Summary-line: 29-Dec n, wilcox@cis.ohio-state. #Re: Immune-system mailing list: The very first message Return-Path: Date: Sat, 29 Dec 90 09:05:58 pst From: cnorman (Cynthia Norman) To: cnorman, wilcox@cis.ohio-state.edu, luna@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu, ames!chinet.chi.il.us!chaz@ucsd.edu, anasaz!john@asuvax.eas.asu.edu, dwyer@nosc.mil, jgautier@ads.com, b-davis@cai.utah.edu, richter@triton.unm.edu, hxkpy@slacvm.slac.stanford.edu, botteron@bu-it.bu.edu, rollo@xylogics.com, proud@ihlpy.att.com, bill@picard.att.com, jsparkes@bnr.ca, island!green@uunet.uu.net, ann@snow-white.merit-tech.com, iex!neptune.iex.com!bert@uunet.uu.net Subject: Re: Immune-system mailing list: The very first message Reply-To: cnorman@ucsd.edu *** EOOH *** Return-Path: Date: Sat, 29 Dec 90 09:05:58 pst From: cnorman (Cynthia Norman) To: cnorman, wilcox@cis.ohio-state.edu, luna@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu, ames!chinet.chi.il.us!chaz@ucsd.edu, anasaz!john@asuvax.eas.asu.edu, dwyer@nosc.mil, jgautier@ads.com, b-davis@cai.utah.edu, richter@triton.unm.edu, hxkpy@slacvm.slac.stanford.edu, botteron@bu-it.bu.edu, rollo@xylogics.com, proud@ihlpy.att.com, bill@picard.att.com, jsparkes@bnr.ca, island!green@uunet.uu.net, ann@snow-white.merit-tech.com, iex!neptune.iex.com!bert@uunet.uu.net Subject: Re: Immune-system mailing list: The very first message Reply-To: cnorman@ucsd.edu Return-Path: Date: Fri, 28 Dec 1990 11:01 PST From: "Diana Gregory" In-Reply-To: cnorman@ucsd.EDU -- 12/27/90 23:54 Wow - when I started reading your mail, I had to look and see if it wasn't me writing it in SEVERAL places. I, too, have apparently been dyslexic all my life. It was never diagnosed when I was young because my mother was adamantly opposed to the method used to teach reading skills in the California School system in the 50's (I was born in 1952). She taught me to read herself when I was four - using the phonetic method. This method, I understand, is what is now used to teach people who have been diagnosed as dyslexic. I was always VERY good at reading, and had a terrible time with math. Because I could read so well, and read so voraciously none of the teachers ever diagnosed me - tho one came close when she taught us that if when adding up a series of numbers, your answer was off by a factor of 9 you were reversing your figures. I was usually wrong - and usually by some factor of 9. My parents tried to get the school system to keep me back a year in 4th or 5th grade (as a September child, I was always young for my class, and usually had friends in the class one behind me). They would not - as it would be a blot on their record... I was left with a bad feeling about school. I have no memory of this - but my parents tell me that I was discouraged from taking college prep courses in high-school. All I remember was a feeling that I had squeaked by high-school. I wasn't even going to try college. Wasn't until about 4 years later when I had to get a transcript that I learned I had a B- average in high-school. I DID attend our local Junior College - I was 'recruited' by an instructor for a class he was just starting, which he said he needed women for - Stage lighting. Wound up immersed in Stage Craft for 4 years. Gave me some confidence in myself. When I realized I wasn't going to earn a living from it, I decided to take 'survival courses' - typing, bookkeeping, etc. One of those that I decided to take was Gregg Shorthand. It was due to this class that I realized that I was most probably dyslexic. Realization was not immediate, of course. All I knew was that I was doing my best and getting nowhere. And memories of people saying 'you're not really TRYing' kept coming back. Can't really remember when I figured out the problem was dyslexia. So far, I've not had any problems with Dairy products. I do, however, have just as strong a reaction to peanuts - except the reaction is in the upper digestive tract, not the lower. But even a small amount can kick it off. Makes having a Chinese Dinner somtimes an experience. Like with cigarettes (see further on), I have to decide that the company is worth the reaction. Or suggest making it at home where I can control the ingredients. Yeast infections started when I was in my early 20's - as did Migraine headaches. I was on the pill for a while, and had had tetracyclene(sp?) for an adult re-occurrance of acne (probably due to the pill?). Even after I was off the pill, I still get both the headaches and the yeast infections fairly regularly in the week before my period - along with the other symptoms of PMS. I actually was able to minimize all symptoms but the yeast infection this summer when I was riding my bicycle to work 5 days a week (exercise DOES help), but I stopped riding at the beginning of October after being hit by a car. I hope to start again in the Spring. Right now I'm too nervous about it. Which brings up another problem - when I was in my late teens to early 20's, I was extremely close to becoming completely incapable of dealing with people. I had panic attacks at the idea of even going shopping. I 'cured' myself by just sort of DOING things - once I had done them once, I seemed to be able to do them again. I still have problems - I went back to work the Thursday after the bike accident (it was on Sunday) because I knew if I didn't I probably would never get the nerve to drive ANYwhere. I also rode the bike as soon as I could. But I had no wish to become an agoraphobic. I also am allergic to cigarettes. I have some stubbornness that allows me to go to a bar when I REALLY want to - and ignore the reactions I have, but for the most part - it can kick off a beaut of a migraine on one whiff (and WHY do people who smoke insist on wearing perfumes that I'm allergic to also??? One guy (since quit both) used to walk by my desk and I'd have to go throw up the nausea created was so strong.) Again - I seem to be hyper-sensitive around the PMS time. Have you noticed that also? I have a friend who is supposed to be going to work for the National Institute of Health (Medicine?) in Bethesda in January. After he's been there a while - I'll ship off some of your (our?) questions and see if he can find someone or something to refer to... Diana