tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21486746545848492372024-03-13T19:58:43.992-07:00ABC's of RAMy journey with rheumatoid arthritis.Deb aka AbcsOfrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12619087592028571941noreply@blogger.comBlogger98125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148674654584849237.post-53386480896160967042012-10-28T10:56:00.000-07:002012-10-28T10:56:06.017-07:00Having RA has made me a cat!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I can't say that it just happened and one day I woke up (well on those few occasions when I am awake) and realized I had taken on so many of my four legged kitty companions personality traits. In reality, I have been slowly transforming into a cat for over fourteen years.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I ask myself often if I didn't have ra would I have such a close affinity to this animal? A resounding NO pops into my brain. Until I yawn, circle around slowly and curl back up on my bed.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And how exactly, you may be asking yourself by now, have I become a cat. Well let me digress here for a moment. Over 14 years ago I was diagnosed with ra and overnight the transformation started.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">First, I slept (and still do often) for over 14 hours a day! And that is often just the minimum. Sleeping is a necessity for raers as well as for our four legged counterparts. But for us it is not traditionally wired into our brains. Until, that is, we are invaded by the ra bug and instantaneously our sleep button is turned on. Like cats we love to find a nice warm spot (no matter the time of day or night and yes our warmth may be generated by a heating pad), snuggle in and promptly fall asleep. According to <a href="http://facts.randomhistory.com/interesting-facts-about-cats.html">Random Facts</a>, <span style="color: #333233; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Arial;">"on average, cats spend 2/3 of every day sleeping. That means a nine-year-old cat has been awake for only three years of its life." That sounds about right. Let's see…fourteen years of ra puts me awake for about 5 years since 1999. No wonder I get so little done! But really, I can't help it! I just have to curl up and sleep!</span></span></div>
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Iams informs us that "<a href="http://www.iams.com/pet-health/cat-article/a-cats-natural-instincts">nighttime is the right time</a>". I can't completely agree with them about that fact but from a cat's perspective, that is absolutely correct. For me the clock slowly changed. It didn't happen in one quick 24 or 48 hour period but rather grew out of the constant night time roaming to find pain relief. And after many years of this behavior, I believe, my clock has been reset permanently. But unlike a cat, I do have trouble sleeping, I am not getting enough exercise and I am not instinctively crepuscular. And no, I don't hunt at night (well maybe for a bottle of pain medicine) and my eyes do not detect motion in minimal lighting. In fact, my eyes hardly detect anything anymore. Yet, I find myself up with my two kitties on a regular basis. And yes, we both head into the kitchen to fix ourselves a nice nighttime snack.</div>
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Did you know that cats also like to rub everything! And I do mean everything. For them this is their way of marking their territory. For me, I also rub everything but not furniture or other humans. Rather, I rub myself. I rub myself with every ointment out there known to man to help curtail the often throbbing in my joints. Yes, rubbing is our way of marking our territory. </div>
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According to <a href="http://www.iams.com/pet-health/cat-article/facts-for-felines-signs-your-cat-is-stressed-out">Iams</a> "for the most part, cats get along well with people and other cats. Sometimes they display their natural instinct to be alone, but who doesn't need some "me time" now and again? However, when a cat displays too much introversive behavior, it can be a sign that something is seriously stressing her out". Mmmmmm….sounds just like me! And any other human out there with ra. Of course we are stressed out, of course we display too much introversive behavior. And indeed, there is something seriously stressing us out…we have ra!</div>
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One of my favorite Iams feline facts (an soooo very appropriate for me)… "Is your cat displaying more aggression toward a particular person? He or she is likely the source of the stress. To help overcome this, have that person feed your cat and give her lots of treats throughout the day. Also, he or she should try talking to your cat in a softer, higher pitched voice that soothes a cat's sensitive ears." OK one and all…take heed! Start feeding me treats throughout the day. I prefer chocolates, caramels, and an occasional healthy cooked meal. And by all means do talk to me a in softer voice. Now wouldn't it be such a pleasure to walk into say my doctor's office and have him put this into practice. That alone would make me start to purrrrr!</div>
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And one practice I have already implemented that Iam's recommends is to "relieve stress with fun". I try to adhere to this advice on a regular basis and can attest to the fact that it really does work. It truly does! I don't use fishing pole type toys (although some of you men out there might want to give that a try) but I have found that flying a kite at the crack of dawn on a desolate beach brings a smile to my face. Sure, I have to go back to that rubbing thing again immediately but it is well worth it! Try implementing a bucket list for yourself and go for it!</div>
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Yes, indeed I am now completely transformed. I am almost 100% cat! I even have the additional hair growing everywhere to prove it. Thank you pregnisone for that!!!</div>
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Have a purrrrfectly delightful day!</div>
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Deb aka AbcsOfrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12619087592028571941noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148674654584849237.post-68757206290812623432012-10-05T17:24:00.000-07:002012-10-08T02:19:05.973-07:00I am falling for Fall...The air isn't quite crisp enough for me...not just yet anyway. But every which way I turn, I see fall surrounding me with her beauty, her wonderful colors, and her enticing fruits of this season. It is truly breathtaking and it fills my soul with joy!<br />
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I mean who wouldn't want to submerge themselves in the fun of this season. We have many traditions in my household and I find that it is because of these traditions I am able to keep going. Able to get up and move on, push myself to do because I know the fun it will be. Traditions are so important and traditions keep us grounded in life.<br />
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I have committed to "live in the moment" and I am striving to do this every single day of my life. But it is when I do our traditions that I am probably the most content, the most happy, and the most joyful in life. True...I love new experiences but traditions are like the warm cup of hot cocoa on a cold night, that warm soft blanket we snuggle in when we aren't feeling quite right, or that soft worn out flannel shirt we wear year after year because it brings us comfort. Yes, traditions are comfort food for me. And heck, they don't always have calories either :-)<br />
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So off to the pumpkin farm we ventured this day. And what a grand day indeed....<br />
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The pumpkin patch is featured yearly at a local church.</div>
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And yes, there are pumpkins here, there and everywhere!</div>
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But what the heck is this! I was so tempted to bring it home and add some feathers.</div>
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There are big pumpkins, medium ones and tiny ones too!</div>
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TJ found her perfect pumpkin.</div>
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I'd say she is a bit excited with her find!</div>
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Just the right size for me and my ra hands.</div>
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Little Miss Muffet sat on her tuffet and this spider came to scare her away!</div>
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Our happy fall fireplace.</div>
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My kitty pumpkin. </div>
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TJ's elegant pumpkin. Ain't it pretty?</div>
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I truly hope that this inspires you to grab a loved one or a friend and decorate a pumpkin of your very own. It is truly a great way to welcome in the fall.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>OKzzzz...I'mz takinz youz advice...diz iz definitelyz az differentz purrrrspectivezzz onz lifez!</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>My daughter and I are walking in the upcoming Arthritis Foundation walk. If you would like to make a donation, I know it would go to a great cause! From the bottom of my heart...thank you.</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>http://wilmingtonarthritiswalk.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1014430&supId=365959918</b></span></div>
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Deb aka AbcsOfrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12619087592028571941noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148674654584849237.post-53299343479542317612012-09-24T02:54:00.000-07:002012-09-24T06:43:21.383-07:00The Rip Tide...<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The first call came over two and 1/2 months ago. He was ill. He had been diagnosed with lung cancer caused from agent orange. My brother was in a fight for his life.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Immediately I left, drove the grueling 10 hour drive to be with him. To do what I could, when I could and as I should. We all fought together side by side for weeks. It went on for weeks. The around the clock care to do what we could, when we could and as we could.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We didn't win the battle though. It reminds me of a rip tide. You get caught up in it. Your first instinct is to fight against it and fight hard. Of course you believe you will win the battle. But as you fight it you are overwhelmed with the realization that at some point if you don't just let go and drift out, succumb to the realization that you can't beat it, you will drown anyway. That is what the fight reminds me of when one is fighting such a cancer. And not that I don't want to ever believe that many will win but in his case, the foundation was laid years and years ago and the odds were stacked against us all. Damn Vietnam War! Damn agent orange!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">He passed away July 26, 2012. He was only 64. His favorite motto was "Livin' the Moment". And so since his death I have been trying to do just that. I have taken back out my bucket list and began to consciously work off that list. I am trying to Live in The Moment to honor him and his memory. To honor all their memories.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The waves have finally (I hope) washed me roughly back up onto the shore. It has been a tough rip current ride this past few months. One that I am not sure I can ever (nor maybe should I ever) forget. And one that will take me a long, long time to unravel and come to grips with. We loose so much in our lives living with chronic illness and one would think that we would get use to riding out the tough times. But we don't. We truly don't.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I think these past few years and all my close family members passing has just taken its toll on me. I will try to stay grounded on the beach for awhile and I will try to tend my life but I will always (and I mean always) have my eye on the far horizon…wondering if the rip tide will get me again.</span></div>
Deb aka AbcsOfrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12619087592028571941noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148674654584849237.post-45696804791495887772012-07-03T02:36:00.000-07:002012-07-10T07:16:14.250-07:00How I try to forget about ra...<div style="text-align: left;">
I know that we can never really forget about ra because it is there like the very heart that keeps us going. But I do try really hard to forget about my ra. And one of my favorite places I like to go when I am able is a local hideaway here in my hometown. I can't help but smile when I am here...</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lKr0FXxeYzs/T_K1EwQMSuI/AAAAAAAAAmg/BwkJHnHb0FE/s1600/P1080116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lKr0FXxeYzs/T_K1EwQMSuI/AAAAAAAAAmg/BwkJHnHb0FE/s320/P1080116.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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This lovely little gem is our county's arboretum. Here I am taken away by the beauty of a cultivated haven, kept safe by master gardeners trained at this very spot.</div>
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Every season offers a variety of bursting colors, smells, and natural beauty that reminds me of just how blessed I truly am on this earth.</div>
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And every corner offers a different garden...should one wish to replicate it in their own backyard. I say...just move me here instead!</div>
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In addition to a water garden, a Japanese garden, Children's garden, and ability garden there is a breathtaking rose garden. But this beauty only blooms once per year.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dw36eR0c2Z8/T_K2LNfuDjI/AAAAAAAAAnM/MMkQYT2JXHw/s1600/P1080098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dw36eR0c2Z8/T_K2LNfuDjI/AAAAAAAAAnM/MMkQYT2JXHw/s320/P1080098.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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And even though I come here to get away from it all, I am still reminded of the beast that lurks within. This serpent has become my mascot of sorts for my personal ra. He is always hiding but if you look closely you will see him at every turn.</div>
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And although there is a lovely paved walkway that weaves in and near each garden, if one is brave you can get off the beaten path if you wish.</div>
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This little gem is one of my favorite flowers! And yes, I do have these in my backyard at home as well.</div>
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For me, bridges remind me of my accomplishments. There is just something comforting and inviting when I see such a beauty. I can't help but want to crossover it and get to the other side.</div>
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And yes, for the weary they have built in many rest stops along the way.</div>
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If you are lucky enough to have an arboretum in your neck of the woods, I highly recommend you pack a picnic and head on over. You may just be surprised at the many wonders that lurk within. Happy trails!</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>OKz...letz me getz thiz straightz. Yuz getz toz goez toz thiz loveliez place, whiltz I stays homez in my holez? Ohz heckz noz! Youz willz payz dearlyz tonightz!</b></span></div>
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<br />Deb aka AbcsOfrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12619087592028571941noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148674654584849237.post-79544370129908886522012-07-01T06:39:00.000-07:002012-07-01T06:39:10.564-07:00Bad Blogger!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yup that's me! I have been away for awhile in the real world. Part of my absence has been due to traveling and some due to lack of wanting to write. I think that blogging can become like having a chronic illness. At times we just want to run away from it all and pretend like nothing is wrong. Pretend that everything is perfect and we are normal like the rest of the world. But sadly that just isn't the case.<br />
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I know I have arrived at a crossroads. A crossroads with many intersecting conflicts brewing inside, many thoughts to wade through until I come up with resolutions. Partly I know that some of this is due to my chronic illnesses and partly I know it is also just due to life. Even healthy normal people go through these conflicts and this is good to know.<br />
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What will I do? I am not so sure right now and this is partly the reason I have been avoiding blogging. I needed some time to step away from things for awhile, time to just try and live without thinking about chronic illness.<br />
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Was I successful? Well, one never really escapes chronic illness and I know you know this if you are reading this blog. It will always be there lurking somewhere and although we may try to push it aside for awhile, it is still in the shadows of our lives. But for a period of time I did at times forget I was chronically ill. And no, the pain did not just evaporate but because I was able to immerse myself in a different place, a different paradigm, I did get away from it all.<br />
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Even if just for awhile.<br />
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Thank you for your support during this time and thank you for your patience. <br />
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Iffinz uz thinkz I wuz outz of de spotlitz furz longz....uz iz kiddinz yurselfz! Iz iz backz! Seez whatz uz beenz missinz!</div>Deb aka AbcsOfrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12619087592028571941noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148674654584849237.post-40993258837684646922012-05-28T19:31:00.002-07:002012-05-28T19:31:24.985-07:00In The Joint Part IV<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In this post I will cover how ra can impact our eyes, sense of smell and taste, teeth, and jaw. The ra impact journey is unveiled first with our eyes.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><b>"My eyes are an ocean in which my dreams are reflected." Author unknown</b>.</span></div>
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If you have ra, you need to protect your eyes and know that, yes indeed, ra can impact them as well. RA, being a systemic disease, does not exclude our eyes. RA can cause dry eyes which is also a symptom of <a href="http://www.sjogrens.org/home/about-sjogrens-syndrome"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Sjogren's syndrome</span></a>, inflammation of the interior of the eye known as<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002000/"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">uveitis</span></a>, <a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001019.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">episcleritis</span></a> or inflammation of the membrane covering the white part of the eye, <a href="http://www.medicinenet.com/scleritis/article.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">scleritis</span></a> or inflammation of the white part of the eye, <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/glaucoma/DS00283"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">glaucoma</span></a> which can lead to blindness, and <a href="http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/cataracts/health-cataracts-eyes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">cataracts</span></a> which causes clouding of the lens of the eye.</div>
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Please be sure to have your eyes checked yearly by an opthamologist which is an eye specialist. <br />
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Moomee agrees with me about the importance of your eyes...</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;"><b>Lookz intoz my eyez deeplyz. Iz haz youz underz myz spellz. </b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;"><b>Nowz go getz mez somez foodz!</b></span></div>
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Directly ra doesn't seem to have much impact on smell and taste but autoimmune diseases like sjogren's syndrome can definitely have an impact on taste. In addition several of the medications that are prescribed for ra have side effects on both taste and smell. So in my book, although it may not be ra directly impinging on our senses, ra is still the culprit. Typical medications that can play havoc on these two senses are <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.arthritistoday.org/DrugGuide/drug-chart.php"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">corticosteroids</span></a>. </span><span class="Apple-style-span">(</span>Note: in order to use this link, you will need to change the drop down selection at the left upper side of their chart and select corticosteroids) Although there is no "official" offering about corticosteroids impacting taste and smell, from personal experience I can attest to the fact that it does heighten both these senses. In addition, if one searches several of the other commonly prescribed medications (search under DMARDS on their chart), you will notice mouth sores listed for methotrexate. In my humble opinion, if you are having difficulty with either of these senses, mention it to your ra doctor and also speak with your pharmacist to see if any of your current medications could be the culprit. Just because that specific side effect you personally are experiencing is not listed somewhere, does not in fact rule out that it is a side effect for you. And if you are experiencing a loss of smell or taste, this <a href="http://www.rd.com/health/sharpen-your-sense-of-smell-and-taste/?v=print"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">link</span></a> offers several tips on how to possibly improve them.<br />
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Personally I have spent a small fortune on attempting to keep my teeth in my mouth! Within the past two years alone, I have had three root canals and caps. And of course, without dental insurance, the out of pocket expense is hefty. Research has shown that patients with ra seem to experience a <a href="http://www.elements4health.com/rheumatoid-arthritis-can-affect-your-teeth.html">higher incidence of periodontal disease</a>. It is pretty much common sense in my book. We have increased inflammation and therefore it just makes sense that we could be more prone to an inflammatory type of gum disease like periodontal disease. And as with our eyes, you should see a dentist regularly if you can afford it. Also, those of us on corticosteroids need to be vigilant to ward off osteoporosis which can also negatively impact tooth health.<br />
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And last, the jaw can definitely be destroyed with ra. The jaw being a joint has been known to not only become painfully swollen with ra but can even lock in position making it very difficult to eat. About.com offers a nice review of <a href="http://arthritis.about.com/od/tmj/ss/guidetotmdtmj.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">temporomandibular disorders</span></a> (TMD). I have been fortunate in that I have no experienced the pain of TMD but I have had several bouts with this problem in the past. I have found that cold and/or hot compresses have helped as well as blending my food or opting for soups. Chewing was out of the question. My heart goes out to any of you out there that have any of the aforementioned problems that can be associated with ra. No, this disease is not an easy one to endure but with some patience and alot of help from specialists, we can get through and persevere.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;"><b>Arez youz kiddingz? Where'z the beefz? This dietz stinkz!</b></span></div>
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Further reading on In The Joint:<br />
<a href="http://abcsofra.blogspot.com/2012/03/in-joint.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">In The Joint</span></a><br />
<a href="http://abcsofra.blogspot.com/2012/04/in-jointpart-ii.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">In The Joint Part II</span></a><br />
<a href="http://abcsofra.blogspot.com/2012/04/in-jointpart-iii.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">In The Joint Part III</span></a><br />
<br /></div>Deb aka AbcsOfrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12619087592028571941noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148674654584849237.post-24076294835610125322012-05-24T23:41:00.000-07:002012-05-24T23:41:35.052-07:00How far have we come?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UoGqKGr3N5w/T76AJG9xKsI/AAAAAAAAAk8/7SbN9GLDqAg/s1600/image.axd.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UoGqKGr3N5w/T76AJG9xKsI/AAAAAAAAAk8/7SbN9GLDqAg/s400/image.axd.jpeg" width="331" /></a></div>
I have been wanting, needing to write this post for some time now but have put it off. I am not sure exactly why I have avoided writing this much needed post but I have.<br />
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I think a great deal of the reluctance to put down in words what I have witnessed recently in the medical field is due to the fact that I am just so disappointed that little has changed. In fact, I find it has only gotten worse since my maiden voyage with ra.<br />
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I am referring to a medical situation that arose with a close family member this year. I had truly hoped that the medical community had figured out a way to make the diagnostic process alot easier for patients but I am sadly mistaken. The process has only gotten more mucked up, much more expensive, and unfortunately in this case with no answers after all is said and done.<br />
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Perhaps I am just to simplistic of an individual and perhaps I see things differently. It just aggravates me to no end when I see our current system in operation.<br />
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The particular problem was weight loss. Weight loss to the point where it was obvious that something was wrong. Very wrong!<br />
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So off to the doctors they go. Their particular health care insurance requires them to go to a particular service provider to coordinate the care if they are to receive the lowest copay. So off to the service provider they went.<br />
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Now perhaps I am being very simplistic here but I would think (a duh moment here) that given that weight loss is the first symptom listed, that a doctor would ask the most obvious. But noooooo...why would they? That would be too simplistic!<br />
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So here is the list of doctors this person saw to try and figure out exactly what was causing the weight loss...<br />
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Internist that referred them to an eating disorder clinic for a psychological evaluation. This was done first. The internist claimed that not a soul would believe this person that they ate at all and were not bulimic or with an eating disorder problem. No internist, no ER, no specialist would even consider treating them because they would say they have an eating disorder. Now I do understand the reasoning behind this but not really. Not when the patient has witnesses that are willing to testify when and what they ate on a daily basis. But noooooo....that still didn't weigh into this situation at all! They have an eating disorder and must prove they don't before being allowed to pass GO.<br />
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The eating specialist cleared this person. They in fact did not have an eating disorder. This clinic in fact stated that this person is one of the most psychologically sound individuals they have met. Oh brother!<br />
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Panic ensues and the internist (and yes even prior to this point) threatens that the patient can drop dead of a heart attack. Do they realize they can drop dead of a heart attack! Do they realize they are a walking time bomb ready to go off at any second!<br />
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Now if they weren't having heart palpitations, they sure as heck would by now! And yet, that one KEY question still has not been asked by either treatment place.<br />
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Off to the next square in this game of medical evaluation we go. Off to the specialists. Now, first, just let me tell you that there are over 40 reasons why a person can have excessive weight loss. Yes....40! So to try and narrow this down can be rather daunting.<br />
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First we go to the gastro specialist. And again, the most basic questions were not asked of this patient. And yes, the question was even offered to the attending doctors during each visit. And still we were told that was not part of the equation (another duh moment here).<br />
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The gastro specialist not only has no clue what might be causing the weight loss, she begins to list a litany of tests that will require anaesthesia in addition to the possibility of even death during a procedure. Well, thank you doc for that reassurance! Just what was needed at this very, very stressful time already.<br />
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So in addition to a CT with dye (may have been an MRI but I can't recall) and a colonoscopy, this patient was forced to repeat labs that had just been done the day before. But nooooo....those labs won't do as each doctor must have their own. And yes, even if they are exactly the same blood labs.<br />
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The patient at this point is scared to death as this specialist has mentioned cancer, ruptured things, growing things and why not throw in hairy things as well! Oh brother!! Talk about a panic attack at this point. And yes, we repeated what would be the most obvious cause to us and again asked that key question to this specialist. But once again we were told that it could not be the possible cause of this weight loss problem.<br />
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Home the patient goes. After fully over a week of seeing three different doctors and with still no answers in sight, the patient decides to wait this one out. She opts to step back quietly, evaluate this situation and proceed from there. She figures that is she hasn't dropped dead by now, she can wait a week or two more. The tests are cancelled. The patient decides to lay down for awhile and rest. At about that time, the patient begins to have chest pains. Chest pains that are severe enough to cause concern and won't go away.<br />
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Off we go to the ER. Do I dare take the chance that this patient might be having that mentioned heart attack (mentioned no less then 20 times to us)? Heck no! This patient isn't going to die on my watch! I speed the car faster. Screeching to a halt in front of the ER, leaving the keys in the ignition and the car running, I get an attendant to get a gurney and whisk the patient off for evaluation.<br />
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Again, the same blood labs are drawn that were drawn yesterday and the day before. Again I mention that these exact labs have been done twice this week. But nooooo....they must have their own labs done. And again, we mention the weight loss and the fact that heart attack was mentioned as a possible side effect of the weight loss. After gathering all the necessary tests including EKG, blood test, and chest xray, the er doctor says the patient is just fine. It is most likely a pulled muscle from lifting something. Another AH Hah moment! Yes, she lifted heavy kitty litter just earlier while grocery shopping! We go home.<br />
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And no, the er doctor did not ask that key question regarding weight loss....he was only evaluating the heart issue. We asked him the question though! And he suggested the most obvious.<br />
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Now you must be asking what in the world was that one question? Think about it. What would you be asking if you were a doctor and had someone with excessive weight loss. Perhaps, just maybe....what do you eat every day and how many calories do your consume? Wouldn't or shouldn't that be the first question? And then maybe, just maybe you might want to figure out how many calories this particular individual needs to maintain a certain weight level. This particular patient is 5 feet 10 inches tall. And yes, my dear fellow readers, height does play a very integral role in RMR. Better known as resting metabolic rate. But not one doctor would even consider this basic fact. They all said that consuming 1,600 calories was plenty for someone of her age, height, and activity level.<br />
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Well, yes you have it by now. She wasn't eating enough calories to maintain her ideal weight. Yet, every single doctor negated this fact! She wasn't avoiding food at all. And had any doctor asked her for a food diary they would have seen that in fact she was consuming a good amount of food but not enough calories. She needs around 2,400 calories for her specific combination of height, weight, and activity level.<br />
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She had started a healthy eating plan over two years ago and was eating gluten, dairy, and soy free. She felt this type of eating would improve her PCOS systems in addition to her tummy and skin problems she had been facing. And yes, the healthy diet plan actually did improve both the PCOS and skin issues. But unfortunately when you eat lots of vegetables, boneless skinless chicken breast and avoid starches...well...you may not be getting the required amount of calories for a rather tall young lady.<br />
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It wasn't until both her and I went searching online that we discovered the RMR formula. And given her height (which is above the normal range), one would have thought that the common sense approach would have been to request a food diary, calculate the needed calories for someone of her statue, and request that she ramp up her calorie intake for a period of a few weeks. Then if that didn't work, expose her to the litany of medical tests.<br />
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I am happy to report that she is now on her way to regaining weight. But, this has only be accomplished through our common sense approach and review of all her medical records on our own. And yes, even the medical records substantiate our conclusion. No doctor in the process apparently saw fit to lay out her medical history to review BP, labs etc. over a three year period. They only saw fit to view current results. Had they done this (as we did), they too would have realized that she has always had low BP and that the other two out of range labs are in fact normal for her and have been for many, many years.<br />
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Yes, something is very broken in our US medical system. And I am sad to report that another victim has been run through the course of our absurd medical process here. Another victim that now has thousands of dollars to pay off for absolutely nothing except additional stress and now a severe distrust of the very system that was suppose to help her.<br />
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More reading...<br />
<a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/245588.php">How Many Calories Should I Eat?</a><br />
<a href="http://www.caloriesperhour.com/tutorial_need.php">Calculating BMR and RMR</a><br />
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<br />Deb aka AbcsOfrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12619087592028571941noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148674654584849237.post-81855188202878659052012-05-20T03:22:00.000-07:002012-05-20T03:22:08.989-07:00If It Ain't Broke, Don't Fix It!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BlyQz8nZVx4/T7jEfKlZsqI/AAAAAAAAAkw/LaDAFC0oTMY/s1600/compass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BlyQz8nZVx4/T7jEfKlZsqI/AAAAAAAAAkw/LaDAFC0oTMY/s400/compass.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
As part of national arthritis awareness month, we have been fortunate enough to witness a big uptake in the awareness of autoimmune related illnesses including ra. And this is great!<br />
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I have always had a silent motto that I carry around inside me. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Now, this doesn't mean that I don't think that we should constantly be striving to improve our lives, our well being, our surroundings and even our dreams. What I mean by this is if it is working just fine, then leave it alone. Focus instead on things that really truly need to be fixed.<br />
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Having a severe form of ra, I do seek medical help with my constant battles. From specialist visits to lab visits to pharmacy visits, I find myself under the care of multiple doctors to address my medical needs. And as this month unfolds, I am constantly reminded of those that can't go to doctors, that can't go to labs and that can't even get past the OTC medications to address the pain of ra. My heart is heavy with this burden. And yes, our medical system is broken and it does need to be fixed.<br />
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I can't say I have all the answers but I do know that my personal moral compass tells me this is wrong. We shouldn't have people in this great nation that can not afford medical care and therefore do not get any care at all. To me this is not only a moral and ethical obligation but it is just the right thing to do as a human being and as a nation. And yes, I am fully aware of the cost of doing such an undertaking but to me personally it needs to be fixed.<br />
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And waiting until the cost of medical care falls low enough for a person to purchase that care, not only puts them at risk it could very well kill them! And going to an er to seek out basic medical care is not the answer in my book. That not only drives up the cost of medical care it will ultimately drive our hospitals to close their doors entirely. Shuffling the cost of medical care onto hospitals exclusively is not the answer either.<br />
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Do I have the answers? Not completely. But what I do know is that we need an open and honest discussion about this very important issue in this country and we need it now. And while we are seeking ways to fix what is obviously very, very broken, we need to open the doors to all that can not afford insurance. Without one's health, one can not be a productive part of society. One can not pay taxes and often one can not work if one wanted to.<br />
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So, as we approach this upcoming presidential election, I ask only one thing. Think about what is important to you. Do your research carefully for all your votes and this includes your local and state ones as well. Be sure that your candidates mesh with your moral and ethical compasses. Because as much as I hate to say this, we will be voting for <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>life</b></span>, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. This is a very important election.<br />
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<br />Deb aka AbcsOfrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12619087592028571941noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148674654584849237.post-42425739195083284202012-05-12T04:25:00.000-07:002012-05-12T04:25:57.308-07:00A Reflection on RATo continue the celebration of arthritis awareness month, I have decided it is time to "picture"ra. To date, I have written many posts on my blog about my personal ra, about ra in general, and about things that can influence how we handle ra.<br />
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Today, I have decided to do a pictorial reflection on ra. Not like the In The Joint posts that I plan on continuing but rather on how I see ra in almost everything around me. It often just jumps out at me when I am walking around my neighborhood, near the ocean, or even in art sometimes.<br />
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So here is my "reflection" on ra in pictures:</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mCeNF7u2NTI/T6u4YjW4GjI/AAAAAAAAAj0/ry31KdzG90M/s1600/P1070739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mCeNF7u2NTI/T6u4YjW4GjI/AAAAAAAAAj0/ry31KdzG90M/s320/P1070739.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Somewhere in there we must find the beauty again.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e_Q0PMpKMmk/T6u5vsuaxKI/AAAAAAAAAj8/goMERbBmXEI/s1600/P1070761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e_Q0PMpKMmk/T6u5vsuaxKI/AAAAAAAAAj8/goMERbBmXEI/s320/P1070761.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Find something that you love to do (even something new) and do it.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LQGkf1wbzI0/T6u6O3PujhI/AAAAAAAAAkE/K0GWC793AGU/s1600/P1070776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LQGkf1wbzI0/T6u6O3PujhI/AAAAAAAAAkE/K0GWC793AGU/s320/P1070776.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Reach out to others. It will not only make you feel better but it just may improve another's life as well.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LWzZtNvpcfE/T6u6958FMdI/AAAAAAAAAkM/hHPZDXQiAZA/s1600/P1070793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LWzZtNvpcfE/T6u6958FMdI/AAAAAAAAAkM/hHPZDXQiAZA/s320/P1070793.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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A good dose of humor really does help.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8Cvh35HoDWI/T6u7t-oaesI/AAAAAAAAAkU/MJGDfCTbQtU/s1600/P1070890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8Cvh35HoDWI/T6u7t-oaesI/AAAAAAAAAkU/MJGDfCTbQtU/s320/P1070890.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
It's important to look ahead but sometimes looking up will give you an entirely different perspective.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ce0k9wViJBA/T6u8EoJqXrI/AAAAAAAAAkc/4DSlL4GNGUk/s1600/P1070893.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ce0k9wViJBA/T6u8EoJqXrI/AAAAAAAAAkc/4DSlL4GNGUk/s320/P1070893.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Being inflexible can make the journey much harder. Consider going with the flow for a change.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oG-RrYBDfh8/T6u8fsvuM1I/AAAAAAAAAkk/weYAjdrxnzs/s1600/P1070891.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oG-RrYBDfh8/T6u8fsvuM1I/AAAAAAAAAkk/weYAjdrxnzs/s320/P1070891.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Sometimes it is the imperfect that actually is just perfect.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"><b>And...Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms out there!</b></span></div>
<br />Deb aka AbcsOfrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12619087592028571941noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148674654584849237.post-87334658077941211882012-05-07T10:36:00.000-07:002012-05-07T10:36:26.663-07:00Our Hands Can!<br />
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Show Us Your Hands! Releases Our Hands Can! Photo Book in Celebration of Arthritis Awareness Month</h1>
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<a href="http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/3205952" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #777777; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="alignright wp-image-803" height="152" src="http://www.showusyourhands.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/PR_Image_PhotoBookProject.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #f7f7f7; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-width: initial; float: right; margin-bottom: 1px; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px; vertical-align: middle;" title="Our Hands Can! Photo Book" width="180" /></a>(May 7, 2012) – Show Us Your Hands! is pleased to announce the release of its Our Hands Can! photo book, the latest in a series of successful initiatives aimed at uniting the community of individuals who are living with inflammatory arthritis and increasing the public’s awareness of this group of autoimmune diseases. This photo book contains the inspiring photographs and moving stories of dozens of people of all ages from around the world who live with different types of inflammatory arthritis and is being released today in celebration of Arthritis Awareness Month.</div>
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May is National Arthritis Awareness Month in the United States. Its goal is to bring attention to the issues and realities faced by people who live with one of the more than 100 different types of arthritis. More than 46 million people live with arthritis in the US, including 300,000 children. It is the most common cause of disability.</div>
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The Our Hands Can! photo book is available for purchase at Blurb in both <a href="http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/3205952" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #777777; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">hardcover format</a> and <a href="http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/3205897" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #777777; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">softcover format</a>. “Being part of this has made me feel proud of who I am with rheumatoid arthritis and all for the first time in a long time,” says Samantha Legere, who is profiled in the photo book. Founding director Lene Andersen adds, “Our Hands Can! is a tangible affirmation that all of us who live with inflammatory arthritis find a way to live meaningful, productive and joyful lives. Our hands may hurt and bear the visible signs of our disease, but it doesn’t stop us!” All funds raised from the sale of these photo books go to Show Us Your Hands!, an international awareness movement which serves to unite and inspire the inflammatory arthritis community.</div>
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The Show Us Your Hands! inflammatory arthritis community collage project debuted in December 2011. People of all ages from around the world are represented in this community project and new photos continue to be added to on a regular basis. The community collage project serves not only as a symbol of the wonderfully supportive inflammatory arthritis community that continues to grow and connect online, but also acts as a reminder that people who live with these diseases should be proud of, and not ashamed of, their inflammatory arthritis hands. By April 2011, the Show Us Your Hands! inflammatory arthritis community collage project had grown to include more than 1,000 hands.</div>
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Autoimmune diseases occur when a body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. In the case of inflammatory arthritis, a person’s joints are frequently attacked, resulting in chronic pain and debilitating inflammation. The most common inflammatory arthritis diseases are Ankylosing Spondylitis, Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, Mixed Connective Tissue Disease, Psoriatic Arthritis, Reactive Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Scleroderma, Sjogren’s Syndrome, Still’s Disease and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.</div>
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Show Us Your Hands! is an international awareness movement which serves to unite and inspire the inflammatory arthritis community. For more information, please <a href="http://www.showusyourhands.org/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #777777; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;">visit www.showusyourhands.org</a>. Show Us Your Hands! can also be found on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ShowUsYourHands" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #777777; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/ShowUsYourHands" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #777777; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Twitter</a>.</div>
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<a href="http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/3205952?ce=blurb_ew&utm_source=widget" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #777777; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 3px; margin-top: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Our Hands Can! by Show Us Your Hands!</a></div>
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All proceeds will be used to continue the good work of this future non for profit. And I am proud and humbled to say that I did participate in this wonderful project. Can you find me?</div>
</div>Deb aka AbcsOfrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12619087592028571941noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148674654584849237.post-34505884362275518892012-05-06T09:32:00.001-07:002012-05-06T09:34:16.556-07:00Arthritis Awareness Month continues....As promised, I am going to continue with featuring some of my favorite arthritis areas that support autoimmune illnesses and help to bring our community together on a regular basis. Together we can make a profound and lasting impact!<br />
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The next two I want to feature are...<br />
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Thrive With RA<br />
You can find her blog here at <a href="http://Thrivewithra.wordpress.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Thrivewithra.wordpress.com</span></a><br />
She writes from the heart and I have enjoyed here heart felt posts. She also seems to want to help all of us with ra and I truly appreciate her efforts. She has a challenge out there for us this week. I for one plan on trying to accomplish it! I invite you to the same. If we can't speak honestly about ra and do everything we can to get the correct information out there, then who will?<br />
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Next on the top of my favs lists is a wonderful organization that has become a powerhouse of sorts. <a href="http://www.iaamovement.org/Home_Page.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">IAAM</span></a> or International Autoimmune Arthritis Movement Hats off to them for beginning a journey to correctly inform the world about autoimmune arthritis. This month they are having a 47 hours global event. In their own words "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://worldautoimmunearthritisday.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Register NOW</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #555555;"> and receive notification of the official schedule, programs, organizations that will be involved, vendor discounts, a chance to submit YOUR OWN story for featuring during WAAD and MORE!</span></strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #555555; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #555555; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Join Us any time during May 20th, 2012 to celebrate awareness and bringing attention to the Autoimmune Arthritis Diseases!" </strong></span><br />
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I am registered and hope to see you there as well. It looks to be a fun and informative event!<br />
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People like RA Guy who is establishing <a href="http://www.showusyourhands.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">The Show Us Your Hands Organization</span></a>, <a href="http://Thrivewithra.wordpress.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Thrive With RA</span></a>, and <a href="http://www.iaamovement.org/Home_Page.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">IAAM</span></a> can and do help to make our journey just a bit easier. Hats off to them and a heartfelt thank you as well!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #555555; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br /></strong></span>Deb aka AbcsOfrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12619087592028571941noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148674654584849237.post-77754002770035345912012-05-01T09:54:00.000-07:002012-05-01T09:54:14.104-07:00Arthritis Awareness Month is here!May is arthritis awareness month and I plan on sharing a few of my favs this month that I do support whole heartily.<br />
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This one is top on my list because RA Guy speaks from the heart and I just know his new to be non for profit will make a big impact for all of us!<br />
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Show Us Your Hands! Releases 1,000 Hands Poster in Celebration of Arthritis Awareness Month</h1>
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(May 1, 2012) – Show Us Your Hands! is pleased to announce the release of its 1,000 Hands Poster Project, the latest in a series of successful initiatives aimed at uniting the community of individuals who are living with inflammatory arthritis and increasing the public’s awareness of this group of autoimmune diseases. This poster proudly displays the first one thousand hands which were submitted to the community collage project and is being released today in celebration of Arthritis Awareness Month.</div>
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<a href="http://www.zazzle.com/show_us_your_hands_1_000_hands_poster-228059609764069727" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #777777; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-710" height="300" src="http://www.showusyourhands.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/1000-Hands-Poster-200x300.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #f7f7f7; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-width: initial; float: left; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 20px; margin-top: 6px; padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px; vertical-align: middle;" title="1000 Hands Poster 200x300" width="200" /></a>May is National Arthritis Awareness Month in the United States. Its goal is to bring attention to the issues and realities faced by people who live with one of the more than 100 different types of arthritis. More than 46 million people live with arthritis in the US, including 300,000 children. It is the most common cause of disability.</div>
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The 1,000 Hands Poster is available for purchase at <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/show_us_your_hands_1_000_hands_poster-228059609764069727" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #777777; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Zazzle</a>. “This poster is powerful! It represents how individual we each are with inflammatory disease while also showing how strong we are together as a community,” says founding director Cathy Kramer. All funds raised from the sale of these posters go to Show Us Your Hands! An international awareness movement which serves to unite and inspire the inflammatory arthritis community.</div>
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The Show Us Your Hands! inflammatory arthritis community collage project debuted in December 2011. People of all ages from around the world are represented in this community project and new photos continue to be added to on a regular basis. The community collage project serves not only as a symbol of the wonderfully supportive inflammatory arthritis community that continues to grow and connect online, but also acts as a reminder that people who live with these diseases should be proud of, and not ashamed of, their inflammatory arthritis hands. By April 2011, the Show Us Your Hands! inflammatory arthritis community collage project had grown to include more than 1,000 hands.</div>
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Autoimmune diseases occur when a body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. In the case of inflammatory arthritis a person’s joints are frequently attacked, resulting in chronic pain and debilitating inflammation. The most common inflammatory arthritis diseases are Ankylosing Spondylitis, Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, Mixed Connective Tissue Disease, Psoriatic Arthritis, Reactive Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Scleroderma, Sjogren’s Syndrome, Still’s Disease, and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.</div>
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Show Us Your Hands! is an international awareness movement which serves to unite and inspire the inflammatory arthritis community. For more information, please visit <a href="http://www.showusyourhands.org/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #777777; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;">www.showusyourhands.org</a>. Show Us Your Hands! can also be found on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ShowUsYourHands?sk=wall" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #777777; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/ShowUsYourHands" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #777777; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Twitter</a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>Hint...hint....</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>WHAT A FANTASTIC GIFT FOR YOUR RHEUMATOLOGIST'S OFFICE AS A THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT THEY DO FOR YOU! I plan on getting one mailed to mine :-) A win win in my book.</b></span></div>
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<br /></div>Deb aka AbcsOfrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12619087592028571941noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148674654584849237.post-18800713263901035342012-04-28T17:59:00.001-07:002012-04-28T17:59:53.399-07:00The Crazy Cat Lady Is Born!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RO1NRs7aVgs/T5yQ8J1Z-5I/AAAAAAAAAjE/wyfCgVsZSe8/s1600/P1070927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RO1NRs7aVgs/T5yQ8J1Z-5I/AAAAAAAAAjE/wyfCgVsZSe8/s400/P1070927.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
They arrived in a white round bucket screaming and hollering in my son's SUV. He found them abandoned at a foreclosed property that he was inspecting. And as most kids do, he brought them home. Except this kid is 30!<br />
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I called everywhere to source a rescue agency. We have several wonderful ones here in my hometown but none are accepting kittens right now. Hmmmm....it is spring. Need I say more! They are full of kittens that need adoption.<br />
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What to do? What to do? I called out of my area, in the area that the kitties were found and did find a Humane Society that was a low kill shelter. Mmmmmm....what does low kill mean? Well, from what I could find out, they only killed sick kitties. Luck would have it (or Murphy's law) one of the kitties was sick with conjunctivitis. Should I take the chance? Would they put this little weebie one down? There are no guarantees and personally I just don't trust that they wouldn't.<br />
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But I have ra and just getting up in the morning can be a problem. Am I really up for this? My family are not rescue lovers and if I took on this project I would be on my own pretty much.<br />
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Their eyes called to me...meow! Meow! MEOW! SAVE US!<br />
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The Crazy RA Cat Lady is born!<br />
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More epic adventures of her trials and tribulations to follow...<br />
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<br />Deb aka AbcsOfrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12619087592028571941noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148674654584849237.post-22711570690947368182012-04-23T04:22:00.000-07:002012-04-23T04:22:26.001-07:00When You Wish Upon A Star...<div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">As you probably know by now (and if not, you will now), I have this bucket list that I regularly work on to keep my dreams alive. Just less then a year ago I was working on a trip abroad with my daughter. Unfortunately that isn't going to happen exactly as I had hoped but you know me....I NEVER give up my dreams.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">OK, I may not get to the Eiffel Tower as hoped or even Italy to feast on their yummy looking foods. But dog gone it, I am going somewhere! We have modified our trip and are now trying to make our way south to Disney World. We have been there before and loved it so much, we decided that if we couldn't do France we would do Epcot and take a trip around the world instead!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The reservations are booked (haven't figured out whether I will rent a wheelchair or buy one and bring it with me this time) and I am in the throws of trying to figure out how to pay for this trip. It is like 1/6 of what a European vacation would have cost us and thus the change in plans. Yes, the economy is tight here in my home too but we have already been putting away for our dream trip (see how to earn <a href="http://abcsofra.blogspot.com/2012/02/little-extra-cash.html">a little extra cash</a>), so we have a good chunk of the Disney Trip saved already.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Slow and steady will win this race! The target date for this trip is December.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Since Spring is officially here and we have had rain for the past 7 weekends in a row, I am now officially ready for our bi-yearly yard sale. Slow and steady....slow and steady (<a href="http://abcsofra.blogspot.com/2011/10/coffee-and-abcss-of-ra-yardsale.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">ABC'S of an RA Yardsale</span></a>). In the past I would have had our sale only in the garage but since my daughter now has a newer car and needs to park Bee-Bee (the car's name) safely away at night...I now only having two days to set this one up. This should be interesting is all I can say. My new strategy is to label/price items inside my home and pile them all over my living room until the two day set up which starts tomorrow. At which point I plan on calling in my elfs...I mean family members. Just thinking about this is making me tuckered out. Wish me luck! I am going to need it!<br />
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But when I get tired, when I get fed up, when I think I just can't do it anymore...I will wish upon a star and remember...<br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;">Dreams really can come true!</div><div style="text-align: center;">We just have to believe!</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div></div>Deb aka AbcsOfrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12619087592028571941noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148674654584849237.post-51877546236443288572012-04-18T03:00:00.000-07:002012-05-28T19:25:40.852-07:00In The Joint...Part IIIOnward and upward on the joint travels! So far I have covered all my finger joints and today I will be debuting my wrist, elbow, and shoulder joints. <br />
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My wrists are probably the worst joints impacted with ra. And for me they cause quite a few problems in regards to doing anything at all. Between the swelling, tendon issues, and often pain, I have alot of problems doing everyday things such as lifting anything except maybe a coffee cup. Well having that limit pretty much puts me dependent on everyone and anyone who might be kind enough to vacuum, carry groceries, clean the bathtub, etc. Yup, I have to admit...I HATE my wrists and their lack of fortitude in fending off the attack of ra.<br />
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And because of their whimpiness, I am often forced to wear such horrid gear as the "wrist splint". Still no improvement out there on fashion forward sox splints (if you are wondering what in the world I am referring to....check out my blog post entitled <a href="http://abcsofra.blogspot.com/2011/06/ra-junk-art.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">RA Junk Art</span></a>.<br />
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Traveling just a bit up the road to the next joint...technically speaking the elbow joint, we find this means that the humerus is connected to the ulna and the radius. Humerus...I wonder if that is what adults were referring to when I was a kid. I was told it was my funny bone that would hurt so much when I banged it the wrong way. I found no humor in that at all!<br />
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The <a href="http://www.scoi.com/elboanat.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Southern Orthodpedic Institute's</span></a> above diagram illustrates this rather nicely. Their website is packed with different problems we autoimmuner's might expect to encounter when inflammation and elbow joints are involved.<br />
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Once again the ra monster has been nibbling away regularly on both my elbows. Right from the onset, my right elbow was completely hit with the ra. It was hit early and to this day suffers from permanent joint damage with limited range of motion. No ra medication has slowed this joint damage for me personally.<br />
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I remember when I first went into an elbow orthopedic doctor for a cortisone injection into my right elbow. At that time it was giving me such a sharp pain that I would almost drop to my knees. After xrays, he explained that the ligament was getting hung up on a jagged joint and that was causing the intense pain when I tried to move it a certain way. He gave me the injection (which by the way helped immensely) and offered me several surgeries to try and not only correct that problem but my elbow extension problem as well. He did also say that the surgery would not stop further joint deterioration. I opted not to do the surgeries at that time as I was dealing with throat problems which took precedent in my book.<br />
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In regards to my shoulder joints, I have not had them xrayed...ever. But I have noticed I am lopsided lately and their appears to be inflammation in particular on my left side. I am wondering, in my case, which came first, the chicken or the egg. Or rather, the tendon or the shoulder problem. I am guessing here, but I strongly suspect I have alot of tendon and possibly muscle damage going on and believe it is my tendons that might be causing the lopsided tilt. During our picture taking, my daughter kept asking me to lower my right shoulder as she said it was sticking up. Ummmmm...well...that isn't possible, that is just my stance with ra.<br />
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For all of these joints, the only help I have found to date has been the wrist splint or cortisone injections. However, it is my understanding that these types of injections should be limited to three over your life time per joint. Based on that information from my old orthopedic doctor, I have been holding off on these injections for as long as possible. If I do the math, that gives me one injection about every ten years per joint based on hitting the 85 year mark or there abouts. Geezzz...talk about endurance!<br />
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But as with so many things we raers deal with...even that number is about as clear as mud. If you want to go in for a mud bath to wash off any doubts, I suggest you <a href="http://orthopedics.about.com/od/injectio2/f/numberofcortisoneshots.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">further read up</span></a> on this subject.<br />
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I would love to hear from any of you out there that have come up with an easy way to clean a tub. I have yet to figure out a way to do this without having to suffer for days afterwards. Calling all Heloise's helpful hints!</div>
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And once again my beloved Moomee just had to get in on the take...</div>
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"Lookz Gamz Gamz...Iz canz doz thatz tooz! Movez overz, youz blockingz thez cameraz!"</div>
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"Andz herez myz elbowz jointz. Aint'z itz prettyz?"</div>
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Further readings on In The Joint:</div>
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<a href="http://abcsofra.blogspot.com/2012/03/in-joint.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">In The Joint</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://abcsofra.blogspot.com/2012/04/in-jointpart-ii.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">In The Joint....Part II</span></a></div>
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<br /></div>Deb aka AbcsOfrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12619087592028571941noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148674654584849237.post-28447687507656525392012-04-11T06:08:00.000-07:002012-04-11T06:08:12.713-07:00Fear!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3Ydgpgb0l5c/T2ogQYPkSsI/AAAAAAAAAfE/dfVlJiTTfcQ/s1600/P1070662.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3Ydgpgb0l5c/T2ogQYPkSsI/AAAAAAAAAfE/dfVlJiTTfcQ/s320/P1070662.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Fear is defined as:</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #232323; font: 13.0px 'Arial Unicode MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Arial;"><b>fear</b></span>/fi(ə)r/</div><div style="color: #232323; font: 16.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 18.0px;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody>
<tr> <td style="padding: 5.0px 0.0px 5.0px 0.0px; width: 80.0px;" valign="top"><div style="color: #666666; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Noun:</div></td> <td style="padding: 5.0px 0.0px 5.0px 0.0px; width: 432.0px;" valign="top"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody>
<tr> <td style="width: 432.0px;" valign="middle"><div style="color: #232323; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">An unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.</div></td> </tr>
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</div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="padding: 5.0px 0.0px 5.0px 0.0px; width: 80.0px;" valign="top"><div style="color: #666666; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Verb:</div></td> <td style="padding: 5.0px 0.0px 5.0px 0.0px; width: 432.0px;" valign="top"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody>
<tr> <td style="width: 432.0px;" valign="middle"><div style="color: #232323; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Be afraid of (someone or something) as likely to be dangerous, painful, or threatening: "farmers fear that they will lose business".</div></td> </tr>
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<tr> <td style="padding: 5.0px 0.0px 5.0px 0.0px; width: 80.0px;" valign="top"><div style="color: #666666; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Synonyms</div></td> <td style="padding: 5.0px 0.0px 5.0px 0.0px; width: 432.0px;" valign="top"><div style="color: #232323; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="color: #666666;"><i>noun</i>. </span>dread - fright - apprehension - funk - awe - alarm</div><div style="color: #232323; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="color: #666666;"><i>verb</i>. </span>be afraid - dread - apprehend - funk - be afraid of</div><div style="color: #232323; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #232323; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">I have probably experienced more fear in the last 14 years of my life then in my entire lifetime pre ra. When I was first diagnosed I was fearful of losing my job, being too sick to take care of my children, taking the medications that go along with treating ra, becoming too much of a burden on my husband and least I not forget, I was most fearful of the pain associated with my ra.<br />
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I am not sure why fear goes hand in hand with a chronic illness diagnoses but it does. And although it is something that becomes manageable right along with the illness, it can take a long, long time to manage.</div><div style="color: #232323; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #232323; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">I am proud to report that I have conquered one more fear recently and this particular one has not a thing to do with ra. I have always had this fear…..</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dCztExALJeU/T2ofzrquaRI/AAAAAAAAAe8/3q-BzN2e6_0/s1600/P1070657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dCztExALJeU/T2ofzrquaRI/AAAAAAAAAe8/3q-BzN2e6_0/s400/P1070657.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="color: #232323; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;"><br />
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</div><div style="color: #232323; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">yup…the fear of heights. I am not sure exactly when this fear snuck into my life but I really believe that after battling so many health fears over the years, conquering this one was the next natural step. I was actually surprised at just how easy it was to get onto The Sky Wheel and take the height challenging ride.</div><div style="color: #232323; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #232323; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">And yes, my heart still was pounding, my blood pressure probably went up a tad bit but I chalk all that up to excitement of the best kind. It was awesome! </div><div style="color: #232323; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #232323; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">And if by chance (betting you do have some) you have any fears over being diagnosed with a chronic condition like ra or life threatening condition, here are a few tricks (well rather steps) I did along the way to overcome my fears:</div><div style="color: #232323; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #232323; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"></div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Realize that it is normal to be fearful at times.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Become a pro-active patient.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Submerse yourself in knowledge about your disease(s).</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Don't worry if you have to fire a doctor here and there…it goes with the territory.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Medications are a part of the plan but do know the possible side effects so you know what to expect if they happen to you.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Surround yourself with support including online, face to face (friends and family that believe in you).</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And last, if it all becomes to much…don't forget their are professionals out there to help you overcome your fears.</span></li>
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</div><div style="color: #232323; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Did I mention, what a view….</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rSdbBRApi_I/T2ohHpGv6GI/AAAAAAAAAfM/kPXDOFt6WyI/s1600/P1070684.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rSdbBRApi_I/T2ohHpGv6GI/AAAAAAAAAfM/kPXDOFt6WyI/s400/P1070684.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="color: #232323; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;">So....do tell...what do you fear (or feared) and have you been able to overcome that fear?</div></td> </tr>
</tbody> </table>Deb aka AbcsOfrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12619087592028571941noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148674654584849237.post-54727412373183335032012-04-05T19:21:00.000-07:002012-04-05T19:21:44.471-07:00In The Joint...Part IIThe journey to discovery continues as I try to portray my personal joint story here. Last we left off, I exposed my distal interphalangeal ra joints.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Today, I will move on to proximal interphalangeals and my palmar digitals (refer to hand diagram below). I prefer to call them my joints in keeping with my KISS principles. Who comes up with these crazy names?<br />
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I will take a guess here and incorporate the joint on our thumbs, which although it is the joint next to a thumbnail, as part of the proximal interphalangeal family. So, with this theory (the picture here didn't tell me) I have ten members in this family. All of them have been doing the ra swell dance. Honestly though for years and years only the right five members participated in this line dance. It hasn't been until about three years ago that the right side of the family put out an invitation for the left side of the family and they accepted. Wish I could have intercepted that particular invitation!<br />
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So I would like to introduce you to my left handed family members:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BHLQzhus0HE/T3nEYut958I/AAAAAAAAAgE/v3W-rCoIFY4/s1600/P1070841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BHLQzhus0HE/T3nEYut958I/AAAAAAAAAgE/v3W-rCoIFY4/s320/P1070841.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Joe here will do the honors for his side of this dysfunctional family group:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6ooHm9VDLP4/T3nEzKI86YI/AAAAAAAAAgM/tVQ-BTwL_rM/s1600/P1070817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6ooHm9VDLP4/T3nEzKI86YI/AAAAAAAAAgM/tVQ-BTwL_rM/s320/P1070817.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>"This here is our family wall photo. As you will notice our thumb leads the way with a sufficient amount of inflammation with Jeb and Ted following behind (formally known as the ring and middle finger)." And along with Jeb and Ted comes swollen veins. This I have yet to unravel. I am not sure if it is from so much wrist issues or something else going on. Oh well, if anyone out there has similar issues and has unraveled this mystery...please share.<br />
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"Next, we move onto the individual walkway debut of each joint so that the audience can get a close up view for comparison sake."<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JK2NHgM34G0/T3nFeNASsAI/AAAAAAAAAgU/8syvC39OBOI/s1600/P1070826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JK2NHgM34G0/T3nFeNASsAI/AAAAAAAAAgU/8syvC39OBOI/s320/P1070826.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NEcfLUmOfK4/T3nFme2KJeI/AAAAAAAAAgc/4jjPs-326Tw/s1600/P1070828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NEcfLUmOfK4/T3nFme2KJeI/AAAAAAAAAgc/4jjPs-326Tw/s320/P1070828.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
And as humble and unobtrusive as Joe has been over the years, Josephine has been an entirely different character all together. She started her intrusion into my life right from the get go. If you have the interest, you can read up on how she (<a href="http://abcsofra.blogspot.com/2011/06/my-new-ra-story.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">My New RA Story</span></a>) actually introduced me to ra. Damn her anyway!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AcrJP_wqT78/T3nHjqqqeoI/AAAAAAAAAgk/0Ss18er41oI/s1600/P1070843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AcrJP_wqT78/T3nHjqqqeoI/AAAAAAAAAgk/0Ss18er41oI/s320/P1070843.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Drum roll please.....<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b8kajsyDdwc/T3nH3MCYUMI/AAAAAAAAAgs/J4xWtrM1Gmw/s1600/P1070821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b8kajsyDdwc/T3nH3MCYUMI/AAAAAAAAAgs/J4xWtrM1Gmw/s320/P1070821.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
And least we not neglect the distol family member....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wfpFGuKiS_Q/T3nIMM5FgCI/AAAAAAAAAg0/-e23JWJc1Pw/s1600/P1070839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wfpFGuKiS_Q/T3nIMM5FgCI/AAAAAAAAAg0/-e23JWJc1Pw/s320/P1070839.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Most rheumatologists look for the "traditional" signs of ra. One being, swelling in joints that are symmetrical (meaning the same joint on each side of the body). There are many other symptoms of ra and for a better understanding of this disease, you can read <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001467/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Pub Med Health</span></a> or research it online.<br />
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But as Murphy's law would have it, my joints were lopsided and showed ra primarily on the right side of my body. It was only because, at that time, I had a wonderful general practitioner who immediately honed in on the problem and ordered the correct tests which proved positive. For this I am very grateful. I can't tell you the hundreds of people that take years and years to get a definitive diagnoses and suffer in the meantime.<br />
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Early on I did do lots of things to ease the pain of my finger joints including: hot and cold compresses, paraffin wax baths, and hand splints to help stabilize the joints. Today I lean more towards only icing them and splints which I use quite often now.<br />
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Hmmmmm....have you ever had surgery you may be asking? Well, no not really. But, I will admit right from the get go that early on and to this day, I have been offered a myriad of surgeries. My motto with that scenario is....If it ain't broke, don't fix it. I know, I know! Alot of you will be yelling that your surgery helped you. We are all individuals, our health is individual and what works for one may or may not work for another. And in my particular case, my ortho doc did say that the surgeries would not stop the ra damage. So why bother is how I felt and still feel.<br />
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Now, don't mistake me. If my fingers get to the point that they stop working, you can rest assured I will then consider surgery. So far, although they move painfully most often, they still keep moving. <br />
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And have I had to make adjustments? You bet! I have to modify just about every single thing I do every single moment of every single day. In fact, that is why I started this blog. To share how I modified things in the hopes to help others. Why reinvent the wheel I always say.<br />
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So, I hope you have enjoyed meeting my often pain in the....errr...ummmm....joint family! And until our next meet up at the joint....Moomee has a few departing words.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PiahJZhPmwQ/T3nMBWNlDDI/AAAAAAAAAg8/YVTuYctvNMM/s1600/P1070834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PiahJZhPmwQ/T3nMBWNlDDI/AAAAAAAAAg8/YVTuYctvNMM/s320/P1070834.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Lookz atz myz prettyz joint! Prettyz jointz! Andz noz inflammationz eitherz. Thatz whyz catz rulez!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2EeqSrohlKA/T3nMS45Ad-I/AAAAAAAAAhE/AjYJeoE5pUE/s1600/P1070833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2EeqSrohlKA/T3nMS45Ad-I/AAAAAAAAAhE/AjYJeoE5pUE/s320/P1070833.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Yezzzz...I knowz...I knowz! Butz likez I sayz....Iz aintz goingz onz noz dietz! Henceforthz, thatz lumpz iz a jointz! Hearz mez?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Helpful hint: To remove permanent magic marker from skin, use rubbing alcohol. Works every time! Can you tell I was once a mother of teenage children...snicker...snicker.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div></div>Pull up your stool for more in the joint:<br />
<a href="http://abcsofra.blogspot.com/2012/03/in-joint.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">In the Joint</span></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dtCJheXNHRc/T3tohqSjPDI/AAAAAAAAAhM/yJhvLqEGnyc/s1600/Surface.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dtCJheXNHRc/T3tohqSjPDI/AAAAAAAAAhM/yJhvLqEGnyc/s320/Surface.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>Deb aka AbcsOfrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12619087592028571941noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148674654584849237.post-80883987843181092552012-03-31T10:37:00.000-07:002012-03-31T10:37:09.412-07:00Spring has sprung!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pde0BJu8amI/T3GPOEfZrcI/AAAAAAAAAfs/BJOeUtVDJ-A/s1600/P1070570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pde0BJu8amI/T3GPOEfZrcI/AAAAAAAAAfs/BJOeUtVDJ-A/s400/P1070570.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>The pollen is everywhere here! In the air, on the ground, in one's hair and up one's nose. I am hoping that we will get some rain to wash away this particular batch. And along with the deluge of pollen has come the humble bumblebee. Bumblebees are here where I live and I am happy to see this important creature.<br />
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I know that my winged friend has been under attack these past few years. Science isn't exactly sure what or why the bumblebee is having such problems but for whatever reason, they have been fading off.<br />
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I really believe that the bumblebee can teach us alot about ourselves. To me the delicate intricacies of this creature reminds me of the intricacies of our immune systems. Science isn't 100% sure if this decline is due to environmental factors, disease impact, or perhaps even a change in the very DNA of this creature.<br />
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It all sounds so familiar to me personally. I have read very similar stories about what may trigger autoimmune illnesses: environmental factors, an illness that sets the autoimmune system to permanently continue to fire off inflammatory warriors, or perhaps it is already built into the DNA of our existence.<br />
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And so I watch with amazement, awe and a alot of pride the journey of my comrade. Yes, we have much more in common then I would have ever thought. We are both fighting for our lives!<br />
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More reading on spring things:<br />
<a href="http://abcsofra.blogspot.com/2011/06/my-ra-garden.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">My RA Garden</span></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Deb aka AbcsOfrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12619087592028571941noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148674654584849237.post-83829017629129478612012-03-24T08:28:00.001-07:002012-03-24T08:29:53.104-07:00In the jointIn my heyday joint stirred up lots of images: being locked up in jail, using the toilet, and yes of course...the long weed thing that one could illegally smoke.<br />
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I am surely dating myself with this information but I am proud to be who I am. I look forward to growing older and wiser....wiser being the main focus of my thoughts hence forward.<br />
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This post and hopefully more in the future will focus on my joints. Those bony things that ra just loves to devour at times. I think it is important to share my joints because often I wonder if I am alone in this ever continuous attack on my body and in particular on my joints and now tendons. And, I remember early on wanting to have comparisons to look at when I was traveling this ra road. It is true that we know many search engines that can pull up pictures but I have yet to find any resource that details one person's joints from head to toe with ra. This is my intent.<br />
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And so here goes....<br />
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This little joint is not suppose to be attacked by ra. Ummmmm....I differ in this opinion. First of all it has been attacked since the onset of my illness and second, this particular joint has been given a fancy name for its battle which is supposedly non ra related.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8xt42o8LsdU/T2yQRe4I_wI/AAAAAAAAAfc/lWOOpefKRFA/s1600/P1070707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8xt42o8LsdU/T2yQRe4I_wI/AAAAAAAAAfc/lWOOpefKRFA/s320/P1070707.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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The joint I am referring to is the distal interphalangeal joint. Whewww...what a mouthful :-) This particular little happy camper is located on my right pointer finger (I am so technical). The <a href="http://www.assh.org/Public/HandAnatomy/Pages/default.aspx#bones&joints">ASSH </a>(American Society for Surgery of the Hand) site is a source I recommend you can use with if you plan on having ANY hand surgery at all!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ACZwJ4vpIPU/T2yH02OEcmI/AAAAAAAAAfU/APopNGhYNxc/s1600/Surface.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ACZwJ4vpIPU/T2yH02OEcmI/AAAAAAAAAfU/APopNGhYNxc/s320/Surface.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>And so this little joint has been battling this war for 14 plus years and has had a crown name of it's own. In fact, 8 of these joints out of 10 are in on the war. <a href="http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=20167">Medicine Net</a> describes this phenomenon quite nicely...<br />
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"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">A very common early sign of osteoarthritis is a knobby bony deformity at the smallest joint of the end of the fingers. This is referred to as a</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=6419" style="color: #0033cc; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline;">Heberden's node</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">, named after a very famous British doctor. The bony deformity is a result of the</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=98517" style="color: #0033cc; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline;">bone spurs</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">from the osteoarthritis in that joint. Another common bony knob (node) occurs at the middle joint of the fingers in many patients with osteoarthritis and is called a Bouchard's node. Dr. Bouchard was a famous French doctor who also studied arthritis patients at the turn of the last century. The Heberden's and Bouchard's nodes may not be painful, but they are often associated with limitation of motion of the joint. The characteristic appearances of these finger nodes can be helpful in diagnosing osteoarthritis."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have been blessed with both! Whohooo! And let me tell you, they are painful. I am doing the node dance right now. But I still beg to differ on exactly what these nodes are! In all scientific reports they are labeled under the term osteoarthritis. But I ask, why in the world would these appear in early onset ra? Could it be that so often ra is divided up into nice little compartments under other illnesses names? And perhaps, doesn't this then divert the exact cause of all these illnesses and thus the severity of damage ra can inflict? But alas, that is something that needs to be put into a book not on an itty bitty post here.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">But I will give my two cents of guess work here....perhaps because I was deficient in Vitamin D, this contributed to these nodes. Mmmmmm....Murphy's scientific data collection at work here. Common sense that is. Unfortunately vitamin d deficiency was not known until rather recently in autoimmune illnesses. And perhaps had I been tested much earlier in my disease activity, some of the impacts of ra might have been mitigated. Can't say for sure but is an interesting thought for me to ponder.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">And so I leave this post with one thought for you...Have I had my vitamin D and calcium levels tested lately? If not, please do so. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">Further Reading:</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://abcsofra.blogspot.com/2011/06/vitamin-d-and-ra.html">Vitamin D and RA</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sKB1sfvLpcA/T2yQfO4VLVI/AAAAAAAAAfk/JLybUtIFIdc/s1600/P1070711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sKB1sfvLpcA/T2yQfO4VLVI/AAAAAAAAAfk/JLybUtIFIdc/s320/P1070711.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">Iz dont'z carez whatz thatz doctorz sayz....Moomeez ain't gonnaz goes on noz dietz. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">mmmmmm....looks like sausages!</span></span></div>Deb aka AbcsOfrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12619087592028571941noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148674654584849237.post-78958774738737903102012-03-20T08:20:00.001-07:002012-03-20T12:29:25.566-07:00Liebster Blog Award...I am blushing<span class="Apple-style-span" style="clear: left; color: #003366; float: left; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="111" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b8orwnSItkw/T2Oi5pJ8CaI/AAAAAAAAAFw/zSsK91B80hk/s1600/LiebsterBlog.JPG" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0898438) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(230, 230, 230); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(230, 230, 230); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(230, 230, 230); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(230, 230, 230); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0898438) 1px 1px 5px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px; position: relative;" width="321" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">I am doing the I won dance! I have been awarded the Liebster Blog award by <a href="http://makethislookawesome.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Make This Look Awesome</span></a> by Pamela Curtis. She suffers with<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Autoimmune hypophysitis and does a fantastic job of chronicling her illnesses and the ups and downs of living with chronic diseases. In her case it is very tricky as her particular primary autoimmune disorder plays havoc with the endocrine system which regulates just about everything. This chronic autoimmune disease </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">attacks your pituitaryy and can have devastating effects on many areas of the body including horrific pain at times. Her strength, courage and determination have inspired me.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">In taking a clip from her own words, "</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">I've had a lot of really scary experiences in dealing with my chronic illness. I battled MRSA for a year following a surgery. I've experience chronic levels of pain most people don't even know exist. I've beaten the odd many, many times over. And I'd be lying if I said I came through it unchanged in who I was."</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">This award is bestowed to bloggers who inspire you and have less than 200 followers. As Pamela explains, "the Liebster Award takes its name from the German word meaning ‘Beloved, Dearest or Favorite’." Thank you Pamela for honoring me in this way!<br />
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And so now, it is my turn to honor those bloggers that have become part of my online family and that I have enjoyed reading and getting to know. As part of this tradition, I pass the Liebster wand to them in recognition of their contribution to our online health community (family) and for their courage and strength to continue on.<br />
To accept the award you should:<br />
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1. Link back to the person who gave it to you and thank them.<br />
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2. Post the award to your blog.<br />
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3. Give the award to 5 bloggers with less than 200 followers that you appreciate and value.<br />
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4. Leave a comment on the 5 blogs to let them know that they have been offered this award.<br />
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I am happy to nominate the following bloggers (part of my online family) for this award and to recognize all that they do to inspire and contribute to the online health community.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://lydaclark.blogspot.com/">I Don't Know...It's A Mystery</a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Lyda is a "20-something girl who grew up with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Now I'm married, we have two kitty children and I get myself into all sorts of shenanigans. This blog is about those shenanigans". She is also trying the Paleo diet currently to improve her health. And oh, did I mention, she is living in Hawaii and I can vicariously visit there daily through her lovely blog...pictures included. And she shares some yummy recipes as well :-)</span></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://youdontlooksick-livingwithra.blogspot.com/">You Don't Look Sick-Living With Rheumatoid Arthritis</a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">In her blog, Adrienne chronicles her life with ra and what goes along with it. Her blog is "a place of education, advocacy, storytelling and humor". I have no doubt I enjoy her blog so much because we see eye to eye on many things including that humor is the best medicine.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><a href="http://theadventuresofarthritisnfibromyalgia.wordpress.com/">Adventures in Chronic Illness</a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">This blog details the practical and often sometimes emotional part of living with chronic illness and in particular ra and fibromyalgia but almost all of her blog posts will help anyone with any chronic illness. She says it best...</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">"Like many of you, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia have touched my life. They have changed my life and they have made it crazy at times. When I look in the mirror, I don’t see the same person I saw four years ago. I have changed in more ways that I could have ever imaged before chronic illness came into my life.</span></span><br />
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<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.154em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What I am is a mother, a legal assistant, a health blogger, and patient advocate. What I am not is superhuman. I am here to give an honest view on live with RA and FM from my perspective. If it helps just one person, I have done more than I thought I could."</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.154em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You have helped many more then just one!</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.154em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://ra-readyforaction.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">RA Ready For Action</span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">Jan writes soulfully about her day to day trials with ra. As she explains it...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">"In May 2011, I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, after six months of suffering from joint pain and fatigue with no known reason. It seems best to put thoughts, information, and my complaining on a different blog than one supposedly dedicated to my yearning for God." </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Personally I think God knew exactly what he was doing when he sent you online with your ra Jan. You have been not only a personal inspiration but you have brought a light into the often dark ra world for I am sure many more then just me.</span></span><br />
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<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.154em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://midnightflier.blogspot.com/">Dual Sport Life</a></span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.154em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">On this blog, we are constantly transported away via a motorcycle and Tharr's escapades on his good days with ra. Besides working a full time job, having a family, Tharr still has the energy to take to the trails. I love his inspiration and determination to recapture everything that ra might have taken away from him. He has learned to adapt, medicate when necessary, and above all ride on into life. For this I admire him and I love to ride along with him. I am by no means a motorcyclist myself but I still enjoy the ride and gain knowledge and power through his blog! Ride on Tharr...ride on!</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.154em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">I hope by sharing some of my favorite blogs, you too will begin to enjoy all that these bloggers are and all that they do for our online community. Hats off to all of you that continue to blog daily and share your world online!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">I need to beat myself with a wet noodle...I almost forgot one of my most favorite bloggers...</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://livingwithra-nan.blogspot.com/">Living with RA</a></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Nan has been there so consistent and writes with such feeling and knowledge about chronic illness. Yes, I know that this makes six but oh well, no one said you can't do more :-) Besides, I tend to break the rules. Nan deserves this award and of course I just had to add her. I have no doubt that if you peek in on her blog, you too will grow to love her blog as I do. </span></span></div>Deb aka AbcsOfrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12619087592028571941noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148674654584849237.post-85896448970002896942012-03-10T13:06:00.000-08:002012-03-10T13:06:37.932-08:00Decisions...<div style="color: #444444; font: 13.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 13.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R9NxM8uqEWY/Tz0RXXPdgHI/AAAAAAAAAc0/FLG0QH-_LO8/s1600/ry=400.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R9NxM8uqEWY/Tz0RXXPdgHI/AAAAAAAAAc0/FLG0QH-_LO8/s320/ry=400.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>There are so many decisions in life that have to be made and when one has a chronic disease like rheumatoid arthritis, the decisions begin to mount up all too quickly. And often these decisions can come with consequences that no matter how hard we try to determine them, they are like fleeting shadows that we just can't see or get a hold on.</div><div style="color: #444444; font: 13.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 13.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;">I have two children. One is thirty and one is twenty. When I was in my twenties and thirties I was fortunate. I didn't have ra. I didn't even know that ra existed. We had no relatives that were infected with this disease. I had no clue. I was first diagnosed when I was 42. My children were already born, I was well into parenthood and enjoying it immensely.</div><div style="color: #444444; font: 13.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 13.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Recently both of my children are showing signs of a chronic inflammatory disease. It may not be ra but I know those sneaky relatives love to come in and take over lives. The genes have been put into place, the dna turned on somehow, their fate sealed. It breaks my heart just thinking of this possibility and it angers me too. I had no clue! I had no way of knowing I would pass on a set of possibilities if I didn't know I was carrying the detonator inside my DNA!</div><div style="color: #444444; font: 13.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 13.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Decisions. Always decisions to be made. I often ask myself now if I would have allowed myself to conceive if I had known I was carrying this broken DNA. Would I have knowingly brought children into this world with the <i>possibility</i> of inflicting them with the pain and yes suffering I have endured. This is such a personal decision and I know of many ra patients that are actively seeking to get pregnant. I pass no judgement in this post as all decisions are personal ones and ones that we all contemplate long and hard. We search our souls deep, we question the medical knowledge out there, we turn over the decision like we are looking at a precious polished pebble. We make that decision carefully and toss the pebble. The ripples begin…</div></div><div style="color: #444444; font: 13.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 13.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;">I love my children without question. I have had such a rich life, such a meaningful life because of them. In my case the decision will always linger in my mind and often in my torn heart like a wisp of smoke. Something I was not given the choice to make, something that I can't quite grasp, something that slowly fills my soul with trepidation and sadness.</div><div style="color: #444444; font: 13.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 13.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;">Decisions…. </div><div style="color: #444444; font: 13.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 13.0px 0.0px; min-height: 16.0px; text-align: justify;"></div>Deb aka AbcsOfrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12619087592028571941noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148674654584849237.post-75147646398716290692012-03-04T08:00:00.000-08:002012-03-04T08:00:53.249-08:00A Cat's View<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VCkVQ4vmtD4/T1OOhTv6nzI/AAAAAAAAAe0/i2FKdpuzIe0/s1600/ry=480-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VCkVQ4vmtD4/T1OOhTv6nzI/AAAAAAAAAe0/i2FKdpuzIe0/s320/ry=480-1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A humurous tribute to our two furballs Mango and Moomee...sisters!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x7FpbId86A4/T1ONqDNvkgI/AAAAAAAAAes/9anb_gEGx1o/s1600/ry=480.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x7FpbId86A4/T1ONqDNvkgI/AAAAAAAAAes/9anb_gEGx1o/s320/ry=480.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Iz controllinz yourz brainz....feedz me...feedz me!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-15WQ_8skZXs/T1OGBuNFOnI/AAAAAAAAAdk/jbYQ3Aoyh3g/s1600/ry=400.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-15WQ_8skZXs/T1OGBuNFOnI/AAAAAAAAAdk/jbYQ3Aoyh3g/s320/ry=400.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Youz finally up...aboutz time!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H3WgLIBYoO0/T1OGIO6glhI/AAAAAAAAAds/kBSDE5EEgRI/s1600/ry=400-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H3WgLIBYoO0/T1OGIO6glhI/AAAAAAAAAds/kBSDE5EEgRI/s320/ry=400-1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My turnz nowz.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6RZ6gizxZmQ/T1OG0qMC2zI/AAAAAAAAAd0/4GBD_NsdhYQ/s1600/ry=480.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6RZ6gizxZmQ/T1OG0qMC2zI/AAAAAAAAAd0/4GBD_NsdhYQ/s320/ry=480.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Iz ahere to helpz youz with thatz ebayz listingz...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hdyZhRssxUQ/T1OG5psti_I/AAAAAAAAAd8/wnQjkG-mafQ/s1600/ry=480-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hdyZhRssxUQ/T1OG5psti_I/AAAAAAAAAd8/wnQjkG-mafQ/s320/ry=480-1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cat for salez...startingz auction...25 kittyz treatz perz days.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IAzAIPYoYTQ/T1OHs3Mgs-I/AAAAAAAAAeE/9YlyBjAomlc/s1600/ry=480.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IAzAIPYoYTQ/T1OHs3Mgs-I/AAAAAAAAAeE/9YlyBjAomlc/s320/ry=480.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Iz heardz that Moomeez...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-43_AGpPUfeE/T1OH4AnGkvI/AAAAAAAAAeM/-9Z5sOHcgCA/s1600/ry=480-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-43_AGpPUfeE/T1OH4AnGkvI/AAAAAAAAAeM/-9Z5sOHcgCA/s320/ry=480-1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Iz ain't for salez....Mangoz haz pridez ya knowz! Fifty at least!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H9GlR6ejgWc/T1OMMZA09sI/AAAAAAAAAeU/KX38TZaZCsk/s1600/ry=480.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H9GlR6ejgWc/T1OMMZA09sI/AAAAAAAAAeU/KX38TZaZCsk/s320/ry=480.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Whatz! No wayz! I amz not doingz that song...Singinz Inz the Rainz!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--0vHLdsDnug/T1OMlZwOkbI/AAAAAAAAAec/WK4vzxwZ9Ck/s1600/ry=480.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--0vHLdsDnug/T1OMlZwOkbI/AAAAAAAAAec/WK4vzxwZ9Ck/s320/ry=480.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Diz herez iz a mathmaticalz puzzles to keepz yourz brainz active :-)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8qKUm3c5cQg/T1ONUxkF1oI/AAAAAAAAAek/_k-AT4sS6gU/s1600/ry=480.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8qKUm3c5cQg/T1ONUxkF1oI/AAAAAAAAAek/_k-AT4sS6gU/s320/ry=480.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Iz dunz nowz....nappyz timez. Turnz the lightz out onz the wayz out!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">More Moomee and Mango shenanigans:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://abcsofra.blogspot.com/2012/01/how-cats-are-like-ra.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">How Cats are Like RA</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://abcsofra.blogspot.com/2011/10/my-happy-tool-kita-new-purrspective.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">My Happy Toolkit...A New Purrspective</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Deb aka AbcsOfrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12619087592028571941noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148674654584849237.post-3762242271103665492012-02-26T13:34:00.000-08:002012-02-26T13:34:28.233-08:00Round and round she goes.....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t7qak4LrxnM/T0ZqhVdgrZI/AAAAAAAAAdc/8tBvi3aq4jI/s1600/ry=480.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t7qak4LrxnM/T0ZqhVdgrZI/AAAAAAAAAdc/8tBvi3aq4jI/s400/ry=480.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>There are times when I swear I am on a carousel going round and round and round. This week has been one of those times. It seems that it is the same thing over and over and over. I get up in the morning, take my meds, wait about an hour for them to kick in and boost me on my slow way to the kitchen, start the coffee process, watch the news for a bit while the coffee makes, prepare a bowl of oatmeal with honey and cinnamon, pour the coffee, and finish watching the news.<br />
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I round the carousel corner by getting dressed, checking my emails and blog, and then deciding what one or two things I may be able to accomplish given my pain levels for the day. If I choose laundry then that is pretty much it for the day. If I choose to clean my bathroom I know this will put me out of commission for days on end. If I decide on vacuuming I might as well have decided to fall off a cliff (the dust bunnies just keep growing and multiplying in my home). If I decide to focus on my health and venture out for that round the block walking trip, I then need to rest but yet again when I arrive home.<br />
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Round and round she goes, where she will wind up nobody knows. I suppose the tedious monotony of it all is what is making me nauseous of late. I want things to be just a bit more normal. Say, could I at least have the option of doing my one load of laundry and taking a walk? Or perhaps, am I asking too much, be able to vacuum and not have my hands, wrists and elbows feel like they are dislocated? <br />
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Can someone please contact the ride operator and let them know it is time for me to get off. I am tired of riding this ra ride and would like a reprieve now. I am tired of the same old, same old with the side effects of the medications available and the possible long term implications on my health if I decide to venture down a new med road again. I am just tired.<br />
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Ironically, since my car was stolen and taken for a joy ride, I look at her with new found respect. She has been mechanically fixed and runs just fine but her body still has patches which shows the abuse. Once we finalize her with a brand new paint job, no one will know. Her secrets will be hidden below her new paint job and she can once again zip around with pride. How come I can't get patched up like that? How come we have to wear our battle scars permanently with this disease? And how come we can not return to our old selves? Our remake is constant and never ending. We must ALWAYS be under reconstruction either by taking meds, getting surgeries or trying our darndest to just maintain what is left.<br />
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Yep, I am ready to stop riding this merry-go-round. Can someone please notify the operator to let me off?<br />
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This way I can find me a human repair shop whereby I can trade in my body parts for new ones and spray on a new set of skin.Deb aka AbcsOfrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12619087592028571941noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148674654584849237.post-6817211777436441942012-02-20T12:21:00.000-08:002012-02-20T12:21:06.036-08:00A Little Extra Cash<div style="color: #444444; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Verdana; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BGB70OK0JxQ/Tz7CRTaI2RI/AAAAAAAAAc8/r-lkYcXHTYE/s1600/P1040621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BGB70OK0JxQ/Tz7CRTaI2RI/AAAAAAAAAc8/r-lkYcXHTYE/s320/P1040621.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>You will not get rich by trying any of these ideas but you may uncover a little extra cash in the process. Chronic illness not only sucks us emotionally and physically dry but it also can steal every single penny we may own. When and if you ever have the energy to fight back, here are a few ideas on unearthing a few dollars:</div><div style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Verdana; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">* Have a yard sale. I have already written on how to have an </span><a href="http://abcsofra.blogspot.com/2011/10/coffee-and-abcss-of-ra-yardsale.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">ra yard sale</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"> and I would suggest you read this post if having one is a possibility for you.</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Verdana; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">* If you are lucky enough to have some high end fashions such as purses, you may want to try selling them. I had some luck with this website but I am pretty sure there might be other ones out there. This one handled (<a href="http://www.bagborroworsteal.com/sell-handbags/landing?gclid=CJuS8Lm1o64CFU2b7QodLxOLRA">http://www.bagborroworsteal.com/sell-handbags/landing?gclid=CJuS8Lm1o64CFU2b7QodLxOLRA</a>) my one and only transaction very professionally. I tend to have no name purses and such but was given one as a gift many moons ago. </div><div style="color: #444444; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Verdana; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">* Check in every single state you have ever lived to see if you have any unclaimed money. This is no joke and no gimmick. Recently I found another $100 under my hubby's name a few months ago. I check these websites every year as we have moved a lot. Try <a href="http://unclaimed.org/">unclaimed.org</a> and <a href="http://www.MissingMoney.com/">www.MissingMoney.com</a></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Verdana; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">* Extra cash can come in many forms and one form is if you can qualify for any government programs that you may not be aware exists. You can start at this website: </span><a href="http://www.benefits.gov/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">http://www.benefits.gov</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"> but if I were you, I would also do a google search with your specific state (or country if you don't live in the US) to see what other services or programs may be available to you from your state government.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Verdana; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">* Sell some of your clothing that is in good shape or put it on consignment at a local consignment shop. I have personally sold clothes to </span><a href="http://www.platoscloset.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">http://www.platoscloset.com</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"> (more for the younger set) and they are located now in many states. Their sister store which caters to only women also buys clothes as well </span><a href="http://www.clothesmentor.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Close Mentor</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"> and I have also had luck selling to them as well. You can easily check the yellow pages in your area or do a google search to get a list of consignment shops in your area. And don't forget about selling your children's items and household items as well.</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Verdana; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">* Ebay….oh ebay! Yes, ebay can actually generate a little extra cash and you will be surprised at what does sell on ebay. Before you plunge in, I would suggest you get familiar with ebay and how to do searches, open an account and a paypal account as well. <a href="http://Ebay.com/">Ebay.com</a> has lots of information for you to read before you take the ebay plunge. You will also need a digital camera to take pictures of your treasures. The biggest drawback I have found with ebay is boxing things up. I have a great deal of damage to my hands and that process is a killer for me. Oh family…oh family!<br />
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</div><div style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Verdana; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wVN3hv_mTJo/Tz7DILYK_rI/AAAAAAAAAdM/uXLf0dQhX9E/s1600/P1050617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wVN3hv_mTJo/Tz7DILYK_rI/AAAAAAAAAdM/uXLf0dQhX9E/s320/P1050617.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">* If you have any prescriptions (ok I know you are rolling your eyes at me exclaiming…..like who doesn't have scripts with ra) be sure you price shop for ALL your prescriptions. And if you don't have insurance…this should be mandatory for you to do! This process is quite simple actually. Even if you have drug coverage (I have a Part D prescription plan) you still should price around. I would try some large box stores such as Walmart and Target and do try Cosco and Sam's. You do not need a membership with Cosco and I have found them to be much cheaper with brand medicines then anywhere else. A lot of brand medications are not covered under Part D plans and I unfortunately must have one brand medicine for my thyroid. You should gather all your prescription bottles that you currently still use, know what you currently pay for each prescription out of pocket, and start calling around. Ask for the pharmacist and explain what you are doing. In some cases you can a big reduction on your med costs but you will need to spend around $30 a year to get a drug prescription card from some pharmacies. We have been paying Walgreens around $30 per year because they are the only ones that carry this one specific generic medication that I take and that I am not allergic to. I save a big amount of money by buying this $30 plan from them…and I mean a big amount of money monthly. And as much as I would love to get all my scripts from one location, I save hundreds monthly by buying from three different locations. Complicated…not really when it saves me so much money. And keep in mind that I do have a mandatory Part D Plan. And if you are completely without insurance, do check out my previous post on </span><a href="http://abcsofra.blogspot.com/2011/07/where-to-get-help-with-medication-costs.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">where to get help with medication costs</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">.</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Verdana; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5kF0pqJG1oA/Tz7Dms0bkpI/AAAAAAAAAdU/Os-eo7ArOpc/s1600/P1070194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5kF0pqJG1oA/Tz7Dms0bkpI/AAAAAAAAAdU/Os-eo7ArOpc/s320/P1070194.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>* If you take vitamins as I do, keep your eyes peeled for buy one get one free sales. A lot of the drugstores have these sales and that is the time to scoop up the vitamins you take. And do search for coupons online or in your Sunday paper as well. You can save a lot of money with coupons when things are on sale and you also can apply a coupon. We tend to eat healthy here and organic so coupons are very hard to find. A little secret I am telling….email the manufacturers (check online for their website and you can usually do it through that) and tell them how much you love their product, how long you have been a customer, etc. etc. We have often got coupons sent to us in the mail by doing this and for those hard to find coupons (such as stuff at health food stores), this is a good way to go for coupons. And please always and I mean ALWAYS do a search for a coupon or coupon code (if you buy online) before you buy anything. There are coupons and coupon codes for just about every website out there and every store or item as well. I also always search for coupons for restaurants, theaters….for just about everything before I buy it. A penny saved is a penny earned and I can use every penny I can get!</div><div style="color: #444444; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Verdana; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">* Sign up for <a href="http://ebates.com/">ebates.com</a>. This website will give you cash back into an account that you can redeem after you have reached $25 for everything you buy through them. Different stores offer different % back but the cash accumulates rather quickly if you shop online at all. It is well worth signing up for to earn some extra cash. Just remember to go there first before you start the purchase. And so far the only website that I have found that I use that does not have % back is amazon. </div><div style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Verdana; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">* You may consider signing up to do surveys online. I have been using </span><a href="http://globaltestmarket.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Global Test Market</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"> for some time now. I can not attest to any of the other ones out there personally. No, you won't get rich by any means but you can earn a few dollars here and there. It does take some time to start getting surveys that you may qualify for but if you are disabled, every little bit helps.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Verdana; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">* If you have children or even grandchildren, you can sign up at </span><a href="http://upromise.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">upromise.com</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"> to start saving for their college. I did this years ago for my daughter and in the end wound up with a few hundred dollars towards her college. And the more family and friends you get to sign up for you child, the faster the cash grows. You have to register your credit cards, grocery store cards and such there but it is worth it in my book. </span><br />
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</div><div style="color: #444444;">Well that about sums up my two cents for today. If you have any ways that you use to earn a little extra cash, I for one would truly appreciate you sharing it. I am always looking for new ways to add to my piggy bank.</div><div><div style="color: #444444;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #444444;">Other areas that have ideas on how to generate some extra cash:</div><div style="color: #444444;">Note: I have not tested these ideas myself...</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">cnn.com - </span><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/worklife/05/18/cb.earn.extra.money/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Ten Creative Ways to Earn Extra Money</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.101waystomakemoney.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">101 Ways To Make Money</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.dailyfinance.com/photos/25-ways-to-make-quick-money/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">25 Ways To Make Quick Money</span></a><br />
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</div></div>Deb aka AbcsOfrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12619087592028571941noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148674654584849237.post-88036015881447569512012-02-14T10:18:00.000-08:002012-02-14T10:18:13.867-08:00Celebrate Valentine's Day by Loving Your Hands...then proclaim why!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cpiMK_Zz9LU/Tzqk1A3OiTI/AAAAAAAAAcc/RsZuqmBnPz0/s1600/158088_248276155240251_716286836_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cpiMK_Zz9LU/Tzqk1A3OiTI/AAAAAAAAAcc/RsZuqmBnPz0/s200/158088_248276155240251_716286836_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
Show Us Your Hands! an inflammatory arthritis community project has announced a new project. Celebrate the Love of Your Hands by submitting your story for possible publication.<br />
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<h1 class="titlepage" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #555555; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 24px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -1px; line-height: 36px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 3px;">Show Us Your Hands! Launches Photo Book Project to Help Raise Awareness of Inflammatory Arthritis</h1><div style="color: #202020; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">(February 14, 2012) -<em style="font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </em>Show Us Your Hands! is pleased to announce its Photo Book Project, the latest in a series of successful initiatives aimed at uniting the community of individuals who are living with inflammatory arthritis, and increasing the public’s awareness of this group of diseases. This photo book will showcase both the hands and the stories of people from around the world who are proud of the fact that no matter how much pain and damage their hands have incurred, their hands still work, and their hands still do.</div><div style="color: #202020; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">Starting today, Show Us Your Hands! invites individuals who wish to be included in this photo book to submit a brief explanation of what their hands do, and why their hands are special. A Call For Submissions form is available online at <a href="http://www.showusyourhands.com/about/news-releases/photo-book-project" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #777777; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;">www.showusyourhands.com/photo-book-project</a>. The deadline for entries is March 2, 2012. Individuals who are selected for inclusion in this photo book will be notified in mid-March.</div><div style="color: #202020; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">For the full story....<a href="http://www.showusyourhands.com/about/news-releases/show-us-your-hands-launches-photo-book-project-to-help-raise-awareness-of-inflammatory-arthritis/">http://www.showusyourhands.com/about/news-releases/show-us-your-hands-launches-photo-book-project-to-help-raise-awareness-of-inflammatory-arthritis/</a></div>Deb aka AbcsOfrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12619087592028571941noreply@blogger.com4