down in bed this first part of the month.  We are having winter storms after winter storms. (All it dose here is change the barometer.)  But that is what make me hurt the worst.

     My friend Joe is playing Santa again this year in Grand Rapids Michigan.  Jim also has FMS but he is able to drive and play Santa (for extra cash).  He receives social security but that is all the income he has, besides playing Santa.  His wonderful wife works as a secretary in a church so she is not getting rich either.  They are a wonderful couple and we have known then for about fourteen years.

     My next letter will be about how to make an application to Social Security when you have FMS/ CFS and be successful.  It took me twenty two months to be approved.  I was the first person to be approved for FMS/CFS in Michigan.  (so they told me)  Look for this post because it will give you all the tips you need to be successful in  your application.

     BTW (by the way) leave me a line when you come to see these post.  It will encourage me.  I can see when people look at this Blog and what country or state they are from.  I just would love to know your name and any questions you have on FMS/CFS.  I have been speaking on FMS/ CFS topics for about 12 years now.  Also if your husband does not believe your really sick... have him get in touch with me or give me his e-address and I will contact him.  Another male talking to males seems to make the difference.  Many women have had me help with their husband.  I would be glad to help you also.  My e-address is fmsjerry@google.com.  Now you know how to write me privately also.

Have a great Sunday, the weather channel says we will be at 62 degrees tomorrow.  I hope I can get out.

Till next time,  Your friend Jerry

IT MAY HAPPEN BEGINNING THIS MONTH!

     I have decided to see if I can start at the clinic this month.  We decided that the sooner I get started the sooner I will start to feel better.  If you don't have FM/CFS you don't understand but this feels like a death sentence because it gets worse and worse.  If left alone I would die of some underlying decease because of the mess my immune system is in now.  It's kind of like having Aids,  as far as I know you don't die of FM/CFS but many other things will eventually kill me.  I will be calling tomorrow to find out how soon I can start.  We will go down tomorrow if it can get started that soon.   I will let you all know what happens after I call...  

THIS IS THE INFOMATION ON THE FIBRO AND CHRONIC FATIGUE CLINICS.

Friends;

I want you to have the information about the clinics I talked to you about.  They are on Facebook and the next link will take you to their Facebook page...

http://www.facebook.com/#!/Fibro360

This next link will take you to that assessment that I told you about.  Take this assessment and they will e-mail back the report and what they have discovered.

http://www.fibroandfatigue.com/fibromyalgia-health-assessment.html

This link is to their home page on the net.  Listen to the Director and founder and hear what he has to say.  Explore this site and look at what the patients have to say.

http://www.fibroandfatigue.com/

You don't know how discouraged I was this summer... But then I think you can.   That's when I noticed this Fibro and Chronic Fatigue Clinic on Facebook.  I went on their web page and posted something about men with Fibro.  This guy from New Jersey contacted me and said he didn't know any males with FM.  He had just started at the clinic and was fighting with pain.  He had retired a year ago from the New York Police Department.  He just couldn't keep up.   We have communicated ever week or so since.  He went through some tough times when they were killing off some of the crud in his system.  As bacteria and other invaders die off they give off deadly toxins into the blood stream.  These over whelm the liver and kidneys so it actually makes you sicker.  Once they are gone you really start feeling better.  This is at about six month and it's seems to be up hill from then on. 

They told me that they can take payments for a commitment of one year.  It's $500.00 per month or $6000 for a year.   This takes care of all the clinic visits, doctors appointments and most of the hepatic medicines.  There will be a separate charge for any lab work that is done by a outside lab.  I was told that it would not be more than $1,000.00 and that my Medicare will pay part of these cost.  On their site you can search for the closest clinic to you.  They currently have 14 clinics across the United States so you can find one closest to you.  You in Alaska  may have to come to the lower 48 to get help.

The Clinic in Las Vegas is only about 125 miles from our home and we can stay in at the Air Force Base Base Accommodations for a cheep rate.  We can also take our travel trailer and park it at the Air Force Base in their RV Park.  Las Vegas is the most cost effective place to fly into in the United States.  They keep the fairs low so people will come and gamble.  That means we can take advantage of that for our needs. 

We are going to be ordering a new travel trailer that is designed to work in the heat and cold weather.  That way we can bring it to Salt Lake City (300 miles one way) to the closest VA Hospital.  I want my own bed to sleep in when we are away.  This trailer will be well insulated and have extra heavy duty air conditioning and heating systems.  It also has a separate bedroom in the front with a bed that can be walked around and closets on each side of the bed.  Also a TV for evening watching.  The whole back of the trailer is the bathroom with skylight over the shower.  A regular toilet, sink and medicine cabinet.  There is also a closet for linen storage.  This trailer is made by Jayco and I have been researching them for the last three years.  I can only find one or two used ones.  The owners just don't give them up.  We are having things like a tank less water heater installed.  Plus all the extra insulation and covering under the unit.

I hope this helps you understand what the FFC Clinic is about.  But you must explore it and decide if it's right for you.  I will be posting to my blog, hopefully daily as to my progress and what they are putting me through to get better.  I pray that many will see my success and take the jump and get feeling better.  If worse comes and I don't get better I will also post that.  I have no connection with FFC and I have many friends and two sons that have FMS/CFS and I am hoping this is the best treatment.

Watch my Blog at: http://fmsjerrysblog.blogspot.com.   I also use Webmd(see site link on the right) as a place to get answers to medical questions.

I hope this helps you and in seven months you see a totally new me...

Jerry Booth

I AM STARTING TO HATE WINTER!

I guess that is why I moved to the desert southwest.  I HATE COLD WEATHER, people with Fibromyalgia/Chronic Fatigue know what I mean.  This week was a bad week, the weather changed several times and that put me in bed.  If you have arthritis then you know how I feel.  As the weather changes I get stiff and sore.  The only way that is comfortable is to stay in bed and keep warm as possible.

We will be heading north on Sunday.  They are to have snow up there which means that it will be colder than here.  I know that cold is relative... our weather here is still in the 60's in the daytime but after being above 100 then dropping to 60's it really feels cold. 

Take care and see you all later....

This was a wonderful Saturday!

This was a wonderful day.  My aid come in five days a week and wakes me up.  Then she makes sure I take my medicines (25 tablets).  Then I shave and she helps me with my shower.  At this point I can't reach over my shoulder with my right arm, because of a rotator cuff tear.  We are going to wait till I have completed the program at the FFC, before we try surgery on this problem. 

Well on Saturday I can stay in bed as long as I like.  I usually get up before 11 AM because another aid comes to clean for us.  That person cleans the bathrooms (including steam cleaning our floors which are stone or tile.)  Then the disinfect things that I might touch so I don't get any more germs than necessary.  They also change our bedding for the week. 

My wife has several medical problems and is unable to get down on the floors to clean.  She has a replacement knee on the right and needs a replacement ankle on the left.

After the aid left I took a short nap and then we went to our son's house and I worked on getting the virus out of their computer.  Then home early....

We both are working on our computers and my service dog is sleeping at my feet.  I enjoy checking out Facebook to see what is happening in the lives of friends and family.

Well this is praying I am able to attend church tomorrow.  Then we will have lunch out.  This is my time to get out each week.  God bless you all and talk to you soon...

If you have questions about my illness or anything just post a note to me and I will try to answer it for everyone to see.  If it's private then it will stay that way.  Nite...

WOW WHAT HAPPENED TO ME...

As much as it might be hard for you to understand I had a really bad flare.  That is when the Fibromyalgia is really, really bad.  I have spent most of the month in bed daily.  I hate it when life is like that.. but that is the life you have to live if you have Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue...

Only those who have Fibromyalgia will understand this.  I have slept 22 hours a day during this time.  My wife is back home with me and I am so glad for that.

Only a short time and I will be starting at the FFC Clinic in Las Vegas... January 3rd 2011.  I have been told by the clinic web page and many patients that it's at the sixth month that you start feeling like your old self... What ever that is??   We will be moving in June of this next year so I might be able to stay awake for this move.  The move here from Michigan 13 years ago, I slept through most of the packing and loading of the truck.  My wife took me to a hotel and friends helped pack our belongings in a 28' Rider truck.  Deborah drove the whole way from Michigan to Southern Utah.  My son and my service dog was with her.  I flew in a plane and was here about four days faster.

Well I will be back now hopefully.  I hate when I miss writing, but then the most important time will be when I am being treated by the Clinic.  I know that many are watching to see how I do... I have had this for so long, others want to see it work on me before they give it a try.

Wednesday: 

This day was a bad one for me and I spent the whole day in bed.  Pain and grogginess was over whelming this day.  I did get up to eat twice this day because there was no one to bring it to me.  I will be very happy when Deborah gets back from her visit to her folks.  These days I don't even want to stay awake.  I am taking 240mg of Morphine(daily) and still the pain is bad.  I have vicodin to take as needed and many days I need it along with the morphine to be able to stand the pain. 

Thursday:

What a great day! Today is the anniversary of the day that Deborah S Gowman Married me in Phoenix, AZ. It was 33 years ago today and I have been the better because of it. What a wonderful wife I have and what a joy to spend my life with her.

Jerry & Deborah

A little know fact is that 80% or more spouses leave the one that gets chronically ill.  This is a US statistic, it's hard to believe but is true.  My wife has stood beside me even when we and everyone else didn't know much about Fibromyalgia/Chronic Fatigue.  When my family (parents and siblings) abandoned me because they didn't understand my illnesses.   My wife and sons stood beside me and sometimes in front of me to try to let people know that I was really ill.  How people can think that I decided to go to bed for the first 14 months.  I had build a large computer company, we had a wonderful home and I had a great reputation in the community.  They somehow decided that I just stopped working and was playing sick.  I am proud of my wife and sons for standing up for me. 

My father has come to grips with I am sick, he still doesn't understand how it works, but he is now speaking to me again and came to visit this summer.  My siblings still will not return an e-mail or take a phone call.  I am sorry for them.  Since I was diagnosed, both my sons along with three first cousins and a second cousin have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia/Chronic Fatigue.  Now we know that it's a decease that can be found in families.  I am willing to do whatever it takes to help them find a cure for this CRUD before it hits my sons and possibly grandchildren.  To those siblings that are full blooded with me they can say I am crazy but they are just as likely to have Fibro/Chronic Fatigue as I do.

TIME SLIPS AWAY

     I can't believe it's Tuesday already.  The weather has been so bad here I have spent the weekend in bed.  My whole body hurts when it's raining and windy.  I have my laptop right at my bed but I didn't even fell like turning that on.  Anyone that has Fibromyalgia/Chronic Fatigue knows what I mean. 

     We are planning our finances to be able to afford the Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Clinic visits starting in January.  We have a budget and I spent some time on that yesterday planning our new budget for 2011.  We have 13.38 left after everything is paid.  We are selling our home to be able to afford this as well.  Rent now is much cheeper than ownership.  We will be renting for seven or eight years.  There are houses for rent not far from here so we won't have to leave the community that we have lived in for almost 13 years.

     Our son and his wife are building a new home clear on the other side of the valley.  It's about 20 miles to their house.  They are only 5 miles away now.  We love to kidnap our grandson for a weekend when we can.  We have not seen much of them this whole year.  They have been so busy building this house.  My son also has worked some really long weeks.  Two weeks ago he worked 77 hours in the first four days.  He took friday off and did some extra sleeping.

     Well I have a few things to do and need to go see a neighbor that is fighting cancer.  Talk to you all later.

ANOTHER NICE SATURDAY

     I had a nice day today.  I didn't do much but it was quiet here, the gal that cleans my house came and got the wash going and the dishes washed in the dishwasher.  Those are two machines that I just can't handle.  It is strange because I did them when I was single, but I just can't deal with them now. 


     My dog and I spent part of the day just laying together and resting.  He loves to just set by me and have me pet him.  I never thought I would love a Dog as much as I do the last two.  Chance was my first service dog.  He trained Chip how to do the job and watch over me.   Chance is gone now but Chip is here to take his place.  When I am tired and don't go to bed he bugs me till I do.  He also is a seizure alert dog and when I had seizures he would lay on top of me and not let me move.  You couldn't move either of them with a bulldozer. 


     My wife will be gone 12 more days... I am able to talk to her anytime I want to but it's not the same.  I am glad she could go visit her parents but I miss her.  We will have an anniversery on the 28th and it's been 33 years.   Any woman who could put up with me that long deserves a metal.  Well I did get her something gold... with diamonds and a Perl.  She loves the ring and has wanted one for a while.  They go with her ear rings and necklace.  A wise man told me to never purchase your wife something for a special occasion that has a cord attached.  She has been getting jewelry for almost every occasion and when we travel we try to pick up something for her.


     Well I am hoping to be feeling up to attending church tomorrow.  I even have a ride, so I am going to cut off for now and get some rest(sleep)...  

I DID IT AGAIN!

     HI:  On Sunday I was feeling better than I have for a while.  I knew I didn't want to over do because I would pay if I did.  I went to church and then out to dinner.  After dinner we stopped by our son's house for an hour.
     Monday I spent the whole day in bed.....   I slept around the clock...(You would think I felt rested when I got up on Tuesday but it was not to be....)
     Tuesday I had a doctor's appointment and we went to Costco to shop for thing I would need while my wife is gone... You know dinners that can be cooked in the Micro.... Wife left Tuesday night for Michigan to visit her parents.
     Wednesday I just bumed around....
     Today is Thurday and I thought it was time to catch this up.   My Aid came in and helped me with my shower, then she put the dishes in the dishwasher and took out the trash for me.  Chip my dog has been by my side this whole week.  It took him about 12 hours to realize that my wife was not coming home... But Dad fed him and that was ok.....

ANOTHER FRIDAY – THE SUN IS SHINING AND I PLAN TO HAVE A GREAT DAY..

     I woke up feeling better than I did yesterday.  My Aid came at 10 AM and took my blood pressure… it was fine.  Then my 25 pills and some apple juice to wash them down.  Then I shaved and prepared myself for a shower.  I set on a shower stool and my Aid comes in the room and washes my hair because I cannot us my left arm over my head.  She then hands me a washcloth and I was my face.  Then I hand it back to her and she puts on some bath soap and washes my back. 

Then she moves to the other side of the bathroom.  I finish washing the rest of my body.  Then I stand and rinse off, being careful to get all the soap off my body.  Then I reach out and get my bath towel and dry the upper part of my body.  Then I wrap the towel around my middle and leave the shower and set on the commode.   The Aid then dry’s my hair with a hand towel, in winter she also uses a dryer.  She then leaves the room and makes my bed while waiting for me.  I finish drying and put on a pair of shorts and go set on my bed. 

While I am setting there she applies a medicine to the sores on my arms, sides, and legs.  They are getting better but it has taken a long time.   The sores are from a bacteria that lives in our noses.  This one also attacked my body, because of my wonderful immune system.  If I am going out she helps me dress otherwise we set and talk till her time to leave a 11 AM.  On Thursdays she takes out all the trash in the house and places the garbage bins to the street, about 10 feet.  Then on Saturday at 11AM one of the Aids come in and does cleaning.  The clean the bathrooms and steam clean the floors.  Then they sweep the main part of the house and also steam clean it also.  After that they do whatever my wife has for them till they use up their two hours.  It is great to have someone there to help me every weekday morning.  On the weekends my wife makes sure I take my meds then lets me sleep till I wake up. 

Our church does not meet until 4PM on Sunday because we share a pastor with another church.  As they find a replacement at the other church then we will have the Pastor full time.  I wrote out my routine so you could see what has been happing for the last six years of my life.

BACK AGAIN

     Well will I never learn... Yesterday I felt better than I did for a while.  So we went shopping and to lunch.  Then I helped unload the truck.  Stupid stupid... I spent most of the day in bed today.  I got up around 6pm to have dinner with my wife.  Will I ever learn to not over do on my better days???  I am still in major pain but help it will be less by tomorrow.
  
     Chip my service dog, spent the day at my hip.  He is so conforting and knows when I am not feeling good.  As I set here typing he is laying at my feet.  He turned 11 this summer and I am praying that he will be with me for many more years to come.  My first service dog Chance had a broken hip as a puppy and in his 12th year I was forced to put him down when meds would no longer work to keep him confortable.  I was so lucky that he had taught Chip how to care for me.  The day Chance died, Chip took over and became my service dog...  It made the loss of Chance easier but I still miss him. 

     Well we will see you gaing tomorrow....

Today I hurt worse than yesterday! Who said FM patients arn't affected by the Weather?

Well today I didn't get up till 2:00 PM.  The pain kept me in bed after last nights storm.  We had rain and lighting all night long.  We don't have these kind of storms very many times in the year because we only normally have seven inches of rain per year here in the desert.  I was planning on doing some things today but that was before the rain storm.  I have a list of things I need to do, in the new Windows 7 program there is a feature called sticky notes.  It works just like the sheets of paper we have used except they are sheets on the screen that we can fill out.  I have a list of things that need to be accomplished, but I have to be careful what I do so I don't overwork just before the weekend or another scheduled outing.  I have to rest two days before I go anywhere so I will feel like going.  That doesn't leave many days that I can do things. 

I am still really excited about going to FFC in the new year.  I am so looking forward to being more like I was.  I know they don't have a cure and may not find a cure in my lifetime, but if there is something that can be learned through my experiences then it's worth it.  I DO NOT want my sons to go through all the pain I have in the last 15 years of my life.  My oldest son is 32 and this crud hit me when I was 38 and I had to quit working... I don't want that for my sons.

We are planning a trip to Las Vegas on Thursday if I am up to it.  We need to make or monthly trip to the Air Force Base to purchase our bulk food stuffs for the month.  Even though it's a 120 mile trip the savings are worth it.  We purchase things like meat at a great discount to what we have to pay in the local stores.  We also don't pay any sales tax on base so that saves.  They have a regular mall with food court, a large department store and lots of little stores down the mall.  Then there is the commissary that has the food stuffs.  It's a nice diversion and we save money.  We can also stay on base at the visitors quarters for about half the price of a hotel.  We may use this when we have to go down to FFC.

Well take care for now.. and God Bless you
Jerry

Today it rained.... sob

I woke up yesterday knowing that the weather was going to change.  My body hurt and I spent the day in bed.  Today (Monday 10/02/10) I feel about the same.  I did get up for a bit because I had to return some phone calls.  I was scheduled to go see my dermatologist on Wednesday, but I rescheduled that trip.  For me to see my VA doctors I have to travel 300 miles one way.  They do pay for my travel, but that kind of travel is hard on my system.  Especially when it's wet weather outside. 
I live in Southern Utah by choice.  We moved here almost 13 years ago for my health.  The climate here is almost perfect for me.  We get about 7" of rain a year so that is nice.  The sun shines 360 days a year, and that really helps me from depression.  We live in the desert so in the summer it gets hot here.  We have about two months of 100+ degrees weather.  I just stay inside and my air conditioning make a nice climate for me.  If I have to go out then it's in our truck which is air conditioned also.  Our winters are mild, we have 50's and 60 degree weather during the day time in the winter.  You may not know that the desert cools down about 30 degrees after the sun goes down.  If you have lots of concrete then it will hold the heat.
My days run like this.  I am in bed usually awake when my Aid comes in at 10am.  She helps me with any thing like taking my blood pressure.  Then most days I take a shower and she assist by washing my hair, and then my back.  I continue the shower by myself after that.  She has to stay in the room because, I have a habit of falling.  After completing my shower I get my towel and dry myself off.  Because I can't reach higher than my shoulder with my left arm she will dry my hair with another towel.  Then she leaves the room so I can finish drying my legs and get partially dressed. 
I am fighting a virus called folliculicis when has taken over my arms and legs.  We not have medication that my Aide puts on for me.  She does my arms and legs and we are finally seeing some improvement.  If you have this (crud) as I call it you understand.  I had a yeast infection in my gut and it took 6 years and lots of dollars to defeat it.
One of the counselors from FFC called me this morning just to see how I am doing.  I am signed up on their web page and that is how she found me.  She has called me several times in the last few months.  Today I was so glad to schedule my first appointment....   I am so looking forward to having a life.
I am doing this blog so you can see my progress... I hope it will encourage you to get to one and get better.  I have been in touch with others going through the program and they are very excited.  This does cost.  We decided to give up our home to be able to afford for me to go to FFC.  We will be here for about another year then we will rent for a while.   Our goal is to build a custom home for us with my needs in mind.  We have had a design in our minds for many years now and I am in the process of sketching it so I can take it to an Architect to have it properly designed.  We have several things that we want special.  Like a walk in shower like we have now.    Talk to you tomorrow.

Another day another Dollar......"wait I didn't work today""

I really miss working, it has been since January 1996 that I have worked.  I am still fighting a sinus infection.  This gives me headaches which is best when I sleep.  I wish I could get up at 8 A.M. to be to work at 9 A.M..  My aid come in at 10 A.M. each morning M-F to help me get up, take my pills, get showered and dressed for the day.  If I am having a bad day, they bring me a washcloth so I can wash off then stay in bed.  Today I slept till two pm, what a bum. 

I am still a bit down, although my mortgage company has promised to look into a new mortgage for us.  This will free up about 700.00 in cash each month.  That would allow me to go to Fibro and Fitigue Center and get some treatment for this "CRUD". 

Just existing is not living.... and when you feel so bad it's hard to get up and get out and do things for others.

Today is Sunday and my day to get out of the house!

If I am feeling well enough, I get to go to Church and then out to lunch with friends.  This is a highlight of my week.  I have to be careful not to do anything on Saturday.  That excludes using my computer, but not lifting or anything else I know I should not do.  It's not hard for me to end up in bed for two to three days because I did something like pull some weeds in the yard.  I also changed out a controller for the watering system and put myself in bed for four days with uncontrollable pain.  I know this sounds stupid but it's the way it is. 

I am on just about the top of pain medications.  I take 240mg of morphine daily along with vicodin 5/500 that I can take up to four a day.  Sometimes I am just so exhausted I need to sleep endless for 24 to 48 hours.  Because of my sinus infection I have been unable to use my "V Pap Adapt" machine to help with the sleep apnea.  I feel that I want to try it again tonight.

Please ask questions and I will be glad to answer them.