I am 51 years young, with a 38 year old husband that is the rock and love of my life. We've been happily married for 11 years. It's just the two of us and our kitty cat Miss Savannah who is like a child to us. I was dx with RA last October and currently take Plaquenil, Vicodin ES, Effexor XR, Enteric Aspirin, Omega Complex, Milk Thistle for my liver protection, and sometimes Ativan for insomnia and nervousness.

I had chicken pox at age 47 and a gall bladder surgery at age 49 that went all wrong and had a lengthy hospital stay in ICU for septic shock. Then at age 50 RA/Lupus combo so far. I am pretty sure all the sepsis and other various problems brought on the RA.

I live in the deepest south of Louisiana closer to the Texas border. IT's hot, humid, and boiling here, but it's home. My husband is a Class A BoilerMaker/RIgger and often works out of state on chem plant maintenance shutdowns for a month or two at a time and for various companies. Because of that and sometimes a few months with no work there is not any medical insurance. We do with what we can for my problem.

So far I have been blessed with wonderful doctors that understand my situation and work diligently with me. I am allergic to many drugs, steroids being one of them.

I love this forum and all the people here.