Home Community Newsletter Vol 1 Issue 20

Arthritis Insight Newsletter * Vol. 1 Issue 20 August 16, 2000

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Welcome to the 20th issue of the Arthritis Insight Newsletter. All back issues will be posted at /community/newsletter Feel free to pass this newsletter around to others who may be interested.

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The information in this newsletter should not take the place of advice and guidance from your own health-care providers. Material in this newsletter is provided for educational and informational purposes only. Be sure to check with your doctor before making any changes in your treatment plan. Information presented here is the opinion of the authors and has not necessarily been approved or endorsed by the medical advisors.

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Notes From Tina
tina@arthritisinsight.com

Hi! Hope everyone had a great week! I am halfway through my week of mini vacations and I am still alive. Sunday we did Sea World and left early Monday morning for Cedar Point. Came home last night and will leave Thursday morning for two days at a State Park. I did ride a few roller coasters, but did not try the new Millennium. The line was waaaaay too long for me! I walked the whole time, slowly, but I made it. I am just a bit sore this morning! Monday night while watching the laser show a mosquito bit my right eye! It swelled up and my new nickname is now "One Eyed Gimp." LOL LOL My niece couldn't look at me Monday night without cracking up.

At Sea World I saw the neatest cane. It was clear plastic?would match anything! The woman was in a wheelchair and was pushed by me so fast I didn't get a chance to ask her where she got it. Does anyone know who carries them?

They say that dogs and their owners begin to look like alike after a couple of years. That's certainly true with me and Madeline the Pig dog. Both pleasantly plump (I can blame the prednisone-she can't!) and we both limp. But how in the world did another gimp dog find me?? Thursday morning I answered the scratch at my door, expecting to find my cat, instead I found a little gimpy dog! She walked right into my house and hasn't left! So now "Cleopatra" is part of the Underwood zoo. Why me?

I'd like to take a minute to send our thoughts and sympathies to our friend and Arthritis Insight Advisor, Walt Hanks. Walt's mother passed away this weekend. Walt, we're thinking about you and your family.

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Ron's Ramblin's
ron@arthitisinsight.com

Did you ever stop to think how many friends you would have that really cared about you if you didn't have arthritis. It just struck me this morning that I have so many people that I can call friends because of this disease. Oh sure, before I came down with the arthritis, I had a lot of people that I ran around with. Go out and drink a beer, might even watch a ballgame. Or have them over for burgers or brats on the grill. But as I look back, one by one they distanced themselves from "the gimp". Now, as I look around, there are still a few people who are not afraid to remain friends. But to the rest of them, I must have some dreadfully contagious disease.

However, because of my need to find people who understood me and the disease and who could tolerate me even when I was down or hurting like heck, I probably have more people that I can count as true friends than I have ever had in my life. It is this group of people who will keep me going, and keep me focused on the good that lies ahead. It is this group of people who donate their time to answer questions on the message boards, in making new people feel welcome in the chat room, or even listen to me complain when things are not great. To each of you, I want to thank you for being a friend, not only to me but to each and every person who visits this site. Thank you for being you and for making this the best arthritis related site on the internet.

(((((((((((((((((HUGS TO ALL)))))))))))))))))))))

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Your Weekly Giggle

Two doctors opened offices in a small town and put up a sign reading "Dr. Smith and Dr. Jones, Psychiatry and Proctology." The town's fathers were not too happy with that sign, so they changed it to "Hysterias and Posteriors." This was not acceptable either, so they changed the sign to; "Schizoids and Hemorrhoids." No go, so they tried; "Catatonics and High Colonics." Thumbs down again, so they tried; "Manic-depressives and Anal-retentives." Still not good, so they tried; "Minds and Behinds." Unacceptable again, so they tried; "Lost Souls and Ass-holes." Still no go. Nor did the following work either; "Loons and Moons" "Analysis and Anal Cysts" "Nuts and Butts" "Freaks and Cheeks" so they finally settled on; "Dr. Smith and Dr. Jones Odds and Ends

Check out all the jokes at /fun/jokes/index.html. Send yours in today!

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Tina's Tips

Arthritis can affect your ability to do even the simplest of tasks. I've heard some people say, "Accept your limitations." I'm not sure accepting them is the way to go. I prefer to challenge those limitations, work around them, finding alternate ways of achieving the same goal. Every week I'll share some tips I've found to work around those annoying limitations and I hope all of you will send in your tips too. We may not be the next Martha Stewart, but sometimes the simplest things can help so much.

We have a reply to Chuck's shoelace inquiry: Chuck was asking about elastic laces in your newsletter have a catalog that has some says they fit 8 eyelet shoes come in 4 different colors here is the #in the book nc285-48for white. Here is the toll free #1 800-235-7054,also are on the internet and you can see the item www.ncmedical.com I have gotten quite a bit of stuff from here. Good luck to Chuck. -From Kuch

And a tip from Edine: I have hemostats. They come in several sizes with straight and curved ends. They pinch like tweezers, but stay clamped so you don't have to keep applying pressure. I use them to pull stubborn tapes on juice cans, & hold small items. They are easier & lighter than needle nose pliers.

Check out more tips at /living/tips.html and send in yours today to Tina@arthritisinsight.com

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What's New?

This week's Featured Discussion is Tips & Tricks to make life with arthritis easier. Check it out at /feature/tips

Advice for Better Living We're looking for some pain relief tips and personal experiences with Vioxx. Please share yours. /living/advice/

Expert Advice:
There are a few questions:

I would like to ask you about lupus. I am sorry to say I missed the discussion Monday night. My questions are: how can I safely lose weight, I am only 5 ft tall and I weight 210 lbs. and with the pain I already have with the lupus I know that being this overweight is not helping me at all. I just can't seem to loose no matter what I do. I also have thyroid problems . Also I have been having trouble remembering things and I get really frustrated at myself. Does this happen when you have lupus and does it get worse,at Christmas I got lost in the mall that I have been going to all my life I had a pantic attack because I couldn't find my way out of the mall, my children ask me questions or tell me something and an hour later(if that) I can't tell you what they talked to me about,I see on their faces how upset they get so I try to pretend I remembered only not to hurt them,I get really scared. And how do you know when lupus is in remission. Thank you for your time.

See our Expert answers to this and more questions at /medical/advice/

Question of the Week
We had a bunch of great responses to last week's question and posted a new question!
/community/question

Questions From Friends & Family
This week's question:

My wife gets upset when I try to help her do tasks I think she is struggling with. I am only trying to help and be supportive! Why does she get mad? Wow! Good question. So folks, what should people avoid saying to us? So, help us out! /living/family/questions/

Member Websites
Did you know that one of our members is a popular novelist? Check out her website!
/updates.html

Web Links
Somehow - we totally overlooked RA in the Link section - here's a list to get us started.
/resources/links/

To see all of our latest additions see: /updates.html. Check it every morning and you won't miss a thing.

What's Coming?

Our next Featured Discussion will be Disease Modifying Anti Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs) As with all Featured Discussion your input is what we build the topic on. Please fill out our survey. /feature/survey.html

What do you want to see on Arthritis Insight or in the Newsletter? Let us know and we'll do our best to accommodate!

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Arthritis Insight Chat /community/chat

Monday's chat with Amy Wright about Tips and Products to make life easier was very helpful. The transcript is posted at /community/chat/august14200.

On Monday August 21th Dr Barry Waters will be in our chatroom to talk about DMARDs (Disease Modifying Anti Rheumatic Drugs). Please join us at 9:30pm Eastern time.

The complete chat schedule can be found at /community/chat/schedule.html. We're still looking for a few good chat hosts! If you're interested in volunteering an hour a week, please let us know.

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Cooking With Char!

Hello! Hello! Well, another week has come and gone, and we are a week closer to school starting. And since time is short for families, with school activities and the like, people are looking for quick easy to prepare meals. Lets start with some old basics. I realize that everyone is not a whiz in the kitchen and these may be new to some and old family favorites for others. These recipes are for the culinary impaired among us, and you know who you are. LOL For those of you who are old hands in the kitchen, I apologize, and next week we will do something else. But today-------

Lets get to basics!
If you can brown in a skillet and boil water, you can do these next few recipes!

Tuna and Noodles
Boil a one whole package of pasta (noodles, macaroni, rotini, or even spaghetti. They all will work. Just use what you have.
When pasta is tender, drain and return to pan.
Add 1 can of cream of mushroom (or celery or chicken or whatever you have on hand)
Add a can of tuna (undrained)
Add as many frozen peas as you like (no need to cook them) I usually add 1/2 to 1 bag
I have even been known to throw in a little shredded cheddar cheese.
If you want to get a bit fancier or the family isn't ready to come to the table right this second, crumble a few potato chips on top and place in the oven until bubbly. You may want to add a little milk for moisture, to keep if from drying out.

Tater Tot Casserole
Brown 1 lb. of ground meat. (I usually use turkey. Some prefer hamburger.)
Chop one large onion
Brown meat and onion in skillet.
When meat is done, drain any fat.
Add one can of cream soup (mushroom, celery, chicken, even cheddar cheese soup)
Add 1lb package of mixed vegetables.
Turn heat down and steam veggies until tender. (about 5 min should do it)
Place in a casserole dish or cake pan
Cover with Tater Tots (or frozen hash brown, or other frozen potato product)
Place in 350 to 375 degree oven until potatoes brown (usually about 45 minutes)
Eat and enjoy.

Chili-Nothing fancy or exotic. Just basic chili.
In a pan brown one large chopped onion and 1 LB of ground meat. (again-I use turkey when I have it, but beef works well too)
In a large kettle: Add 2-3 cans of red beans or kidney bean (Depends on the size of your family. But leftovers are better the second day)
1 green pepper chopped
Garlic powder to taste (I usually use about a tablespoon)
Chili powder to taste (some brand substitute heat for flavor so be careful)
2-3 cans of tomatoes (that I have used my hand blender on) or tomato sauce
Serve piping hot with shredded cheese and lots of crackers, and a big glass of cold milk.

And last but not least-Cottage Pie
Brown 1 LB of ground meat (beef or turkey or lamb or whatever you prefer)
1 large chopped onion
Drain any grease from pan
Mix with one can of tomato soup
Put into a casserole dish
Drain one can of green beans
Add beans to the casserole dish
Top with either left over mashed potatoes, or like I usually do, make up some instant.
Put in the 350 degree oven until potatoes start to brown and casserole is bubbly.
Serve.

Before you know it, it will be fall and the holidays will be upon us. I would like to put together some special holiday recipes and run some special columns in the last couple of weeks leading up to Thanksgiving and the weeks before the Christmas and Hanukkah, But I will need your help to do it. So send me some favorite holiday recipes. Fruit cake, cookies, stuffing for that turkey, whatever. Maybe even some of decorating ideas. Lets do it up right. If you have any comments or suggestions regarding this column, please address them to Char@arthritisinsight.com.

CORRECTION-In my recipe for 1-2-3 Bread last week, I left out the vanilla. For anyone who is going to try it, ADD 1 tsp. of vanilla. Sorry for the error!

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Notes and Insights:

>From Donna:
October Happening In Ohio
When...October 12-15
Place...Wooster, Ohio
Looks like we have quite a crowd going already! Over 30 people so far! If you can make it, you won't regret the experience of meeting and making new friends with other people with arthritis.
All the information is posted at http://fadedjeans.com/ohio

Happy Birthday!
Wow! What a week for birthdays! Happy Birthday to: Aya, Tracy Blumenthal Zelman, Jimmy1, Gladyce, TJ, KrissyJo aka Tina, and Christinemj! Check out all the birthdays at /cgi-bin/postcards/postcard.pl

Special Offers for Arthritis Insight Members
Whenever possible we will try get to our sponsors to agree to discounts and the like for our members. Here are our current special offers:

KAS Enterprises (http://www.kasenterprises.com/theraband.html?ai) has graciously offered to help us out in our quest for fitness. They have put together a special package of Thera-Bands? and accessories. All for $19.99 with free shipping and a free instruction manual. If you mention Arthritis Insight you'll get double Frequent Buyer Bonus Points so you can earn free products!

Sore No More gel (http://www.sorenomore.com/) will send a free sample of the pain relieving gel to any Arthritis Insight Community Member who emails them at dma@glogerm.com.

Therabath Paraffin Therapy Bath is offering $30 off of their regular price of the Therabath unit. Visit http://www.wrmed.com/special_offer.htm for more info.

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Life and Laughter with Arthritis (ron@arthritisinsight.com)

This week's story is from KJ:

I was at my son's football practice. All of us football moms carry folding chairs in the car so when the boys are on the back field (no bleachers) we have a place to sit. I sat in my nice comfy chair in a bag and enjoyed the practice. At the end of practice the coach called all the parents over. As I stood up I didn't realize that the top of my leg brace somehow caught on the underside of the seat of the chair. I took a step and my chair came with me. I shook my leg a little to try and shake it loose, took another step and the chair came with me. I tried to turn and reach down to unhook the brace from the chair but I couldn't. My leg wouldn't turn ?it was stuck! Tried shaking it again?but nooo?it wouldn't come undone! Luckily another mom turned back to see where I was and saw my dilemma and rescued me before the coach started yelling "Hustle up Underwood!"

Got an arthritis story to make us chuckle? Please share!!

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Contribute

Have you written something you think our subscribers would like to read? Send it to Tina@arthritisinsight.com and maybe we'll use it in our newsletter.

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A Closing Thought
We should all live with this philosophy...

And they call some of these people "retarded?" A few years ago, at the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants, all physically or mentally disabled, assembled at the starting line for the 100-yard dash.
At the gun, they all started out, not exactly in a dash, but with a relish to run the race to the finish and win. All, that is, except one little boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over a couple of times, and began to cry.
The other eight heard the boy cry. They slowed down and looked back. Then they all turned around and went back. Every one of them. One girl with Down's Syndrome bent down and kissed him and said: "This will make it better." Then all nine linked arms and walked together to the finish line.
Everyone in the stadium stood, and the cheering went on for several minutes. People who were there are still telling the story.
Why? Because deep down we know this one thing: What matters in this life is more than winning for ourselves. What matters in this life is helping others win, even if it means slowing down and changing our course.

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Arthritis Insight Newsletter Copyright 2000