Hello! I joined years ago, but just renewed, updated and got my act together to rejoin the groups I loved so much.
So hello!
Thank you so much for keeping a wonderful site like this onboard!

And glad we are to have you back! Welcome home. ;)

Joe

Thank you, and for giggles let me pose a small intro as it has been years.
I am Corrina, go by Arctic. Suffer since pre teen. I think 12. Thank goodness I can no longer remember. My set offs are 'dark items' dark colored either by dye or naturally~ coke, rum, brown sugar, molassas,chocolate and mostly caramel, root beer you get the point. I was surprised as an adult, ahem, that the first drink of wine I had my temple  hurt. But made sense later. Another was perservatives like those in ramen and bologna, which comprised a good portion of my low income diet at that time. During my cycles strong smells set me off, and hubby gets to do all the soap shopping, and I avoid malls like the plague. Come on we ban smoking in many places and not perfume? kidding...well really not...
Now I have two boys at home, 12 and 6. Moved to the countryside (only five acres would love 10) and trying to get back to 'me'. Instead of the get out of debt gal I was so spread in different directions I wasn't sure who was me and who was them.
I work at a small hosptial, cna only not a nurse. But hey I am still smart. :)
Engaged ten years. Tons of cats (18). Chickens, ducks and soon a dog.
Ok, so thats a wrap! So glad to know I was accepted back at the place I found so much help in my time of need. Hopefully I can do the same for others, and continue my love of this place (more vocally) hehe
With care, Arctic

Another person in the medical field! We use you guys as mouth pieces to the profession to get the word out! The only advice I have on the kids...(my "little" girls are now 24 and 22!)....don't think you're hiding much from them. From a very young age my girls could rig an 02 regulator, and knew when daddy just needed to be alone. Scares them less when they feel like they have some control in fighting the beast!

Joe

I figured I couldn't hide anything from them, oldest is good about heating me up a compress and youngest turns out the light and wakes dad. I think I have a good support system, just sucks they have to be so. The only time they were scared is when I had ER visits, guess I was hanging out the window too much I don't recall. They are also good police they won't let me slip so much as a bite of chocolate in their presence.
Yes I do speak up about clusters at work, to the docs I have gotten a good reputation with~ its an odd feeling to be asked so many questions by them but they do research online alot when I start pointing them to sites for information to better treat their patients.

Just wanted to say welcome back, Corinna.  Good to have you here.

All the best,

George