> I pray for a magic bullet

Unfortunately, things are never that easy in life. And since EP seems to have so many different causes, what helps one guy may not necessarily help another at all. It seems like it always has to be an individual path for each person.

I know what you mean though about how people come and go on the board and how it makes you wonder what's gotten them back out into life after enduring this dreaded disease. I never like to brag whenever I'm feeling better because I know "pride goeth before a fall," so all I can say is that I've been having a pretty good week so far. I've been getting out of the house more, going to visit friends, going to the movies, etc., with only a minimal amount of pain or discomfort once in a while. I feel like I'm holding my breath all the time though, wondering if or when it might flare up again from so much increased activity...

If I really wanted to stretch my luck, I suppose I could say I'm probably doing about 90% better now, but I can't really point to any *one* thing that has helped, other than simply the passage of time. (It's been almost six months for me this time.) It seems like the hard part now will be trying to find another job and rebuild my entire life after so many months of illness and inactivity. That seems even more daunting right now than the physical pain anymore...