Everything but the Kitchen Sink!

I have so many interesting tid bits of things I come across all the time that I decided I am going to create a reoccurring blog post entitled: Everything but the Kitchen Sink!  This way I can put all my tidbits into this area and share them with you all in one post rather than try to post them hither and yonder.

And as you might expect, you will find a mish mosh of all kinds of things that I just want to share.

So here goes...

A facebook friend, Jackie Pardoe had this on her home page and I found it fascinating. It is an instructional video on no dig gardening. To me it was great for a number of reasons but the first being I don't have to dig to make a garden and I can pretty much do this anywhere including on top of pre-existing grass.

Next up is something I have been considering but unfortunately since I have severe allergies to many antibiotics, I am a little hesitant. It is called antibiotic protocol for autoimmune illnesses. I do know that this process takes up to two years and that you would need to find a doctor that is familiar with this protocol should you be interested in pursuing this type of treatment for your ra.  I have never tried this treatment myself but do know one ra lady currently trying this therapy for her ra.

Welcome to The Road Back Foundation

You have reached a unique resource. The Road Back Foundation's (RBF) Website includes information and support regarding an important and often overlooked treatment option for rheumatic and related diseases. The particular focus here is antibiotic therapy, proven safe and effective in NIH-sponsored clinical trials.  Thousands of patients have reported successfully using antibiotics for conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, dermatomyositis, ankylosing spondylitis, Lyme disease, Reiter's syndrome, mixed connective tissue disease, fibromyalgia and psoriatic arthritis.  Results of an international survey of patients documented dramatic results including relief of pain, the lessening of swollen joints and an overall successful return of  quality of life.*

Next is a topic that I know is near and dear to several bloggers, the anti-inflammatory diet:

Anti-Inflammatory Diet & Pyramid  Print this page |  Send to a friend |  Sign up for free e-bulletins

1.4KShare Anti-Inflammatory Diet Tips Courtesy of Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging It is becoming increasingly clear that chronic inflammation is the root cause of many serious illnesses - including heart disease, many cancers, andAlzheimer's disease. We all know inflammation on the surface of the body as local redness, heat, swelling and pain. It is the cornerstone of the body's healing response, bringing more nourishment and more immune activity to a site of injury or infection. But when inflammation persists or serves no purpose, it damages the body and causes illness. Stress, lack of exercise, genetic predisposition, and exposure to toxins (like secondhand tobacco smoke) can all contribute to such chronic inflammation, but dietary choices play a big role as well. Learning how specific foods influence the inflammatory process is the best strategy for containing it and reducing long-term disease risks. (Find more details on the mechanics of the inflammation process and the Anti-Inflammatory Food Pyramid.)

And last for this month's feature is a website that I think we should all bookmark. It is a website that was given to me from a friend on facebook. It is entitled Adverse Drug Reporting. What I found fascinating about this website is that it lists all the adverse reports on medications world wide. I am NOT trying to scare anyone but I for one would like to know what others have experienced while taking some of the medications I have taken and could not continue. For one, it reassures me that I am not nuts and two, it allows me to research any prospective future medications should I be so inclined. You do with it what you want...

Patientville.com - Drug side effects reported by patients

Keeping my eyes crossed for a pain free week ahead for all of us!

The Pressure Cooker: ABC's of RA and barometric pressure

The weather is a changing and I know.  I would know if my eyes were closed, my ears blocked from hearing….my joints just seem to know. So as the weather here in southeastern NC begins to rumble and roll….my joints begin to ache. 

It is like a clock for me but one that I have yet to completely understand how to read.  I do know that when I lived in sunny southern California where the weather tends to be more stable, my joint pain didn't fluctuate as much. But this isn't to say that sunny California is a place we should all take up residency in.  

That is where I was first diagnosed with ra and where for 1 1/2 years straight my joints screamed constantly.  Oh well…so much for that theory.  But on the flip side, when I have visited California, I do notice my joints don't flip/flop with the weather as much. Could be a placebo effect but I do enjoy the reprieve when I get it.  My Mom always told me, "Never look a gift horse in the mouth." So I don't.  Could be because I always believed and wanted to reply but didn't, "Because she will bite you. Right?"

Medicine Net seemed to have the best overall review of this topic:

"First, there hasn't been much real research science. In 1961, a famous arthritis specialist, J. Hollander M.D., conducted a study in which he built a climate chamber and demonstrated that high humidity combined with low barometric pressure were associated with increased joint pain and stiffness. Neither weather factor by itself seemed to influence joint symptoms. The study has been criticized because of the limited number of patients evaluated (12 patients). The theory of the study is that inflamed joints swell as the barometric pressure drops. This swelling irritates the nerves around the joints that sense pain and causes more stiffness."

And looking out on the great Internet there isn't much more scientific research that has been done on this topic. So I am left to my own non-scientific evaluation to try and come up with what do I feel when the weather changes, particularly wet, hot, stormy weather.

Not very good is all I can say!

And from Medicine Net Directly:

"The bottom line is that while the exact cause(s) of the activation of arthritis symptoms may not yet be scientifically understood, each patient must make lifestyle and/or medication adjustments according to the particular weather conditions that they note influence their symptoms."

Does this mean I am due another vacation trip to check out my hypothesis?

Further reading if you are interested:

Full article on Medicine Net: Whether Weather Affects Arthritis

USA Today: Understanding Air Pressure

Barometric Map for the US

Barometric Map for Canada
Barometric Map for Europe
Barometric Map for South America

A perplexing problem...The Girls!

Not my ears but "my girls" sure do!!

Please enjoy the music as you read :-)

I have two of these, the girls is my nickname for them. They are rather large in size and currently are causing me a hefty problem...to say the least. Over the years I have been googled at due to the girls, whistled at too, and even jeered at by envious onlookers. Personally I would have gladly given "the girls" away.

Currently, the girls are causing me great problems. One because they are rather large and they are weighing on my achy ra ribs and back. And I have had one heck of a time trying to corral them also. They are forever out there roaming about freely like no ones business.  I really believe I should have to carry a weapon's license...I mean really they could do that much damage when they are flapping around.

Well, in any case, I am now trying to figure out what in the world can painlessly cage the girls. I have tried just about everything on the market out there and very few things have worked without causing great pain in my rib cage. By now, I am hoping you realize what I am talking about when I refer to "the girls". Call me old fashion or whatever but that is my name for "them".

So far, I have found through a dear friend's recommendation one bra that works great for the daytime. It comes in larger sizes too. And the most important thing to me is it doesn't have an under wire. Whoever came up with that invention should be tared and feathered and then forced to wear an under wire bra for the remainder of their days. Fair punishment in my ra book.

I have no doubt I have ra in my ribcage. But...even prior to my ra days, I was NOT one for under wire bras. They just cut off my circulation and I was a fit 130 lbs. back in dem dar days.

Anyway...back to taming "the girls".  What I am looking for would come in cotton, have NO under wire thank you very much, wider straps, and maybe...just maybe come in something more fashionable then white, beige or black. Yes, I have seen the nursing bras and I am considering trying one of those. But why? I am not nursing anything but sore ribs and shoulders. Why on this green earth can't someone design a comfortable bra for larger "girls" made out of cotton? Or maybe I will forever be left to wear my now (mind you it took me 13 years to find these...thank you Cathy for your recommendation) Playtex 18 hour exercise bras.

The girls are forcing me to harness them even in my sleep and it is for this reason I am looking for a cotton based pen for them.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Oh yeah...did I mention that "The girls" have graduated to a DD.