New diagnosis, surgery imminent

My name is Jeanette ( most people call me Jan). My husband was a senior sciences and maths teacher in the Vic system for 40+ years. I got used to being called ," you must be David's Wife) . I didn't like it but they were so happy for their children who loved his style of teaching that I just learned to live with it. I was a professional from 1966 till the end of 2008 when I had to give up working because of the complications from my RA and other arthritises. I have been a nurse, a trained Safery & Workers compensation specialist (did a Grad dip in occupational hazard management at the age of 40) and retrained again as a Cert IV in Training and Assessment in 2005 and upgraded qualification in 2008 . I too had severe post natal depression ( after my second child) when I had one up and one down every two hours, 24 hours/ day for more than 12 months. Number three was easier even though number 2 ( son) was a severe asthmatic and had repeated bouts of synovitis in his hips over a year. My husband is very supportive but is disabled in his own right. He had to retire early as well because a virus destroyed his balance centre and he couldn't concentrate of class work and stay in the vertical position ( that's how it was eventually explained to us by a wonderful dr in Melbourne). Thanks be to God we travelled overseas before our combined health stopped us in our tracks. We still want to " grey nomad" when our health issues become more manageable. We had planned to go to Cape York this year with our caravan and camping gear. I won't give up hope that we won't do it in the future when our lives are more stable. We have 33 y/o son recently divorced living with us in this small cottage. It was built by Ds grandfather in 1910 as a 2 bedroom home for himself and their only child. They had been told to move her into the country or she would die from the after effects of scarlet fever. She lived here till 1990 and die at 99.5 y/o. We are packed in like sardines but making the most of it until our home in the country can be sold. The economy in the rural areas has crashed dramatically, no thanks to companies like Coca Cola Amytal and Fonteera. Have been out and had blood taken to see how my INR is coming on after weeks of self administered Clexaine . I really do not want any more episodes of pulmonary emboli I. 2 bouts in 14 months were enough thank you. I am also getting over a knee replacement in March this year to try and get my sciatica and biomechanics back under control. I am to see a new psychiatrist tomorrow because my present current one ( last 6 months) is pregnant and going on maternity leave. I do have a psychologist here now but am limited by the governments funding re the number of visits/ year. I started seeing her because I have to wait up to 15 months to get into a pain management centre here in Melbourne. Enough of me. Thank you for sharing about yourself. I would love to be able to talk one on one with you. You sound so interesting . I don't know how that works in this network. I guess I'll find out some how. Best wishes. Jan