Re: Thank you for being here!

[Guest guest]

Janetta:

Yes, emotional upset and stress can definately cause a

flare! Glad to hear that you are going to be seeing a

doctor soon - get your questions ready and written

down if you have to so you don't forget anything. Let

him or her know about this latest flare - it sounds

like it was a doozy - hope that you are getting over

it now. I think that it has been noted in the posts

before that when you see the doctor for the first time

try to have avoided any pain meds that you might be

using to mask the pain - let the doctor see the real

you! Keeping my fingers crossed that you will receive

medication that will ease your pain and get you

feeling better soon. Let us know how the visit goes!

Kathe in CA

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Janetta:

Yes, you should take the cart when you need to - that

is what they are there for! Who cares what anybody

else thinks - you are in pain and need it. I know

with RA we can look " normal " to other people but be in

significant discomfort and disability and sometimes we

worry about what someone else will think of us when we

use a cart, cane, walker, whatever, but if you need

it, use it. Believe me, there are times that those

carts have looked pretty good to me too but, like

many, I have not used them because I did not want to

give in to my being unable to simply walk through a

store and also what others would think. Especially

when you are a bit overweight like me, I don't want

them to think I am using it because I am too lazy to

walk!

Kathe in CA

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi, Jan! I believe stress of any sort - emotional upset, an infectious illness,

unusually

hard physical work, extreme weather, etc. - can make your symptoms worse. Sorry

that

you've had a lot of upheaval over the last few days and that you aren't feeling

good. I'm

glad that your family emergency is ending well though. And your job situation

sounds very

good, too.

Great that you are going to see a new physician soon. I hope she is a winner and

doesn't

dismiss you with an " all in your head " nondiagnosis. We'll just have to hope

that that is

a very remote possibility. Good luck with your appointment and please let us

know how it

goes.

Good for you for using the cart. They are there for anyone who is in need, and

you are.

[ ] Thank you for being here!

>

>

>

>

> I have not posted in quite a long time since joining the group several months

ago.

But......I faithfully read all the postings every day that I am at work. I was

hired on

at my job on 6/3 after working here as a temp on a 1 week - possibly 2 week

temporary

position last January. I love it here and find that with all my health problems

that

fortunatly it is compatible with the job. I do not tell anyone that I am in

pain and I'm

sure that they just think I'm slow. I now have new insurance starting 7/1 and

have an

appointment with a new doctor(a woman) on 7/26. I have gleanned quite a bit of

infomation

from everyone and have a better idea of what questions to ask and what to tell

the new

doctor in order to get help. One great thing about this insurance is that you

do not have

to have a referal to see a specialist. I had a family emergency this past week

and had to

drive 4 hours away from Wednesday until Sunday. I was in the high desert and

every day

(and night) was over 100 degrees. I had one of the worst times that I have ever

had. I

am always in pain but this was instensified. On Friday and Saturday, I could

barely walk.

My right leg from the hip to the sole of my foot burned and ached. All the

other points

that hurt (shoulders, wrists, fingers, knees, etc) were worse than usual. It

even

extended to my chest wall and ribs. At one point, I even thought I would have

to go to

the emergency room at the base I where I was on Friday night. On Saturday, I

did manage

to go to the PX(painfully) and then to the commisary where when I walked in, I

spotted one

of those electric shopping carts. I have always been reluctant to let anyone

know I am

hurting and try to cover up by acting as if I'm just slow. When I spotted that

cart, I

said to myself, I don't care what anyone says......I'm taking it! You know, it

was one of

the best things, I have ever done.! I will always take a cart now if it is

available. I

made the trip back home on Sunday and today I am at work. I believe some of you

have said

that heat could cause a " flair " and am wondering now if emotional stress can do

the same.

The family emergency is almost resolved (to the better)and I am out of the heat

and today

I feel better than I have in a long, long, time. Thank you a for being

there and for

the research you do in our behalf. Tess, Kathe, , , Lynn(Memom) and all

the

others, I can identify with you and feel as if I know you all. Will keep you

posted on

whether or not the new doctor will tell me " it's all in my head. " Jan in CA

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Kathe. You always come through with an anwser for me. Jan in CA

Kathe Sabetzadeh <lv2ryd@...> wrote: Janetta:

Yes, emotional upset and stress can definately cause a

flare! Glad to hear that you are going to be seeing a

doctor soon - get your questions ready and written

down if you have to so you don't forget anything. Let

him or her know about this latest flare - it sounds

like it was a doozy - hope that you are getting over

it now. I think that it has been noted in the posts

before that when you see the doctor for the first time

try to have avoided any pain meds that you might be

using to mask the pain - let the doctor see the real

you! Keeping my fingers crossed that you will receive

medication that will ease your pain and get you

feeling better soon. Let us know how the visit goes!

Kathe in CA

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi Marge,

Grocery stores are interesting places to meet people. What I have found is

that if I ask someone for a little help, they are usually MORE than willing

to do that and sometimes more.

It was the asking part that was hard for me to get used to. But as they say,

the first one is the hardest, after that the rest are easy. I learned this

before I got sick. My Dad was a meat cutter and I had never bought a piece

of meat in my life when I got married. So for my first dinner party that I

gave, I had to ask the butcher for his assistance because I could not tell

the difference between ground round and a T-bone steak! They were all to

willing to help. Now I have to grocery shop in a wheelchair and then one of

my kids push the cart while Dad pushes the chair. I must admit having 3

pretty daughters does help the stock boys come down our aisle, but hey I am

not proud. LOL! I usually start out shopping just hanging onto the cart, by

the time I get to the produce section, then one of the girls has to go to the

car and get my chair. It ain't pretty and I can't tell you how embarrassed I

am, but this is what life is right now. At least I can still go shopping and

for that I am grateful!

So go ahead and ask for help, you never know who you will meet with their

hand reaching out to you!

Gentle, tender, hand in hand angel hugs,

Debs in FL

[Guest guest]

I too have trouble using a cart in a store in town; but when out of town I

definately use a cart.....but how do you reach things on higher shelves????

I too want to walk when I can; but if it is a long shopping trip, and I have

other errands, it lets me do the next store. Also, just taking a regular

cart gives me something to lean on for support....I have gotten quite good

and pushing one box into another to knock it off the shelf and directly into

my cart....my arms don't reach over my head well. Pride is an amazing thing

isn't it.....marge

Re: [ ] Thank you for being here!

> Janetta:

>

> Yes, you should take the cart when you need to - that

> is what they are there for! Who cares what anybody

> else thinks - you are in pain and need it. I know

> with RA we can look " normal " to other people but be in

> significant discomfort and disability and sometimes we

> worry about what someone else will think of us when we

> use a cart, cane, walker, whatever, but if you need

> it, use it. Believe me, there are times that those

> carts have looked pretty good to me too but, like

> many, I have not used them because I did not want to

> give in to my being unable to simply walk through a

> store and also what others would think. Especially

> when you are a bit overweight like me, I don't want

> them to think I am using it because I am too lazy to

> walk!

>

> Kathe in CA

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

Marge,

While I don't use carts in the stores, I'm very short. I always find someone

tall, smile apologetically, and ask for help. Other shoppers have always

been very accommodating or employees, if you can find any!

Suzanne

Re: [ ] Thank you for being here!

>

>

> > Janetta:

> >

> > Yes, you should take the cart when you need to - that

> > is what they are there for! Who cares what anybody

> > else thinks - you are in pain and need it. I know

> > with RA we can look " normal " to other people but be in

> > significant discomfort and disability and sometimes we

> > worry about what someone else will think of us when we

> > use a cart, cane, walker, whatever, but if you need

> > it, use it. Believe me, there are times that those

> > carts have looked pretty good to me too but, like

> > many, I have not used them because I did not want to

> > give in to my being unable to simply walk through a

> > store and also what others would think. Especially

> > when you are a bit overweight like me, I don't want

> > them to think I am using it because I am too lazy to

> > walk!

> >

> > Kathe in CA

> >

> > __________________________________________________

> >