The return of Persi & Alley!

Hello everybody! Here we are, Persi, Alley, and Lee. Back to where we belong on the best site on the internet! So, where have we been?

Three months ago I received a diagnosis from three different doctors that I had CRPS (complex regional pain syndrome). This caused a state of deep depression in me. There is no cure for the pain so I was put on antidepressants. A few weeks later my wife's appendix burst, spreading a septic condition through her that nearly killed her. My depression deepened but she made a full recovery although it was touch and go. So I got somewhat better for a while until my birthday in May which was the BIG one. Try as I might, my depression deepened and my medication dosage was upped. As I was coming out of that, I found out that my sister had died from the very same thing my wife had almost died of. During this time I was going to a five day a week, eight hour a day pain management rehabilitation program, not meant to cure me but to treat me mentally to accept my fate. I completed that program last Friday and have been working towards returning to a more normal life; not thinking in the past which cannot be changed and not thinking "what if" about the future. I am also on a new high powered antidepressant (Pristiq) so I am taking one day at a time.

I had planned to get back here on TCS during my recovery and when I received a phone call from Carolina Thursday, I was so delighted and then when I saw the nice things that you all had to say, I composed a post yesterday but it was not accepted because I am now using a new iMac computer. So, I am trying again and will keep this short in case the same thing happens today. I would have been back on here sooner but I was embarrassed and ashamed for remaining silent during my absence. But I am back.

Persi and Alley have been in good health and are just as crazy as ever. I will write more once I make sure I can post this. You guys on this site are just wonderful and magical. Please accept my apologies for my silence while I get back into the swing of things!

Hi, we really have all missed you on here and I for one am lad that you are back. I am glad that your wife has made a recovery, my husbands appendix nearly ruptured last year and he was misdiagnosed by a doctor as having gastroenteritis, if he hadn't got to hospital when he did it would have been worse.
I hope that you start to feel better very soon and just take things day by day, don't feel guilty about being silent on here, you have had alot going on but we are all here for you.Take care.xx

LEE!!!!!
Welcome back Lee!!!! I am so happy to see you here!!!! I watched all day for you yesterday, only to make your return today even sweeter!
It is awesome to have you back!!!!
I hope you are feeling better everyday, and we can get you back on track posting and having fun here at TCS - you wre missed very very much!

Many hugs,
Carolina and my crew~

Welcome back Lee! Don't feel embarrassed at all.

I am so sorry to hear all you and your wife have been through. I hope the future will bring you much luck and less depression. It is nice to see you back here, sending you keep healthy vibes:

Welcome back! May your recovery road go smoothly, and it's good to see you posting! And no need to apologize - one day at a time.

Welcome back!!!!

So good to see you back, Lee.

But you have a lot going for you. Great wife, really nice house, a car for getting the girls (oh...wait...that wife thing, again), two nice cats, etc.

But I know how just a little pain can be consuming. I had a sore knee (which, compared to your experience, was pretty minor), back around Christmas, that nothing would help. I convinced myself I was looking as surgery, giving up the hot rod, etc. Not pleasant.

Welcome back, we were worried about you

Glad to read your wife is well after that scare, and i hope you feel better soon to

so again big welcome back from me and my two

Good to see ya back,Lee!

Welcome back Lee! Don't even think about apologizing; you have been through more in the past few months than anyone should have to go through. I'm sorry to hear about your sister, but I'm SO glad that your wife recovered! What a scary time for both of you. We're glad to have you back, and we're all here for you.

Thanks for the update! Nice to hear from you!

So sorry it's been a really rough few months for you and your family. But we're all very glad to hear your spirits are lifting, even if just a tiny bit at a time. Every tiny step matters and counts and is a positive thing.

Welcome back.

So glad to see you back. The kitties send head-butts. Merlin's especially good at those.

I've been outside working or I would have chimed in sooner. Indeed, welcome back!! When someone is missing, things just aren't the same until we know they are OK.

No need to apologize. Just glad you and your wife are doing well. My condolences for the loss of your sister.

Good to have everyone back together!

Yay!!! Lee's back!!! We really missed you!!!! Take care of yourself and your wife too!! Glad she recovered from the burst appendix!

Welcome back!!

Hopiong you are feeling better so you can post more often.

When it rains it pours!! You certainly have been through Hell and back. Sending lot of from Bella and me. Yes one day at a time--sometimes it's one minute at a time!!! Please take care I'm glad Persi and Alley were there to give you and your wife all that unconditional love!

Welcome back!