Re: Re: A Proper Introduction

[Guest guest]

.......my prayers for you, your husband......your family.....and all the troops. God bless you all! Do you have supportive neighbors...or kids you can pay to do some of these tasks for you? The self-cleaning cat litter box is a blessing to me...well worth the money to spare my hands. Do you have Safeway delivery service near you? They carry groceries into your house and you can shop online.... Milk comes in smaller 1/2 gallon containers...might be easier to handle, as I have to do. Laundry......I kick down the stairs....and small stack at a time bring it back upstairs as I am going up for other reasons..Sometimes sits there a day or two before it all makes it up. Shoveling snow and mowing lawns will need to be at the mercy of some kid who can use a few dollars.

I wish you the best and I know you will find ways to cope. The most difficult will be the absence of your life partner.....just for a short while I hope. I am so proud of all those who are so brave to serve.

Hugs,

Sandy

From: " "

Reply-Rheumatoid Arthritis Rheumatoid Arthritis Subject: Re: A Proper Introduction Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2003 00:34:36 -0000

Thank you for "coming out" if you will excuse the expression. I am glad that you are "no longer lurking". It is nice to hear triumphs and you have a beautiful daughter now. Thank you showing us that it is possible to raise kids with RA. Although it's not easy, with help, it can be done.

I wanted to share my news with you. My husband, who helps me a great deal, has just been activated. He is in the Army reserves and he has been called up. I am sad and I will miss him but I am also proud that he is serving his country. I am nervous too. How am I going to carry those 12-packs of soda into the house? How will I pour my own milk and change my sheets? How will I scoop the kitty litter and do laundry in the basement? How can I shovel snow and mow the lawn? I will need your help and advice.

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> Hello Everyone, > > Although I have been lurking (forgive the expression) in this group > for some time, I have not really introduced myself so I think the > time has come. I am 39, married, and have a 2 year old daughter. I > have had RA since I was 16 and, like many of you, have been through > a plethora of meds. Currently, I am taking Mtx, Remicade, > Prednisone, Plaquanil, Diclofenac, and Folic acid. Although my > current regiment has worked wonders, I recently had a flare in my > knee and had to have it injected. I have not had any surgeries yet > but with no space left in my wrists, knee, and elbows and the > gradual loss of motion in the affected joints, it is only a matter > of time. > > In 1999 I was taking Enbrel but had to go off Mtx in order for my > wife and I to conceive. The efficacy of Enbrel diminishes when not > used with Mtx and soon I had a flare of a lifetime. Determined, my > wife and I finally conceived in Feb of 2000 only to have a > miscarriage in the 8th week. Unfettered, with tried again 3 months > later and conceived again. was born in Feb. of 2001. > Raising a daughter has not been easy with RA, but we knew I would > have challenges other fathers do not. She is indeed a blessing! > > Recently, I found encouragment in reading Amye Leong's book "Get a > Grip". From reading Amye's book and from reading many posts on this > website, men and women appear to share many of the same challenges > with this disease. However, I believe there are also some striking > differences as well (another post). > > Getting a "grip" on this disease is just as much about "attitude" as > medical treatment. No longer lurking! > > Wolff