[Happy Canuk]

Started a new thread as the other one was on page 5.

I haven't been here and I do want to say I hope that all of you not feeling well will have a turnaround soon.

My girlfriend, Who I have been friends with for 52 years had a brain tumour removed and I was up staying with her last week. She is doing wonderfully well and I thank God that she came through it ok. They don't think that it was a malignant tumour. So, this is where I have been.

Now of course, my o/a and that darn FM have raised their ugly little heads because of the added stress. Hopefully this week, I can get it all back under control.

[RAR]

Good Afternoon Ladies hope that you all are having a pain free day Anne glad tat your friend pulled thru the surgery that would have to be a lot of stress on youso please take care of yourself the rest of you ladies have a great day Rita

[chrily]

Hey girls! Just checking on the health and well-being of you guys.

Charlotte-I'm saying a little prayer for you for a speedy recovery. Is your thumb still bugging you? I'm thinking about you and sending some get well soon wishes your way.

Anne-Sorry to hear about your friend. How terrible! I'm glad she pulled through and she sure is lucky to have a friend like you.

Rita-Are you feeling good? I hope so. I'm not bad. Still fighting off the tail end of this cold. My baby Nicole...okay she's 2 yrs. old...is finally starting to feel better too.

Gotta go, she's bugging me! I've been reduced to one handed typing...aaarrrggghhhh!

~chris

[ageoldie]

Anne: glad your friend is doing okay, and glad you are back.
Charlotte: Hope you feel better soon

To everyone else, Hope you have a happy Thanksgiving and are able to make it through the holidays with as little pain as possible.

I've had a bad week as I have been feeling the poor me thing this week. I do not have the deformity that a lot of you RA people have and therefore since I look like I should feel good and be strong, I get really upset with myself when I can't do what I want to do. Does that make any sense? I just know that I feel so useless because I can't do what I used to do. I feel like if I could just set here and have a good cry I'd feel better, but because of the Sjs, I have no tears, so I can't even cry!!!

Well enough about crying, be back latter.

[chrily]

Barb,
I know what you mean about feeling sad about not being able to do what you want to. I've had those days and alot of depressed ones. Sometimes it feels like my life is all over. I don't have any deformities yet either. I just have excruciating pain when my meds aren't doing their job.
Sorry you don't have the tears. Sometimes it feels so good to just cry and let it all out. I have Sj to a certain point but not bad enough to not have tears. I could cry you a river. I could be your cyber tears. I do the crying for you if you want.
Have a great Thanksgiving. Will check back tomorrow. I doubt anyone will post much today because of the holiday.

Charlotte-I sure miss you. I'm really worried about you and for you.

~chris

[Angel-lover]

Hope you all have a great day with your family. I'm down with the flu. If it's not one thing, it's another. My DH & kids are doing the cooking. I'll be ok.

Talk to you all later.

[RAR]

Good Afternoon ladies ust popped in to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving just put the turkey in so have some time for a change Barb sorry you are having a hard time hopefully by now you are feeling better I think we all go thru this but it is good that you do talk to some one when you are feeling like this I had mine last week when I finally realized I cant do things like I use to sometimes just picking up the wrong way really bothers my wrists but soon got off of feeling sorry for myself and realized it is ok to ask for help when I need it so hope you are feeling better by now Chris like you my meds dont always help so that gets me down have some deformity in my wrists ive noticedand walk with a bad limp because of my kneesbut I am grateful that I am still able to move and takes me a liitle longer to use my wristsin moving but at least I still can so do know how you both feel and Charlotte hope that you are feeling better so you can enjoy some dinner well ladies have a good one Rita

[Happy Canuk]

Good afternoon Ladies.

Angel - I hope you are feeling better! Gosh, what a day to be sick. I hope this helps you feel a bit better

Here are some thoughts to ponder

This is Excellent!
>>>Wish I could send it to the entire world! So, the best place to start is
>>>with a friend.
>>>
>>>1. The best way to get even is to forget.
>>>
>>>2. Feed your faith and your doubts will starve to death.
>>>
>>>3. God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts.
>>>
>>>4. Some folks wear their halos much too tight.
>>>
>>>5. Some marriages are made in heaven, but they ALL have to be maintained
>>>on
>>>earth.
>>>
>>>6. Unless you can create the WHOLE universe in 5 days, then perhaps
>>>giving
>>>advice" to God, isn't such
>>>a good idea!
>>>
>>>7. Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, & faith looks up.
>>>
>>>8. Standing in the middle of the road is dangerous. You will get knocked
>>>down by the traffic from both
>>>ways.
>>>
>>>9. Words are windows to the heart.
>>>
>>>10. A skeptic is a person who when he sees the handwriting on the wall,
>>>claims it's a forgery.
>>>
>>>11. It isn't difficult to make a mountain out of a molehill, just add a
>>>little dirt.
>>>
>>>12. A successful marriage isn't finding the right person; it's being the
>>>right person.
>>>
>>>13. The mighty oak tree was once a little nut that held its ground.
>>>
>>>14. Too many people offer God prayers with claw marks all over them.
>>>
>>>15. The tongue must be heavy, indeed, because so few people can hold it.
>>>
>>>16. To forgive is to set the prisoner free and then discover the prisoner
>>>was you.
>>>
>>>17. You have to wonder about humans, they think God is dead and Elvis is
>>>alive!
>>>
>>>18. It's all right to sit on your pity pot every now and again. Just be
>>>sure
>>>to flush when you are done.
>>>
>>>19. You'll notice that a turtle only makes progress when it sticks out
>>>its
>>>neck.
>>>
>>>20. If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence,` you can bet
>>>the
>>>water bill is higher.
>>>
>>>You are richer today if you have laughed, given, or forgiven!
>>>
>>>This is the day the Lord Has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it!
>>>
>>>
Barb, I especially like # 18

18. It's all right to sit on your pity pot every now and again. Just be
>>>sure
>>>to flush when you are done

It has taken me quite a few years, but I did make it to the other side and no longer mourn my old life. That is what you have to do - grieve and let it go. It isn't that life is bad, it is just that you need to find things you CAN do and not dwell on those you can't. I am one of the lucky ones, as I don't suffer from depression along with everything else. I had to quit work in 1996 and that was probably one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. It took me a very long time to come to terms with that. However, once I did, I am much happier and I have lots of things I can do. I, of course, would be lost without my computer. I have enjoyed learning how to make graphics and it has been a great diversion for pain.

Chirly - you are much to young to feel like your life is over. Mourn what you have lost and try to move on. This is a great thing to do today. Be thankful for WHAT you have and not for what you DON'T have any longer. As bad as we get at times, we can always find somebody worse off.

Rita - hope you are enjoying your thanksgiving. Being in Canada, we had ours in October, so that is over and done with. Now I eagerly await Christmas.

Now my girlfriend was a SHOCK to both of us. She had NO idea she had such a thing. She is never ill, but she started having double vision and has always had migraines. They discovered this when they did MRI. She is still waiting for the results from Pathology. I would sure appreciate any prayers you could offer, that it is not malignant.

Everybody enjoy the day with family, and all that good food.

On the upside, I dropped 10 pounds since last week - just from fluid retention. Had a UTI last week and those pills cut my appetite and opened the flood gates

[Angel-lover]

All for your concern. And thank you Happy Canuk for that beautiful graphic. I'll be using it. I've been really sick with an infection in my thumb. RA dr thinks it was caused from bad circulation. General dr thinks it's a viral infection. He gave me a week's supply of antibiotics(5 times a day) & gotta go back Tuesday. If it gets worse, or gets a red streak, gotta go to er. I told told him I'd been feeling bad for a few days, he said it was from the infection, to go home & go to bed. Of course, I didn't think I could do that, but the next morning I woke up with the flu! Well, I've been in bed, all right. DH & kids & sweet MIL took care of dinner yesterday. I ate a little. I'm up today, & beginning to feel better. Hope to get over this mess, soon. My thumb isn't looking too good, though.

Happy Canuk....GREAT ON THE WEIGHTLOSS!!!!!!!!!! I would love to lose fluid. I've put on some with the RA & can't get it off. Also, last week the RA dr had me on Prednisone...(ouch....more weight!) But, I'm happy for you! Thanks also, for the "thoughts to ponder". Glad your friend is better.

Rita....sorry about your wrists. My daughter has a rough time with her hands & wrists. That's the only place she has ra. She says she can't imagine being as bad as me. I'm glad she can't.

ageoldie, & chrily....I hope you are both feeling better. I don't know if it helps to cry or not. I've cried a lot the last two years. Hasn't helped much.
I'm remined of my former pastor's wife. She said she had cried so much once, that she prayed for the Lord to take her tears away. He did. She said that no matter what happened she couldn't cry. She finally prayed & prayed until she got her tears back. She didn't realize how important they were to her.
So....I guess what I'm saying, is, I'm sorry....I wish you had tears. That's one thing I have a bounty of, so I have found something to be thankful for tonight. I'll pray.........& cry tears.......for you tonight.

Hope you all rest good tonight.

[RAR]

Good Afternoon Ladies hope everyone enjoyed the holiday glad that it is over now looking forward to Xmas just got to get myself motivatedand start doing things that need to be done!!!!!!!!!!!have the weekend off so hopefully will accomplish my housework first then start on the xmas decorations!!!!!!!!! Happythe thoughts to ponder were good ones really made you think and do some laughing!!!!!!!!yhanks I needed thathopeing that the results of the tests of your friend comes out goodandon your weight loss Charlotte hopeing the antiobitcs are kicking in and doing their job!!!!!!!!!thank you for your concern about my OA sorry to hear that your daughter is going thru the same thingsure hope my daughters dont go thru what I have been!!!!!!!!Crilley sending some prayers your way hopeing that you are starting to feel better by nowwell ladies time to get busy for the day so hopeing that you will have a great one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Rita

[Angel-lover]

36 CHRISTIAN WAYS TO REDUCE STRESS

An Angel says, "Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice."

1. Pray

2. Go to bed on time.

3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.

4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.

5. Delegate tasks to capable others.

6. Simplify and unclutter your life.

7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)

8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.

9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.

10. Take one day at a time.

11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety. If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.

12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.

13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.

14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.

15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.

16. Cary a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.

17. Get enough rest.

18. Eat right.

19. Get organized so everything has its place.

20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.

21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.

22. Every day, find time to be alone.

23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.

24. Make friends with Godly people.

25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.

26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good "Thank you Jesus."

27. Laugh.

28. Laugh some more!

29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.

30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).

31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most.)

32. Sit on your ego.

33. Talk less; listen more.

34. Slow down.

35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.

36 . Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before. GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)

[chrily]

Good morning all,
I'm back to the wrist pain and swelling. I can't feel any of my fingers on my right hand. I slept with the splint on last night. At least that helps, and I can sleep without having to move to the couch and doze off and on all night while the pain shoots up my arm. The splint works wonders for that.

Charlotte-So happy to hear that your kind of up and about. Really sorry you were down with the flu too. When it rains, it pours.

Hi Rita-This year sure went by fast. It seems weird to be thinking about Christmas decorations and gifts already. I got alot of shopping done yesterday with my sister's. My mom loaned me some money so that I could get in on all the sales. She's a great mom.

Happy Canuk-Congrats on the weight loss. I think its great! Mine is coming off...so slow. I guess that's okay. I kind of wonder if some of my meds have anything to do with that.

Hi Anne, and Barb...Hope your Thanksgiving was fantastic. I had a really good day. The kids even behaved, until around 9 when the tiredness started rearing its ugly head. Then Nicole was being a "bully" and shoving her cousin around. My little bruiser. I don't know...at least she's a free spirit.

~chris

[ageoldie]

Thankgiving Day was a good day. I was with my family and had a great time.
Yesterday I put up a Christmas tree in the living room, and it took me all day and I was so tired last night that I had to take extra pain meds to get to sleep. Today I'm going to get my Santa Clause collection arranged in the den and that is all the decorating I'm doing, unless I wake up some day with an extra amount of energy and time to spare. I guess that would be Simplify your Life Christmas Decorating has always been a big big thing to me and I have always had at least 2 full size trees and several smaller ones, (one in every room, decorated with a different theme), but that was when I wasn't sick.

I'm really trying very had not to be depressed and feel like poor me, I'm just don't doing a very good job of it these days. But then I remember that the Lord promised that he would not give us more than we could handle. I guess I am like the person who prayed " give me patience Lord, and do it now!"

Well my morning meds are beginning to kick in, so I guess I'd better get up and get something productive done while I can.

[RAR]

Good Morning Ladies hopeing that everyone will have a pain free day todayCrilly sorry that you are having the wrist pain and swelling hope that by now you have found some relief I have the swelling all the time in mine but thank God no pain only if I use my wrist a lot so I am thankful, Angel loved the 36 ways of stress will have to follow many of them!!!!!!!!!thought I would get some decorations done today hopefully it will put me in the xmas moodwell ladies hope you all have a great day Rita

[chrily]

Hi all you lovely gals!
I went to one of my doctor's today and she thinks I should stay on my anti-depressants for awhile longer, just at a lower dose. She thinks that with the pain I've been experiencing from the RA that I will end up being more stressed which will bring on the pain even worse. Nothing like that vicious circle. She's right though. When I'm in a seriously large amount of pain, I tend to feel hopeless and end up crying and wishing I would just die and be done with it. So I guess I'm just a typical RA person.

One of my friends and I were talking about how God doesn't give a person more than they can handle. When I'm having a hard time though, esp. if its a long hard flare up, it is so difficult to believe that He will get me through. I really have a hard time leaning on God. I just don't understand how come things, physical and emotional, have to hurt so much.

Well there is my little chat for the day. Kind of in a funk, I guess. Not really sad but not entirely happy either. All of you have a wonderful pain-free day. I have to nurse the other wrist again. This is getting so old. At least it doesn't hurt too bad. Just on the side of my wrist and up through my thumb.

~chris