About Me

My name is Pauline, I'm from Southern Maine, and glad to be here! In January of 1999 I developed Polymyalgia Rheumatica, PMR. Because this illness was so debilitating I stopped working. A few years into the PMR I was also diagnosed with severe osteoarthritis of the spine, neck, hips and knees. I refused to apply for disability for 5 years, hoping to get back on my feet. Career wise I was a licensed psychotherapist working with chronically ill people within a medical family practice. I worked with other people and helped them but, wanted to get back on my feet and work again. Unfortunately I had neither the physical nor the emotional capacity to do so. The first 7 years were pretty bad. Because depression became my middle name, I started to write a series of health articles to try to help myself and maybe others. It took me months to write what normally would have taken me a few days. I couldn't sit and type for more than 30 minutes at a time, which kind of screwed up the concentration needed to write. Anyway, I wrote and it helped. But by then I had run out of money because nothing was coming in and having been self-employed I was paying a lot out of pocket in medical expenses from savings. So.... I sold my condo and now live in a subsidized apartment next to a horse farm. I love it! Love the horses, the trees, the woods, the quiet. I am lucky and have good friends so I don't feel isolated. I also like many of the older people in the building where I live. The thing now is that I can't drive anymore. When I sold my condo in 2003 I was able to buy a handicapped accessible van and a power chair. Prior to that I was house bound. I saw my doctor last week and he filled out paperwork for me to take the regional transportation system we have in my county. This means that I can use this transportation as many times a day 7 days a week from 5:30AM till 11:40PM. Am I fortunate or what!!!! And it's $2.50 one way no matter where I want to go. Pretty good, huh? I consider myself fortunate - on many levels!