Good morning everyone. TGIF!! "Thank God It's Friday!" or "Thank God I'm Forgiven!"
Hope all are feeling as well as you can, this morning. I got up around 4 am...couldn't sleep. :( So, thought I'd post to my friends, & drink some coffee. :coffee:
It's going to be an extra long day. Managers at the TV Station will be gone for the weekend. Meaning, I have the station alone until live programming at 4 pm. That's ok....it either just gets too quiet, or too busy! Never know from day to day. I also panic, if we go off the air. I'm afraid I'll push the wrong buttons! :o But, to think about it, how much harm can I do? We're already off the air!! :lol: It's funny how the phones go to ringing...people asking if we know we're off the air! :lol: Like....if I didn't have to answer the phones, I might get us back on sooner. :D
Well, we've had several days of rain, now it's turning colder. Hope it doesn't stay that way. We haven't gotten our winter clothes out, yet. Just have a sweater, & jacket. I suppose that's going to be on our list for the weekend.
Good to hear from you Young Grasshopper! You don't seem to mention your back problems as often as you did. Are you doing better, these days, or just not saying anything? I do hope you're better. I know for awhile, you sounded so miserable. I felt for you. When I first hurt my back in that car wreck, I couldn't get relief for about a year. I felt that dying would have been welcome if that was the life I was going to live. My neurologist said I was a very strong-willed person...that there were men that would take their own life in that kind of pain. I wasn't brave, or strong-willed (I didn't think). I didn't know I had a choice! :?: I have a wonderful neurologist, though. He stayed with me & helped all he could, (& still does) until we found what would help. He's become a personal friend to me & DH through these years. :)
Well, I guess I'll go. Hope all of you have a good day! The link to the last thread is below, if anyone didn't read all of the posts.http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?p=694338&posted=1#post694338
Hi Charlotte. So you have to work by yourself today. Well, it does have its merits as well. You could try getting on the air :lol:
Sorry to have been gone for so long. I have been away every weekend for so long, that it takes the week to recover so I can go again :dizzy: My son is getting married tomorrow and then HOPEFULLY, I can stay home. When I am going like that, I don't sleep well, and the fatigue takes over. I have been reading, just not posting.
Have been having problems with my back as well. I am off to the Chiro. this morning for the second time this week. Hopefully, this will take care of it. It felt pretty good yesterday, but he wants to see me again today. This Chiro. wants you to stay away as long as possible, so when he tells you to come in, you know you should.
I won't address everybody, because I have to get ready to leave. I just hope that you all have as painless Friday as possible. Think positive and have a wonderful day. :)
RAR
10-15-2004, 04:24 PM
Good Good Afternoon Ladies just wanted to pop in and wish everyone have a pain free Friday also Ohio is havibg some rain and chilly weather so it is really bothering my back more then usual just glad that I got the next 2 days off from work so I can take it easy and not do much lifting I dont even have any winters clothes out yet so that might be my project this weekend well ladies have a good one Rita:dance:
Joanne D
10-15-2004, 08:33 PM
I hope you all have a great weekend... Every day seems to be a little better. I still have the pain but that is going to take some time,so my Dr says.. He fooled around a good bit with my insides..
Hope all you guys are well ...Joanne
chrily
10-16-2004, 01:17 AM
Joanne-great to hear that your at least feeling a little bit better. I am so sorry you had to go through surgery...
Rita-It's chilly and rainy here in Montana too. We must all be having the same weather. I at least feel pretty good, which is a definite plus.
HC-sorry 'bout your back. Hopefully the chiro can get all the kinks worked out of it. Have a great time at your son's wedding. When I got married the second time, I wish I would have had a small wedding. Instead we got married in front of the judge-at least he is one of my dad's oldest friends so it wasn't like we got married by a complete stranger.
Charlotte-How did your quiet day at work go? Mondays I always work by myself. Sometimes its a blessing and sometimes not...Depends on my mood and how much I have on my mind. I kind of enjoy the quiet though. I never seem to get much of it.
Has anyone heard from Okidoll? I haven't seen a post from her for a couple of weeks. Hope she's okay.
To the rest of you pain-sufferers or pain-tolerators...Have a great night and I will check back with you all.
~chris
Young Grasshopper
10-16-2004, 05:41 PM
Hi All!
Happy Saturday......rainy fall day here in NY. Thanks for the note Charlotte....nice to know that I was missed. :)
The back has it's good and bad days. I'm still looking into the WLS but not too sure. Guess I'll just have to take all the tests and pray a lot....think I might find an answer there. Thinking about trying a chiro myself....guy at work raved about this doc. that's actually on my health plan! Always been afraid to try going to a chiropractor but can't be any worse than considering surg.
Hope you had a good time at the wedding Canuk.....didn't hurt yourself doing the chicken dance or the hokeypokey....ever wonder who thought those dances up?
Okay, I'm rambling....hope everyone has a pain free weekend!
Deb
RAR
10-16-2004, 08:36 PM
Good Evening Ladies hope that you all had a pain free day well weather has really been chilly today but just spent the day doing nothing and enjoyed it!!!!!!Joanne glad that you are up and about hope that you are feeling better :smile:hopeing the rest of you ladies have a great evening!!!!!!!!Rita
siamese
10-17-2004, 10:28 AM
hello friends!
hoping everyone is doing ok!
its been unualy cold and damp which has my feet in trouble.
i just came off a pred burst.
my wrist and feet were screaming.
doing pretty much better now!
thanks everyone for the warm welcome!
chris my siamese cat name is DC
named him after that darn cat!
he is my cutie!
everyone have a great sunday!
doni
chrily
10-17-2004, 12:36 PM
Doni-
Don't you just hate the weather...Seems like it messes with everything. We've been fairly chilly here and rainy. I feel worse from my allergies than the RA right now. For some oddball reason when the humidity changes I get really dizzy and lightheaded. Fall is my worst season for allergies so far.
My feet are achy but mainly in the morning when I first get up and when I've been sitting down for awhile. I'm hoping that by losing some weight that they will feel better somewhat.
To everyone-hope you're all feeling good or at the very least...better. Reading everybody's post, it sounds like we are all having the same kind of weather. Hope it isn't creating too much havoc in everyone's lives. Well have a great day and be good to yourselves.
~chris
ageoldie
10-17-2004, 05:48 PM
Hi group, haven't been around in a while, but still around. I've been feeling pretty good lately, but today I'm really hurting, but it is my own fault. I pushed myself too hard yesterday, had too much fun and paying for it today.
I went to a "toursity" town with a church group and walked around way too much, but we did go to a fantastic concert, OLD TIME ROCK & ROLL. It was so much fun!
chrily
10-17-2004, 07:19 PM
Ageoldie-
Glad to see you're back. I love to wander around touristy towns. They are too much fun. Hopefully your pain will only last a short while.
Well just had to say hi...I have to get back to working on my daughter's Halloween costume. She wanted to be Belle from Beauty and the Beast.
So good to read all the posts! Friday was VERY busy, but went well. I was glad to see Connie come back today, though. It DOES get lonely when no one else is at the station.
We've been having some very rainy weather the last few days. Tornado watches & warnings out all through today. Hit a town not far from us.
Happy Canuk...Good to hear from you. Hope the wedding goes well. You'll need to rest quite a bit afterward, you know. Weddings really do me in!
Joanne...Glad you're recovering, although it's slow. I've had several surgeries. I reallly feel for you.
Hello to eveyone else. Enjoyed reading all the posts. Maybe I can get back online tomorrow. I've got to work on the picture album all I can.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v185/Angel-Lover/Number%208/hugs23.gif
chrily
10-19-2004, 01:31 PM
Good morning,
Just had to do a quick post before getting Kayla from school. Where I live, one of the radios stations does A GREAT PUMPKIN CAPER. You get clues from area businesses and try to find a pumpkin they have hidden in the listening area. Pumpkin #1 was found yesterday, so my sister and I are going to gather our clues for #2 today.
I've been doing good staying on program and lost 2 lbs. since last week. Drinking lots of water seems to help out. With my RA, I even feel better.
Doni-how is your weight loss battle going? How are you feeling? I know you were having a hard time. Please let me know how you're feeling. Maybe you're methotrexate needs to be increased a bit. That helped me out alot. Of course, I have to go in for blood work every 2 months and chest x-rays every 6. My doc is a cautious person. He's also a member of my church.
Hi Charlotte, Rita, Joanne, and all my achy friends. Stay happy and hopeful and be good to yourselves. I have to get out of here...school is out in just a little bit and Nicole needs to get dressed. Talk to you all soon.
I just wanted to share my "news" I got a letter from my PCP yesterday saying that she was no longer going to be on my insurance plan. As I don't think I can pay her out of network charges, I will have to find a new doctor. That dosen't make me feel warm and fuzzy right now. At least my Rheumy didn't send the letter.
Ageoldie....sorry about your PCP. :( Maybe things will work out. I hope so. It's good to hear from you, though. Loved your graphic.
Hi Chrily...I like the idea of the clues of the pumpkin. Sounds like fun. A good way to gain listeners to the radio station, also. We might try something like that at the TV Station for Christmas! Thanks for the idea.
Speaking of getting someone ready for school...our son is living with us temporarily & has joint custody of his 2 little girls. This week they're here, & the 5 yr old is in school. Well, he was sick this morning....so, I had to dress her (NOT a morning child! :o ) & take her to school. I know why God gave us our children while we were young! :^:
Hello Siamese, Young Grasshopper, Happy Canuk...everyone. Hope you have a pain-free day!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v185/Angel-Lover/Number%208/snowman030.gif
Joanne D
10-20-2004, 12:36 PM
I too hate to shop for a new PCP. After nursing in this area ,I know a few.. The really good ones are usually not on my plan..I am getting impatient sitting around waiting till I no longer have to take a pain pill. This is just not me!!!Ofcourse, I don't do much sitting.. I am trying to stay active.. I am going to get my hair cut today and then to Walmarts to pick up some meds.I think ,I am going to start walking short distances at the beach.. Tomorrow,I will try to color it... I am beginning to look like an OLD WOMEN..Grandchildren..I wish I had a small one... Mine are grown.. One will be 23 this week. The other one is back close to Irag. He is on the Truman . I think they are in the Persian Gulf.. He is pretty safe. I still wish he was somewhere else..He was there during the bombing..But he was in the Med then.. He will be getting out after this tour.. He can hardly wait.. Life in the service is not the best..
I am sorry not to address all of you. I do read your posts and think about you. I think some of the little pictures and guotes are great and in most cases so true..I wish I was that computer savvy. My sister Eleni is the one for that. When she gets to feeling better I will get some lessons from her..
Bye you all..Florida weather is at it's best right now... Joanne
chrily
10-20-2004, 10:25 PM
Hi all,
Checking in for the evening. Glad to see you post, Joanne. Are you feeling any better? I hope so.
Charlotte, my 5 yr. old daughter is not a morning person either. It's fight after fight, mixed with tears, aggrevation and all sorts of emotional turmoil. I was just dying for school to start and now I'm not sure if I can handle the rest of the year. It's the same every morning. My stress level is way high. I can't get out any words over top of the crying and tantrums. I just want to throw up my hands and walk away. I just don't know how to deal with it on a day to day basis. BTW-I love that old granny picture. She looks how I feel!
Ageoldie-I was helping my sister with her health care management homework so just today I learned what a PCP was. Sorry to hear about your doctor not being in your plan. Why can't they make this whole healthcare thing a little less complicated.
Hey Happy Canuk, Young Grasshopper, Rita, and Doni (Doni, where are you?)
Better yet...I wonder if Okidoll quit the 3FC website. I haven't seen a post from her forever.
~chris
RAR
10-22-2004, 09:27 AM
Good Morning Ladies!!!!!!!!! Just wanted to pop in and say HI! Joanne so good to see you posting again you go girl and get that motivation going!!!!!!!!even if it is short walks just thinking on the beach wow!!!!!!!!and you dont have to consider old to dye your hair:lol:well the rest of you ladies have a good one really felt funky yesterday as got a flu shot which they really encourage working in a hospital and it was free !!!!!!but feel ok this morning thank goodness Rita:tread:
Hope you all look better, physically, than this poor kitty, this morning! :^:
Glad you got that flu shot over with, Rita. I hope mine is being reserved for me, next month when I go for my general check up. I've heard there's a shortage this year. I think, folks like us, though, have them in reserve. Glad you stopped by.
chrily...sorry your daughter is like that in the mornings. I dealt with it that one morning, & it took me a few hours to recoop. One thing with my granddaughter, she's a night owl....& her dad lets her sit up waaay too late. They are two of a kind. Has she always been this way, or just since school started? If it's just been lately, you might need to check to see if there's a reason she's not wanting to go to school. There are a lot of things I didn't know about my children until they were grown, & told me. I don't know why children, sometimes, don't think they can tell us things. If she's always been this way...you poor thing...I don't know what else to advise you. Maybe she'll finally outgrow it. Hopefully, before it gets you down too bad. :(
Joanne...glad you're feeling better. Don't overdo. That's what I was bad about with each surgery I had....which is quite a few. I'm an impatient person, & wanted to think myself healed more than I was. I'd over do, & set myself back. It is good to know you're up & around. Get that hair colored, woman! Don't want someone as young as you looking old. :D Oh....I'd love to be at that beach with you. ;)
Hello to everyone else!! Have a great Friday. TGIF!!!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v185/Angel-Lover/Number%208/hanginthere.jpg
chrily
10-22-2004, 11:14 AM
Hi Charlotte,
Kayla has always been this way. Getting ready for church on Sunday is another major feat for this family. It's kind of hard now. Last year, the doctor put me on anti-depressants because I was having alot of anxiety attacks...and I mean alot. Since we've started school, the stress of it, has made me have some attacks again. I wanted to get off that med sooo bad but don't know if I should now. It seems the more stress I'm under the more anxiety attacks I have. I hate feeling this way...but I hate being petrified to go anywhere too. Just don't know.
Hey, on the brighter side, I made good, not great, food choices yesterday. I stayed within my points range for WW again. That feels good to be in control of that. My feet haven't even been hurting as much in the morning.
Today is another clue day for that darn pumpkin. Plus I have to drive to the next town to pay our vehicle insurance. We went with this one guy there because we got some great discounts on our homeowners insurance and car insurance. Just my husband forgot to take it, so it's my turn.
Well, I'll let you all know how the pumpkin hunting went today. I have to be back early though to take Kayla to the doctor. She had a sore on the back of her foot and it looks weird now. It looks infected and its 2x the size it was last week. She says it hurts too. She won't let anyone touch it. Hopefully we can get it cleared up. Too me it almost looks like its ulcerated too. So I'd rather have a doctor play with it. I'm not interested in causing any staph infections or such.
I DID NOT want to get up this morning! I was finally forced, when my back meds wore off. I can't lay there when that happens.
Chrily...wish I had a remedy for the situation with your little girl. Hopefully, she'll finally outgrow it. I'll pray it'll be soon.
Our 5 yr old granddaughter (the one that's not a morning person) had a bad sore behind her ear where her ear was pierced. We took her to the Dr. As you said, wanted the Dr to play with it. There was a lot of infection in it. After the Dr. treated it, she gave a prescription for some cream that cleared it right up. Now, we keep the remainder of the tube handy for other occasions.
I'm sorry about the anxiety attacks. I've never had them, but, our son did, during his separation & divorce. I thought he was going to die, sometimes. It got scarey. He doesn't have them, anymore, thank goodness, now that all has settled down.
You're doing well with your diet. Keep up the good work. You know, I tend to forget this is a weight-loss forum, most of the time. So, if I don't mention losses, please don't anyone be offended. I really love having friends who understand pain....although I wish no one had any.
Well....I hope you all have a good week end. Feel as good as you possibly can. I'll try to post more later. Working on those Christmas albums. :D
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v185/Angel-Lover/Number%20two/cantseeitblinkie.gifhttp://img61.photobucket.com/albums/v185/Angel-Lover/CharlotteRose.gif
chrily
10-23-2004, 04:46 PM
Charlotte,
Afternoon. I know what you mean by the mother's perspective of the anxiety attacks. I scared my mom pretty good too. She thought I was going to die too. Trust me, I felt like it. At the time, I didn't know that my liver count was super high either from my meds. I would sit up and get light-headed, nauseous, my heart would beat funny, my arms would go numb, and I'd make it the bathroom just fast enough to sick. I had my mom babysitting me on Saturdays, My sister babysitting me all week. It was scary but I was just not functioning at all. I don't want to go back to that. Its odd when your mind plays "tricks" on you and you're not sure if what you're feeling in real or not. It was frustrating too because no one would listen to me. They kept telling me it was in my head and I kept telling them it wasn't. You feel like all your words are falling on deaf ears and that your all alone in it. It did hurt me bad emotionally. I can feel like nothing's going to get me again like that but I'm afraid that if I get taken of my anxiety drugs, it'll happen again. I know this isn't really "diet" talk but I don't have anyone to confess all this to. Things may seem rosy but they aren't alot of the times. I try to keep smiling.
I assume you are dieting too, otherwise you wouldn't be visiting this site. Anyhow, have you noticed a difference in your joints? Has it helped you out healthwise? Just curious. I don't want to be too nosey.
Hope everyone is doing good with their disease "friends", and with the weight loss or maintainence. I'm looking forward to the day that I'll be maintaining and more comfortable in this skin I'm in. Come on size 12 jeans....come on!
~chris
siamese
10-24-2004, 06:03 AM
hello freinds!
sorry i was missing in action but i cought a nasty and was down for a few!
chris,yes the damp weather plays havoc with me all the time..
sorry to hear your allergy's have been roughing you up,that cant be pleasant.
my dr. told me if i lost weight id notice a big change in my feet,im plugging on just like you we can do this!
i have panic attacks as well no fun i say!
how is kayla's foot?
the pumpkin caper sounds like a blast,we never have nothing like that here.
are from a small town?
WOHOOOO ON THE 2 POUNDS!
gone forever and getting closer to onederland indeed!
ageoldie,i understand bout the walking.
im glad you had a great time!take care of you!
sorry to hear bout the dr.glad it wasnt the ra dr.
charlotte,no flu shots here!
says im not eliglble.
there is a shortage here.
do you make your own graphics?
there awesome!
i love the little blinkie you cant see it but it hurts.
oh i love that one!
keep em coming.
everyone be safe
be happy
be painfree!
doni
chrily
10-24-2004, 02:52 PM
Hey Doni,
Guess I overdid it yesterday. I shampooed the carpet and now I'm back to that good old wrist pain that goes all the way up to my shoulder. I was on the couch all night with my arm hanging over the edge again. That has got to be one of the worst pains.
Kayla's foot is doing fine so far. They drained the sore and I'm just supposed to soak it and keep antibiotic ointment and bandaids on it til its healed. The doctor says it looks like it was trying to form a callous to protect the sore underneath, so the skin is really tough. I'll just have to make sure she keeps socks on and quits trying to sneak out of the house with just her shoes on.
The pumpkin caper is a blast. By big city standards, I suppose we would be a small town...but for Montana, we are the largest city.
Morning Charlotte, Joanne, Rita, Ageloldie, and the rest of you. I better be gone so I can attack my mountain of unrelenting laundry. I figure if I stay moving...my body won't have time to retaliate and hurt. I'll check in tomorrow after work. Tomorrow morning is my weigh in. Kind of curious about what I'll see.
~chris
Young Grasshopper
10-24-2004, 05:04 PM
Hi All,
Just wanted to post a note so I could keep my place in the thread....lol. Yeah, should have entitled this "Confessions of Lurker".
Chirly, you can come and attack my mountain range of laundry if you want....heck, it's so high I could yodel. Okay, it's not a yodel...more like curses heaped on the brother who hords towels.....I went to the closet the other day and didn't find any, thought they'd be down in front of the machine, but no....found 30 or so in his room! Grrr. Have tempted to hide the clean towels and let him deal with just one. Yeah, sad when you get so fed up with housework that you hide towels. Sad part is I know that it won't do a bit of good with him.
My back has been okay. The flu had hit our house and I"m waiting to get the worst of it. Just a sore throat right now. I work at a hospital too but they're only giving the shots to doc's and nurses. Oh well, guess I don't rate. Then again, I don't know how much good a shot will do anyway...already got a cold :(
Well, I hope everyone has a great week. Joanne, great to see you posting! Charlotte, how are the Christmas albums coming along?
Well, after several days of rain, we finally got a beautiful, sunshiny day. I've been kind of down the last couple of days. DH's work very slow, now. So, have those worries. Then, my mother got bad off yesterday. Nursing home called & said she wouldn't, or couldn't eat. This is how Alziemer's patients usually die. Either choke or starve to death. Me & my sister got really upset. We know the end is near, but to think of her starving is so hard. One of my daughter's happen to visit her, right after we got the call, & let us know she had gotten her to drink a whole can of Ensure! My sister went on to the nursing home & called me back that she was ok for now. I just had a day of needing to keep to myself. I get really stressed easily, lately. Not good for RA. I'm better today...although all the problems are still here. :^: I'm ok. Just needed to vent, I guess.
Chrily, as you can see...this isn't all about diets. When you need to talk, we're here to listen. I'm sorry you have this problem. I know what my son had was very real. His dad & I felt so helpless. But, it helped him knowing we were with him & even an emergency room dr diagnosed it, once. We was alone, & afraid to drive all the way home when he had an attack, so he stopped at the nearest hospital. The dr just sat with him & talked quietly, letting him know it would be over soon. That's what we would do after that. It seemed to help him. He hardly ever has an attack now. The divorce is settled...I know that helped.
I know what you mean by making yourself smile. I have to do that in public, especially at the TV Station. Viewers like to see a bubbly person as I always was...even in town when I meet them. So, I guess it's a "pretend" world, until I get home in the evenings. I suppose it helps me cope with the RA & OA to get through the day. But, it doesn't seem fair. Of course, those I work with know me pretty well, so they know when I'm having a bad day.
I joined this forum last summer, when I was on a diet. I lost 47 lbs. Went from a size 16 to a size 10. I'm mostly maintaining, although I'd like to lose a little more. I've also gained just a few pounds back. Soooo easy to do. Yes, I can tell a big difference in my joints. Of course in my back, where the OA problem is the worse. My Rheumatoid Dr was thrilled at me losing the weight. This forum helped so much. Mainly, though, I've stayed because of the friendships. As I vented earlier, I found friends that I can talk to when no one here at home can really understand. Oh....if you wonder....it's hard to maintain!! :^: At least, for me.
Hello Young Grasshopper...the Christmas albums are coming along nicely. In fact, I'm almost ready to start printing them out. I've got to get a few pictures from my MIL, of extended relatives, then I'll be ready. I'm so glad I got started early.
Sorry you're taking that old flu! Take care of yourself. I know what you mean about the towels. Our son keeps towels in his bedroom floor from bathing the girls. :( Don't know how to solve this problem.
Hello Siamese....no, I don't make my own graphics. I'd like to, but can't afford to buy the programs to make them. Thanks for the compliments. You're welcome to take any of them you want. Sorry you've been sick, also.
Hello to all. Have a good Sunday!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v185/Angel-Lover/Number%208/smilebaro1.jpg
Happy Canuk
10-25-2004, 12:29 PM
Good morning ladies.
Sorry to have disappeared for so long, but things were not going the best they could have been. Friend passed away, brother had heartattack, then another friend in hospital with cancer, and finally, something happy, my son got married. They had a small wedding, but it was nice. The only problem was the weather. It chose Oct. 16 to SNOW!!!! The roads were not good and it snowed all day.
Charlotte - my Mom had Alzheimers Disease, and it is the most horrible of all diseases. Thankfully, she only had the worst of it for 2 years. The same thing happened to her with the eating. She was diabetic, and went into a coma and then slipped away. It was a blessing in the end. She had had no quality of life for quite a few months and knew nothing. Just so sad. My heart goes out to you and if you EVER need to talk, just let me know.
Grasshopper - glad your back has been feeling good. I guess you all have a problem with the Flu Vaccine. I don't get it - nevr have. I sure hope if you do come down with it, you will not be too ill.
Well, I can't read everybody's posts, sorry to say. My GD was here this weekend, and we were playing (she is ) and her finger made contact with my eyeball. Had to go to ER and it does have a scrape and a small gouge on it. So, I have Votaren drops and an antibiotic to put in my poor old eye. I mostly keep it covered with a patch and it is irritating to use just one eye, as you soon get a headache.
It's been one of those days, already. :^: The phone has rung constantly since I woke up. I like quiet in the morning as I drink my coffee :coffee: & do my posting to all of you. My time has been taken up, though. I'll come back soon as I can. It's the "long day at the station" for me. Gotta get ready.
Happy Canuk...so good to hear from you. Glad the wedding went well. Sorry for the problems. I was afraid something was going on with you...& said a prayer. Thanks for the kind words of my mother. I may have to talk with you some. Again, thanks. Hope your eye is better. (ouch!)
Hope all of you have a good day.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v185/Angel-Lover/thinkingofyou.gif
RAR
10-25-2004, 02:51 PM
Good Afternoon Ladies hope that you are having a pain free day well I woke up to sun so that has put me in a better mood around this area everybody is having back problems so keeping my fingers crossed that it doesnt come my wayas I need my back to do my job!!!!!yes alzheimers disease is something that I wish they could find a cure on tonight I will be working at a nursing home which I do 2 days a month to keep my foot in the door in case no work at the hospital but will be working on the unit and my heart really goes out to these people sad thing it could happen to any of us so I try and treat them like how I would want to be treated you just have to have a little more patience in dealingwith them well I guess I should consider my self lucky that I was able to get the flu shot and free as Ohio is in short supply so that is something postive well ladies I got to get my towels out of the dryerso hubby will have something to dry with working all these days in a row I dont get to much done so better get motivated into doing something so have a great day Rita:dance:
Young Grasshopper
10-25-2004, 04:20 PM
Hi All,
Charlotte, so sorry to hear about your mom....I'll keep her in my prayers. Also, and no offense to RAR, you might want to rotate family members at the nursing home if you haven't been doing that already. When my grandfather was in the hospital I would almost swear they wanted him off real food....to make their job easier...hooked him up to an IV. Sometimes it just takes a little more time and patience to get them to eat.
But remember to take care of yourself, Charlotte. You won't be able to do anything for anyone if you run yourself ragged.
Canuck, glad to hear the wedding was a success. Okay, so it snowed and the roads were bad....but those who made it had a good time, right? Sorry about the eye...had that happen in middle school once...ouch! Course my brothers saying stuff like "Ahoy Matie!" and "Arggh!" everytime they saw me didn't help. Hope you're feeling better ASAP!
Pretty good day for me. Thought I would have to watch my niece but they heeded my warning and kept her away from the house due to the flu. I was really worried that she'd be here today. So, free day for me....:).
Hope everyone is having a pain free day and that the Pumpkin Mystery has been solved in Montana :)
Deb
chrily
10-26-2004, 10:44 AM
I haven't been on for a couple days. My wrist and arm did its usual flare up. Had to sit up and sleep and all that good stuff. Much better today. All I have to say is "don't chew gum all day at work". My jaw is flaring up now...
This will probably be my best day on the program. I don't even feel like opening my mouth.
Charlotte-Sorry to hear about your mom. I had no idea that happens with Alzeimer's. How long has she had it anyhow? Must be upsetting for everyone. I'm sending some prayers your way.
Canuk-Glad to hear the wedding was a a success. Now me, personally, I think snow would make it a romantic kind of day. I married my second husband in January. I wish we could have afforded a wedding but went to the Justice of the Peace at the courthouse.
Sorry about you're eye too. I went to the ER in Sept. for my eye too. Although I accidently instilled my contact cleaner directly into my eye instead of getting poked. Not my smartest move but I was so tired that day and not thinking at all. Needless to say, I got antibiotic ointment for my eye and it was swollen and red for a week.
Hey Rita-I was reading your post. Are you a nurse? I really admire you for helping in the nursing home. Around here, some of the people in the nursing homes get so snotty with the patients. My heart aches for the ones nobody comes to visit too. I've seen to many of those. I used to go visit with my Grandmother when my Great Grandma was in. Their faces light up to see people, esp. little ones. I wish more people would take the time and not forget that they need love and attention too.
p.s Charlotte... I hid my RA from my dad for over 2 years before I told him. I work for him so at work, I'd pretend that nothing hurt. I kept that smile on my face and was in agony on th inside because it hurt so bad. Grin and bear it! He finally found out when I had my med problem last year and couldn't hardly walk or stand. I was shuffling my feet and every step was excruciating. I cried alot...it was too hard to hide. I have had this complex for most of my life. I never was that close to my dad but I am so worried about being a disappointment to him. Or just letting him down. Sad huh?
Well I have to get the kids pushed out the door for school.
Hey BTW Deb- Maybe I'll have to start hiding towels too. :lol:
Love you all!
~chris
Joanne D
10-27-2004, 08:47 PM
Angel- Losing the weight is the easy part..Maintaining is the hardest. I am there and have been for the past 4 years. If you are like me the thought of gaining all that weight back is keeps me in a constant state of worry.. I hate it..
I was a charge nurse in a nursing home for the last 15 years that I worked. I know what you and your sister are going through. Just keep in mind that your mother is getting the best care. She is not suffering as she probably does not realize what is happening. That in itself is a blessing. It is probably harder for you than it is for her.If she is near the end ,keep in mind ,she is in Gods hands. It may be difficult for you ,but, try to stay realistic.. I cannot tell you what a relief you will feel when she does finally go Home to God.
Hello Everybody...Joanne
Chrily & Joanne...you both made me feel better by your understanding.
Yes, Chrily....it's sad when you feel you have to pretend. Especially when you try so hard to get your dad's approval. My dad was always very proud of me. I was "daddy's girl". My mother was the one that I had problems with. I forgave her for everything when she got sick. I don't hold anything against her, but do feel it was such a waste of both of our lives, not having a mother-daughter relationship as we could have had. I'm sorry you don't have a close relationship with your dad. Chrily, don't think that's your fault. You don't have to prove yourself to him. Just be yourself. If you hurt...your body is telling you to slow down. There are times we have to pretend. Like when I'm in the public eye. But, when I'm just around family, believe me, they know when I don't feel good. I hope I haven't said too much. It's like my pastor's wife told me, when she saw I was trying to push myself once. No one knows our feelings. Only do WE know how we feel. If I'm not able to do something, now, I don't. Anyone can think what they want. Even my DH, as much as he loves me, just doesn't understand. I'm still hearing constantly, how I should get off the meds, & exercise more. :(
Joanne....Yes, I am terrified at gaining the weight back. It's just so hard to lose, & worse on my health, also.
Thanks for the advice. I had another friend who'd worked in a nursing home to tell me the same thing. I'll try to listen to your advice. My sister & I just really panicked the other day. I don't want to make the decision of forced tube feeding. I'm her sponsor, & afraid they will ask me to do that. I'm not wanting that....but, don't want her hungry. I think you're right, though. She probably doesn't even realize she's hungry. She was sitting up yesterday...but, she was in her own world. My sister & I agree it would be more merciful to allow her to go on to God.
My step-dad is giving me a hard time, now. He called me today, & chewed me out. Said I went behind his back to be his sponsor (which isn't true...he told them he wanted me.), & he didn't even want to be there. He had himself checked in & called us to tell us about it. We didn't even know he was planning on going. :^: Oh well...I've been expecting that. He's strange, sometimes.
Hope everyone has a good evening.
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Joanne D
10-28-2004, 12:17 PM
Angel- There is a lot of controversy about tube feeding. A person in your moms condition can live for years with tube feedings.. But then again ,"Do you really want that? Would she want that?"It is a difficult thing for families to decide.. There is no quality to life.I agree that it is kinder to just let them go.I am not in favor of putting a tube in.It is sad ,but, some homes are in favor of them because the longer the bed is filled the more money they make.I hope she has the living will.
I have found that men tend to get forgetful and difficult as they get older..I bet your S/dad checked himself in because he could not manage well,but, maybe he just wanted to be close to your mom and still have some say so.
Nice day here in Florida.. We have a few now and then.. We need rain in my side of town.. My yard is dry..
Hello Everybody...Joanne
Good morning, everyone.
Hope the TGIF day finds all of you as pain-free as possible. My Remicade is beginning to wear off, but still doing well. I'm retaining more fluid from the RA than I usually do, though. My legs and ankles have been swelling pretty bad.
I agree, Joanne...it is kinder to allow my mother to go on, when the time comes. I just wish it wasn't my decision, as the sponsor. Of course, I'll confer with my other sisters (one of which, you'd never know existed. :( ) when the time comes. No, she doesn't have a living will. That's why I'm afraid they'll want an answer from me. I tend to think the same about the nursing home wanting to keep them alive for the money. That's sad. They are in a very good one, but......facts are facts.
My step-dad has always been this way. We'll (my sister & I) will go out of our way doing things for him. Then, he will turn on us. This would happen before he ever got sick. He's diabetic, & started having to have shots. He didn't want to give himself a shot each day, & wanted one of us to go do it for him. Well, we have to draw the line somewhere. We both live quite a distance from him, in bad health ourselves, besides gas being so high. We told him he would have to learn to do it. Nurses were going by the house & giving him his shots, but it got really out of control. He was pretty sick, & called us one day, saying he'd checked himself into the nursing home, & we needed to clear the apartment & rental storage by the end of the month. We had 2 weeks! Talk about working our sick fannies off! He told us to sell what we could...gave us some things...& to decide for ourselves what to do with everything else. Most of it was old & not any good, so we threw it away. He knew this, & all was fine. He's feeling better, now.....getting bored. He's deciding he wants out of there....& we're to bring everything back & get him set up somewhere. I don't think so! What he gave us, he can have back,but, not mother's things. We're not going through all that again. I have just got the medicaid through for him! He's got 2 sisters that don't come to see him, or help in any way. He has no children. So, we have tried our best to take his aggravating ways these past few years, & help him. Mostly, because he was dedicated to mother. It sure wasn't because he showed care for us...never has. We can only take so much, though! Oh well...I've vented enough! :^:
Chrily....I hope your wrist & arm is better. Although my hands are't looking so great anymore, they don't bother me much. I'm so thankful....I stay on the computer a lot! Especially since the housefire....keeps me from dwelling on things.
Young Grasshopper....hope you're doing well. The advice of rotating family members is good. Only thing, there's only 2...me & my sister. :( Our children visit....but, have very busy lives. Their kids are into ball, cheerleading, etc., plus their jobs. That's ok. They need to take care of their families. I don't think they can hook an IV up to my mother, anyway. They tried it at the hospital, not long ago. She kept pulling it out....hates needles! They gave up. :o
Rita...glad you got your flu shot. Shortage here, also. My appointment with my General Dr is soon. I'll probably get my flu shot, then. Mine is usually saved for me. I expect it will be again. My white blood count stays very low, so I'll need all the protection I can get.
Hello Happy Canuk....hope you're better.Hope everyone is feeling good today. Hello to all who read this today!!
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chrily
10-29-2004, 11:09 AM
Good morning...good morning...good morning...
Just had to see how everyone is doing. My hand was doing good until I aggrevated it again yesterday. There's nothing I can do. When you have to lift a little one and fight her to sit in a carseat, something has to hurt. It's funny how one 2 year old can take on the strength of 4 kids when they really don't want to do something. I think maybe I would we good in a rodeo doing steer wrestling. :lol:
Charlotte-My ex MIL is like your stepfather. She was in pretty rough shape with her emphysema and my ex SIL had to get rid of all her property so she could qualify for medicare to be in a nursing home. My ex SIL bought her property and is making payments on it. And now she wants back out. The doctor's are saying they won't let her out unless she has a place to stay and the necessary things to take care of herself. So she is still in the nursing home. I think it's probably for the best with her because she doesn't take care of herself. She had a mobile home she was living in and she fell asleep while smoking and burned it all down. It even destroyed her car. Then she was staying in a motel for a bit and got so weak she couldn't get out of bed and they had to call my SIL and an ambulance to get her out. Needless to say because of all that, she wrecked the mattress and the room and isn't allowed back there anymore. I like her but she is in another town in a nursing home so around the holidays I try to send her some treats up...like her pringle potato chips, crossword puzzle books, and gloves to keep her hands warm when she goes outside to smoke and of course a pic of her youngest grand-daughter...Tiana.
Just have a few minutes to drop in and say HI! Hopefully I'll have time to catch up this afternoon. I'm going to our 2nd Sjorren Foundation meeting this morning, I'll report in after it's over.
If I don't make it back in, hope everyone has a happy and safe Halloween!
I don't know what's wrong with me lately. I can't seem to get to feeling better. I do everything I know to do, but, I just keep feeling worse. My joints are all swollen. My right thumb is twice the size of my left one. :( I ache all over...my ankles are swollen....& boy, am I ill! :^: My treatment is still two weeks away.
Didn't get the roof on Saturday. It was a beautiful day. No one showed up. Later, one SIL called & then came over around 3pm. He said it was raining at their house that morning. Oh well....I'm getting use to disappointments.
Hope all are feeling well today. Good to hear from you, ageoldie. Sorry I'm such a grouch today.
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chrily
11-02-2004, 12:14 PM
I meant to get on here last night but my shoulder hurts like crazy. Instead of the the pain going from my hand up to my shoulder, it decided to go the other direction.
Charlotte,
I'm so sorry you're hurting so bad. I'm going to be saying a special prayer for you. I wonder why you're body is acting that way. I really hope for a speedy recovery for you.
Not much happening here. Just my flare but it seems I have a certain time each month when it is worse...so I'll just have to live with it. Plus I did an exercise video yesterday, which maybe my arm wasn't ready for. I can never gauge how far I can go before I'll be paying for it the next morning. I'll learn. Either that or my body will get used to it.
Well I better get going and get some housework done before my husband thinks I just laze around all day watching tv or playing on the computer.
Angel - so sorry you are having such a tough time. Perhaps stress is playing a big roll in how you are feeling. Once the roof is on your house, maybe you will be able to relax more. Hope you feel better tomorrow.
Chrily - I hope your arm feels better tomorrow. It is just so terrible, when you want to do something, and end up hurting worse. So much for trying to help yourself. I did a couple of days of exercise and was laid up for 8 weeks. The chiro advised that I just try walking instead of exercises.
Joanne - hope you are coming along good now. I know you are still having summer by my standards :lol:
Grasshopper - glad things have improved a bit for you. Keeping the pain levels down is such a big +
Well, just wanted to stop in and say hello. Have a house to finish cleaning, so I had better get to it. Hope you are all having a fairly good day.
Joanne D
11-04-2004, 08:12 PM
Angel.. I surely hope you are feeling better by now..I know how hard it is to post when you aren't feeling well. I am slowly getting back to normal,whatever that is.I need to start watching what I eat and exercising more. I haven't walked in a couple months or more.
Our brother from Az. has been down here at a RV park for the past month and we have been doing a few things with them..It is the most we have seen each other in decades...
Hope everyone is well. I know you are as happy as I am not to have to watch political bashing at least for another 4 years..
Bye...Joanne
chrily
11-04-2004, 09:50 PM
HI all,
I've been busy, busy, busy. Charlotte, I sure hope you feel better soon. I'm doing okay now. My feet are the only things doing the achy thing. Joanne-I hear you on the political bashing. I'd like to hear more about their plans and feeling about the issues at hand and not about the other person's past, name-calling or finger pointing.
Well tomorrow I'm going to sneak into my sister's apartment while they are gone for the weekend and clean it for her. I also bought bunk beds for her kids so they could have more room to play in their bedroom. And its a tiny room. Less than a foot between the beds and not even a foot between the bed and the dresser. That should be a nice surprise. I'll let you know how it goes.
~chris
Young Grasshopper
11-05-2004, 07:34 PM
Hi All!
Angel sorry things are so tough. Sorry to hear about your step father.....my grandfather got really nasty with his daughters at the end too. Weird. He'd be nice as could be to me and then nasty to Mom....in the same room. Used to make her cry. Make sure to take care of yourself....bet all the added stress is adding to your pain. Don't let it run you down or you won't be able to help either one of them.
I'll keep you in my prayers.
Hmmm...not much new on my end. Back is starting to bother me....thinks something is hitting my syatic nerve. Gets really bad at night. Giving me more reason to get that surg....on the plus side, I think I'm getting a promotion at work. That will be nice.
Well, I hope this finds everyone pain free or feeling a little better. Me? I've got a ton of towels hanging on the back of the bathroom door.....darn cleaning fairies are on strike! lol.
Hope today finds you all feeling a little better. I've had a good week. The weather has been abssolutely beautiful here in Dallas this week. My mom & I walk at the outside track at our health club and it is such a pretty setting. You would never know it was a healt club track. It's in what they call the Park and it's landscaped beautifully with trees, flowers and even statues. Today it was perfect to walk. The track is 1/2 mile, but it has a cut off where you can only go 1/4 mile. We go around 2 times and sometimes
2 1/2. I love this time of the year.
I love all of you for the sweet things you said. I do feel a little better. It's scarey, though. I'm afraid my RA is getting worse. You know what that could mean....bedfast, or wheelchair. I'm not giving in to that. I have somewhat of a life, & going to hold on! I had a message on my answer machine Friday night. It was from my Remicade Treatment nurse, telling me to be at the clinic Monday (tomorrow) at 11:45. It was a reminder call, as I always get. Only thing, my appointment card says the 15th! So, now what do I do?! I'm afraid to call in the morning. I'm afraid it was a mistake, & I need the treatment so badly. But, don't want to go ( around 50 miles) for nothing. I did that one time, when the DR was sick, & they couldn't reach me. I had to go back home & go back in 2 days. I suppose I'll sleep on it, then decide. I'm thinking, if it's a mistake & I go on, they'll go ahead & give me my treatment. After all, it should have been 5 weeks, & it was scheduled for 6 weeks. Maybe they just realized it?........
We had a big week end. Our daughter & granddaughter from south Alabama was here, & our other 2 granddaughters that are here every other week with their dad both had birthdays. Very busy for us. Got a little work done on the roof.
ageoldie...love your signature!
Thanks for the prayers Young grasshopper. My step-dad isn't near the end. My mom is....he has just entered the nursing home. His sugar got really out of control. He has other health issues, also. I hate to say it, but he's just a mean person, sometimes! :^:
Chrily...what a sweet thing to do for your sister! Let us know how it turns out.
Well....I made up my mind...I'm going to call in the morning, so I won't make that long trip for nothing.
Hello to all. Hope you feel well......
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Joanne D
11-08-2004, 10:59 AM
Angel- I hope your treatment does it's job..It must be very tiring taking treatments every 5-6 weeks.
Well girls send me some motivation!
It has been a cool but pleasant weekend.. I hope you all had the same..Joanne
chrily
11-08-2004, 11:54 PM
My whole post got erased by my lovely daughter.
Charlotte-I'm like you and worried that the RA is getting worse. I have more aches and pains everyday. It's becoming more frequent. I keep thinking about when the doctor had to take me off meds because of my liver count and it took me 10 min. to get to the bathroom. I had to shuffle my feet and lean on the wall to get there. I had to throw myself down on the toilet and rock and get up enough guts to handle the pain to get back off. It was excruciating. I'd be in a full-blown sweat by the time I got back to the bedroom. I couldn't grasp anything or lift my arms over my head. I could barely walk and it was just horrible. I had to be like that for over a month. I 'm so scared to end up like that again. I'm only 33 and sometimes it feels like my life is over. I keep wondering "WHY ME, LORD?" How does this all start anyhow? My daughter asked me that tonight. She wanted to know why I got arthritis. I told her that I didn't know but sure wished that I didn't have it at all. I'm scared that I won't be a good mom for long. I'm afraid I'll get to crippled up to do anything with them.
Well hope you are all feeling good today. My shoulder is a tad sore. It has that burning pain in it. The cleaning of my sister's house went well. She was so surprised and the kids love their bunkbeds. It's a great feeling. My sister is not the most 'exceptional' housekeeper. I think she let things go too far and then was just overwhelmed by it all and didn't know where to start. I hope it helps and she keeps up with it.
Hang in there, Chrily. I'm so sorry you're going through this mess. Especially at such a young age. I'm 55, & only had RA for a little over 2 yrs. But, I've had OA in my back since I was 36. A car wreck stopped me from working or going places & doing things with my kids. I was put on SS disability. It was embarrassing to me. Like RA, you can't see OA, & it always embarrassed me to let anyone know when I was sick or hurting.
Then 2 yrs ago my left, middle finger went to swelling & throbbing. I was sent to the Rheumotologist immediately. It's a good thing, too, because the RA advanced very rapidly through my whole body. While going from one med to another, I was doing as you said. Holding on, & barely getting around. Chrily, I get discouraged, also. There's so much I'd like to be doing. I don't know why we get it, but the Lord does. Remember, He doesn't cause these things. He does, though, help to see us through.
My DH loves me a lot, & is so afraid the Remicade is going to cause cancer. It's been on the news, lately. I don't think, either, that he remembers how bad I was before the treatments. Maybe he thinks I wouldn't be that bad, now. I don't know. But, I'm constantly hearing that he wants me off, & to try other things he's hearing advertised on the radio. People just don't always understand. After all, if we don't understand, how can we expect them to? To my knowledge, no one in our family had it before me. For now, I'm trusting my DR & the Remicade. I'm not holding on to walls, at least. ( Well, maybe in the mornings, for a little while. :^: ) I'll pray you're/we're not getting worse. I keep forgetting how young you are. The same age as my daughters.
Glad your sister was pleasantly surprised. I have a sister, & unfortunately a daughter with the same housekeeping "interest" as your sister.
Hi Joanne...hope you're feeling well. I didn't get my treatment yesterday. They had made a mistake, & called a week too early. :( I'll make it.
It's my day off, so going to work on those Christmas albums!
I hope everyone has a good day. It's a beautiful sunshiny (cold) day, here!
Here's a link to a thread where I have pictures posted of some of my family, & my house under construction. There's two posts...both are near the bottom of the page.
Charlotte,
I saw your pictures on the other thread. You have a beautiful family, and adorable grandchildren...and your a very pretty grandma/wife/person. It's so funny because on the outside we look so normal but on the insides we are getting ravaged by pain and inflammation.
I'll have to figure out how to add some photos and send you some of me and my family so you can see who you've been talking to. Would be nice to put a face to the jabbering huh? :lol:
My shoulder feels better today. It just needed some rest and perhaps my little Nicole won't want to be held so much today. She's almost 40 lbs and she's only a few months over 2 yr. My big girl. She's not fat...just kind of tall.
I guess my sister lucked out. Her oven coil went out last night so now she has to call her landlord to look at it. She's all happy because her apt. is clean and she won't get in trouble. I don't know...I spent part of my growing up years at my dad's house where they are sticklers for cleanliness so I guess some of that rubbed off on me. They had the only house with 11 cats in it and no odor or cat hair to prove it. No clutter on the counters, no messes in the bedrooms, and totally dust free.
Well I better get to exercising before I don't feel like it. Check in with you all later.
~chris
Young Grasshopper
11-10-2004, 04:56 PM
Hi All,
Having a bad couple of days...pain has changed. It's weird....does anyone have a burning feeling? Don't know what it is...but every so often I get this burning sensation in my lower back near my hip. Scares me.
I'm going to try going to a chiropractor...have an appointment on friday. First time I've ever gone to one of those. Just hope it doesn't hurt...yeah, being a big baby today.
Hope everyone is doing well. Good job on your sister's place, Chirly. You can come clean my house anytime....and I promise, I won't shower you with towels...lol.
Deb
chrily
11-10-2004, 07:05 PM
Hey Deb,
I get the burning pain that you're talking about. I'm not sure why it happens but I know I get mine in my shoulder joint where my rotator cuff is. It does feel like a different pain.
Sounds like we are all having difficulties lately. Maybe its the weather. Draw me a map and I'll come clean it anytime. ;) I just have a hard time looking at mine. It's always funnier to do someone else's house. I know, I know. I'm a strange one.
Well since none of us seem to be pain-free. Here's to all of us having the best day possible.
~chris
Joanne D
11-10-2004, 08:18 PM
Hello Everybody...I have had pain in one part of my body or another for over a month. Part was having surgery. The bottom of my right foot has been hurting for over a week. I can hardly step on it. I guess just OA. I was out today and walked a lot. I will take something tonight.
Grasshopper . I hope the chiro can help you. I have never been to one and probably won't ever.Some people like them.. I have always been afraid of them.My brother is going to one now..
Chrily..Too bad you don't live close.. Ofcourse getting through 52 years od collectables might not be so much fun.
Bye for now...Joanne
I want to say that I appreciate all the Veterans....not just today, but every day. There are many who have given their lives. There are many who are still fighting. There are many who are back from physical fighting, but a war still going on in their heads....as with my SIL. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Words cannot explain how I feel. I have the freedoms I enjoy because of you all. Thanks,also, to your families. God Bless You!
I feel so much for all of you. I'm new enought in my disease that the pain is not unbearable yet. I'm sure it's anything as bad as what most of you are going through. You are all so brave and I just want you to know how much I appreciate all of you.
Which bring me to my rant...There is a lady at our church that was just dx'ed with RA and immediately became an "invaliad". One week she was walking and doing okay, although I'm sure she was hurting, but the minute she got the RA dx she became the "poor sick Lady" It's lilke she is the only one in the world who has ever had RA, and now she has also been dx'ed with SjS and she is telling everyone who will listen, and a few who don't want to about this RARE auto-immune diseases she has. My point is that she is using her pain to get attention. One week after her dx, she started walking with a walker and suffling through the aisles, but when she was outside and thought no one could see her, she was just fine, walking without the walker and all. And of course everyone is thinking poor little Lady, her life is over, she has this death sentence. It just makes me so mad to see someone misusing (I can't even think of a word) but there are so many people out there with both RA,OA and SjS that are in pain, but keep up a positive attitude and are loving caring people and are blessings to be around. I want to go to her and shake her and tell her that her life is not over, that there is life after diagnosis, and so much of this is how you deal with it.
If I'm the one way off in my thinking and feeling, please let me know. I feel that my outlook on this is being very unchristian, but bottom like it I feel like she is taking advantage of her dx to get attention and symphaty. As I write this I'm getting very emotional and if I had tears, I think I'd be crying :lol: but I'd really like to hear from some of you who had had really bad times and know how you handled yourselves and if I'm the one really off base.
Barb,
I'm fairly young to have RA (33 yrs. old) but I know when I got dx'd (at 29 yr. old) that I felt awful and even when I was having a hard time, I was trying to hide it even from my family. I don't know. I know it feels unChristian like but when I see someone trying to get attention like that, it angers me too. I'm one of those that is still learning that life goes on even if you have a disease and you have to learn some adjustments but you keep on going. I do know that she is going to end up making herself feel worse with the self-induced pity party. My doctor tells me that how you feel has alot to do with your attitude. If you act sick and feel sorry for yourself...you're going to feel sick. Although I still have the days where I just want to roll over and die... :lol:
My hand and arm are acting up again today. I was back on the couch sleeping with my arm hanging over the side again last night. This is getting old. I'm just trying to hang on until February when my insurance will pay for treatment. I'm holding on....
Well the kids are late for school so I'm going to shove them out the door.... :lol: Mornings are so stressful.
~chris
RAR
11-12-2004, 03:03 PM
Good afternoon Ladies just wanted to pop in and say Hi!!!!!!!!sorry to hear that some of you are having so much problems right now so you all will be on my prayer list I sure know howc you all are feeling as really been having all the aches and pain also and it sure does get you down at times but with all your help you lovely ladies I know that I am not alone and at least you will listen to me as you all know family at times just dont understand love all those graphic pictures that you ladies do well ladies hope you all have a good one Rita:dance:
Good Saturday morning everyone. Hope all are feeling well. I don't have a lot of time, but wanted to post.
ageoldie...there are a lot of people who likes attention,sympathy...whatever.
I don't understand it, because it embarrasses me for anyone (other than DH) to know that I'm sick, hurt, etc. My mother was the type that you're talking about with that lady at church. She would talk to strangers in stores about her personal problems, illnesses, etc. Maybe that's why I'm the way I am. This is the only place I talk so openly. I suppose it's because I don't see all of you, personally..or that you all hurt as I do, so I know you understand, & don't take me as that type of person. Anyway, in answering your question. I don't think you're wrong. My RA advanced as fast as anyone's could have. One finger was swollen & throbbing....then, by the time my appt came around, (which was made by my General Dr) I was having problems with my other hand. Within 6 months, it had spread all through my body. Although I was holding on to the walls in the mornings to get to the bathroom, after an hour or so, I could walk much better.
Remember, if you research RA, you'll find everyone's case is different. My daughter has it in her hands...but it stopped there. Although a lot of people, like me, has it all over....some don't hurt as bad as others do. I'm sure there are people who have a lot worse time than myself. I do, though, feel a lot worse than I act. I also have OA in my back & other places that put me on SS Disability from a car accident at the age of 36. When I'm in public, it's hard for anyone to believe I have it. As I said, it embarrasses me, so I don't give in to it...which is hard. When I get home, however, I let go! I may cry as I cook supper, or lay down, or sit at the computer & post...but, I have to get it out of my system. I have to express how I feel, in some way, even if I'm alone. I know.....strange. It's just "bottled up" I guess. That's when you all hear from me a lot. :^: Sometimes, I have to tell someone who, I know, understands. No, even if this woman has no tolerance for pain....she sounds like she wants sympathy. She should be thankful that it's not that bad for her, yet. But, remember also, we don't know why she's that way. I sing a song called "Could You Walk a Mile". It's about not knowing what someone else is going through, until we've walked a mile in their shoes. So, although, I tend to agree with you....maybe it's not the physical problem that's bothering her, but something else. There's got to be a reason for wanting the attention. Does she live alone? Or does she have anyone, outside of church to listen to her? Or, she may be like my mother, just tells all to anyone who will listen! :^:
I do hope your RA doesn't get much worse, if any. Keep good thoughts. Try not to get stressed. That will advance RA, and also make the pain worse. I think our housefire, & problems from it contributed to mine a lot. Tell your Dr about every symptom, & change you have. There are things that can be prevented with early treatment. My Drs helped me so much by getting me help quickly. Although my hands aren't as "pretty" as they once were, they're not deformed. At least, not yet. The knuckles are swollen, etc., but I'm able to use them without too much difficulty. If I hadn't told the Rheumy everything that was going on, though, he wouldn't have started the Remicade treatments at that time. It prolongs symptoms & helps sooo much with the pain & stiffness! Since you haven't had it long, be sure to post any new symptoms....we may be able to help you in some way.
Chrily....I'm sorry about your hand & arm. Hope you're better now. Maybe that insurance will come through, soon. I know what you mean about not giving up. That's one reason I volunteer at the TV station. If I know there's somewhere I have to be, it helps me to keep going. NOT giving up!!!!
Hi Rita!! So good to hear from you! Hope you're feeling well today.
Hi Happy Canuck & Young Grasshopper!! Have a good weekend. Hope you're feeling well!
Hi Joanne....hope your foot is better!
Everyone have a great weekend.
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chrily
11-13-2004, 02:15 PM
Good morning Charlotte,
My hand feels much better this morning. I bought a splint last night to put on it. I actually got some sleep. It felt so good. This stuff keeps happening in my left arm so I'm not sure if it really is RA or if I have carpal tunnel. I'm leaning toward RA. It's hard to say because my job revolves around alot of repetitive motions which could aggrevate either of them
I know what you're saying about stress. I know that mine got worse after Nicole was born. I think post partem depression didn't help and it didn't go away for a long time... Then I got stressed when I wasn't feeling good and then it got worse and worse. Things have leveled off since they put me on anti-depressants. I had no idea stress and RA were connected until my doctor told me. I kind of wonder if that's how it all started in the first place. I was really worried about the Y2K and the Rapture after Kayla was born. Don't ask me why...but it consumed me. It was on New Year's Eve when my hand started hurting. Makes me wonder sometimes if I brought this all on myself. I know...Psycho Maniac...Naw, I'm just a major worrier. My husband says I'm a worst case scenario person. The glass is always half empty instead of half full. I'm working on that one.... :smug:
Well I guess I'm going to check my other threads before I send my hand back to yesterday. I don't want to do that again. It's happened 4 times now in the last 3 months. I'm not liking it so much.
Hope I look better than I feel, this morning! :lol: Day after treatment!
Just taking it easy today! Treatment went ok....other than taking over 3 1/2 hrs this time! A lot went on. My nurse didn't want to start treatment meds after inserting IV, until Dr saw my thumb. Trying to not whine......I have a very bad thumb on my right hand. (yes, I'm right-handed) About 3 weeks ago, I thought I had something in it....maybe a tiny sliver of glass. But, about a week later, 2 more little raised spots appears (making 4) and my thumb is dark red, twice the size of the other, & VERY touchy.Now, there are several little spots! Dr says he thinks it's circulation problem, & that my thumb is dying! I'm on Prednisone for a week, but have to call him Thursday to report how it's doing. This has really scared me. After we get it taken care of, Dr wants to run tests to see what's causing it. He said it would be very rare for RA to be the cause of it, although it doesn't help that I have RA. My legs & feet are very easy to cramp, & my feet stay cold. If I'm in a cool place, my feet turn dark blue! Of course this has me concern...but, I'm really concerned with the fact that it could happen to my organs...lungs, kidneys, heart, etc. Dr said it was like having frostbite. Well, frostbite is when blood vessels form crystals, etc. I had a friend at the TV Station a few yrs ago with Lupus. She had crystals to form in her lungs & died. Just be patient with me, & let me rave a little, until I know more. I don't want to in front of anyone living around me.
My poor (just can't understand) DH. When I told him....the first thing he said...."Those Drs are going to kill you". He blames drs for everything. I suppose I wouldn't have RA, if it wasn't for them. Yes, we've had some bad dealings with some Drs, but they're not all bad.
I'm needing to lay back down. I'll post more later. Hope all of you are having a good day.
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chrily
11-16-2004, 01:38 PM
Oh my gosh! Charlotte, that sounds horrible. I hope they figure out what's happenind to you and be able to help it. Your thumb sounds so strange. I hope I never see anything like that on me...(no offense to you). Some of these things about RA scare me too. I too am worried about my other organs being infected. I'm bad enough now. I don't want to be worse. One question, why can't the DH's understand? My dh is always saying things like "taking another pill?", "ooh, I have another pain...gotta get some more pills in me!" He doesn't realize that comments like that hurt. And that what I have is very serious. I take the meds because I have to, not because I want to. Okay, I'm venting with you... :)
Well I have to go get Kayla from kindergarten. Thanks for the post on here. You're pictures always make me smile. I love the one today. Take it easy and rest. TTFN>
~chris
Angel-lover
11-17-2004, 04:13 AM
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Well, I've gotta stop looking at that stupid clock! It's 1:50am, & I haven't been to sleep yet! :( Oh well........
Believe me, Chrily, you don't offend me by not wanting anything to look like my thumb! It was so strange. It started out like it had a tiny piece of glass in it. Then, all those other little bumps came up & got very sore, & blue. I asked the Dr to xray it, but he said he didn't need to. He knew I didn't have anything in it, unless it was infection from the dead tissue. My hands look arthritic (not too bad, yet) but, I have nails put on & painted to keep them looking as nice as possible. Now, I'm worried about not having that thumb. :(
I'm sorry if I scared you, Chrily. Just be aware of any changes in your body, & let the Dr know. Mine said I should have already called him.
I'm so sorry about what your DH says. :( Mine doesn't say those things. He's just always blaming Drs for everything that goes wrong with me. He thinks all the meds I've ever had have worked against each other. It's as if he thinks it's their fault I have RA! He listens to that darn radio station in his work truck all the time, about "alternatives". I think they have him brainwashed! Imagine how I feel when I have to have prescriptions filled and the monthly bills aren't all paid yet! I'm on a lot of meds from other things. (all legitimate) There is one that I shouldn't have to be taking, & it's very expensive. Depakote. The Dr that did my last stomach surgery (hiatal hernia repair & gallbladder removal) pinched the vagus nerve during surgery. I have terrible stomach pain that bends me double for 2-3 hours at a time, if I don't take it. It took several tests by another Dr to finally find out what was wrong. But, all Drs can't be judged by one.......and we found out later, he is a terrible Dr!
I know he loves me very much, & is just concerned. But, I need to talk to him, sometimes, & can't.
Do take RA seriously, Chrily. It can be kept under control for the most part. Only you know how you really feel. You know it's something you can't help. Do what you have to do.
I went into the medical sights tonight & saved the information to print out on RA & all the meds I'm on. I'm going to print it out, & hope that DH will read it. Maybe he will understand a little better, but I doubt it.
Thanks for the compliments on the graphics. I like making you smile!! :)
Well, gonna go see if I can fall asleep, before daylight! :^:
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chrily
11-17-2004, 12:55 PM
Charlotte-
Hope you were able to get some sleep last night. I hate nights like that. What can they do for your thumb? Anything at all? I'm keeping the communication open with my doctor. I guess RA is always at the front of my mind anymore. I think my husband's problem is that he doesn't understand that its an auto-immune disease not the standard arthritis. I wish I could get him to read on it too. Maybe they should come up with a class or something for RA husbands and family...like al-anon. Give them some information. I don't think my husband understands the extent of the pain at times.
I also wish I could convince my mom to see a doctor. She won't take it seriously either. She's so worried about her diabetes and blood pressure, but the RA symptoms I see with her scare me. Her knuckles are knarly. She can't straighten some of her fingers. She can no longer straighten one arm all the way. She has a hard time lifting her arms over her head and walking down the stairs. She doesn't seem to "get" the fact that her heart, lungs, eyes, and every other thing in her body can be affected by it. She thinks that by taking Tylenol she's doing her body a favor. Hiding the pain isn't making the RA any better. It's just giving it time to get worse. She's just masking alot of the stuff going on with her.
I'm sorry. I'm venting now. I just don't see why she ignores it all when it could take her life away, make her bedridden, and cause irrepairable damage. I'm trying to keep mine from progressing as much as she's letting her's go. To me, it's almost like she wants a death sentence. But what do you do? She didn't have to let it get this far. She knows what auto-immune diseases do. She's had sarcoidosis for 15 years or so. So does my brother.
I've found a coping mechanism in my life. I've been doing 40 min. of Walk Off the Pounds a day. My legs and feet feel better. Major difference. I'm not sure if its from keeping my joints active or if its because I don't have as much weight to carry on them a day. Feels good though to be doing something good for myself. Well before this turns into a book, I better get off of here and get cleaned up and ready to pick Kayla up from school.
Take Care and praying for you.
~chris
RAR
11-19-2004, 10:53 AM
GOOD Morning Ladies just thought I would pop in and say HI! as I havent been on for awhile so will have to go back and read all your posts sorry to hear that your mom may have RA chris that got me to thinking my mom has the same symptoms but like your mom she thinks that a aspiran will do it just breaks my heart also as for the men in our lives sometimes they really dont understand what we are going thru so that is why I come to this site as I know you ladies will listen and if I get on a pity party I am sure you will tell me!!!!!Chris :cp: on your exercise just keep doing it as I am sure it helps I have many people tell me that I should retire with my knees the way they are but I tell them I am sure ifI did I would just give up at least when I do work I have to move and that does help once I get going well ladies have a great day hope you are having better weather then Ohio is having :rain: for the next few days which doesnt help my OA so have a good one :dance: Rita
chrily
11-19-2004, 11:48 AM
Morning Rita,
It's comforting to know that I 'm not the only one with a "problem" mother. I can't make her go so I'll just have to be there to listen to her. I didn't get to exercise yesterday. I had to work, plus I think I did something to my back the day before. It hurts so bad. Can RA be in your back too? I took a Bextra last night and it feels a bit better. I haven't taken it for a few days.
Well here's to Friday. Charlotte, you must be really hurting. Hope to hear from you today or tomorrow. I wish I could help you out.
~chris
ageoldie
11-20-2004, 12:05 PM
http://home.ripway.com/2004-11/200396/thanksgiving/ht5.gif I think of all of you all the time,and you are all in my thoughts and prayers.
I can't talk too much about the benefits of exercise. I know that the water aerobics I do every day is what keeps me from being in bed half the time. I just read a very interesting article about it, and I'm going to see if I can find it and post the URL here.
Good Afternoon Ladies hope that everyone is having a pain free day Cris so we are both in the same boat concerning our moms just listyen to th since they both are stubborn lets just hope that we dont get that way well hope tht your back is feeling better todayand the bextra helped sorry you didnt get your exercise in mine is on hold as I am working 2 12hrs and my job is where I am running at least 10 of it so hopefully that will count as some form of exercise Charlotte hope you are feeling better by now so ladies have a good one got to watch the ohio state game hopefully I will win the bet from hubbyLOL Rita:dance: