Guest guest Posted August 22, 2002 Report Share Posted August 22, 2002 Hello everybody, I'm relatively new to the list. I just subscribed a couple weeks ago. I was diagnosed with RA in 1997, but since I was trying to conceive at the time, I told my doctor that I wouldn't take any medications besides acetaminophen (Tylenol) and prednisone. I functioned fairly well on just those medications until I became pregnant. At that point, my doctor told me that I'd do fairly well while pregnant, but that about 5-6 weeks post-partum, I'd have a flare-up. Well, that's exactly what happened, right on schedule, too. My baby is now almost seven months old, and for the past five months or so, I've been just functioning well enough to take care of her. I can't do much else. The worst part of all this is the fatigue!! Anyway, I find that there are little things that I simply cannot do anymore, like opening a can or bottle. It's a really big deal to drink a glass of juice around here!! What do you wise people on this list do for assistive devices?? Has anybody seen a hand-held can opener that is electric, and that opens a can by making two punctures (usually triangular in shape) on either side of the can?? Note: I can't hold the can and the opener at the same time!! Even bringing a glass of water to my lips has become a two-handed operation. Thank you for your advice. Araminta " Greetings little earthling buddy. " --- Ringenberg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 22, 2002 Report Share Posted August 22, 2002 Hi, Araminta. Here is a link to an Arthritis.com page that lists several links for assistive devices: http://www.arthritis.com/6_0.asp Maybe other members will share some of their ideas about specific products with you. I hope you can find a way to lessen the fatigue. Even without RA, it's hard to keep weariness at bay with an infant to take care of! [ ] Assistive devices > Hello everybody, > > I'm relatively new to the list. I just subscribed a couple weeks ago. > > I was diagnosed with RA in 1997, but since I was trying to conceive at the > time, I told my doctor that I wouldn't take any medications besides > acetaminophen (Tylenol) and prednisone. I functioned fairly well on just > those medications until I became pregnant. At that point, my doctor told > me that I'd do fairly well while pregnant, but that about 5-6 weeks > post-partum, I'd have a flare-up. Well, that's exactly what happened, > right on schedule, too. My baby is now almost seven months old, and for > the past five months or so, I've been just functioning well enough to take > care of her. I can't do much else. The worst part of all this is the > fatigue!! > > Anyway, I find that there are little things that I simply cannot do > anymore, like opening a can or bottle. It's a really big deal to drink a > glass of juice around here!! What do you wise people on this list do for > assistive devices?? Has anybody seen a hand-held can opener that is > electric, and that opens a can by making two punctures (usually triangular > in shape) on either side of the can?? Note: I can't hold the can and the > opener at the same time!! Even bringing a glass of water to my lips has > become a two-handed operation. > > Thank you for your advice. > > Araminta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 22, 2002 Report Share Posted August 22, 2002 Araminta, Last year I was in the same fix as you. I couldn't open bottles or jars. I couldn't squeeze out a washcloth. I had to use both hands to open the dryer. I had a hard time dressing myself. And on an on. It was very depressing. Now, with medication, I can once again do those things. Now that your baby has been born, what medications are you taking? If you're not breast feeding, you really need to get started on a DMARD such as methotrexate. It takes them a long time to kick in, so the sooner the better, in my opinion. Sue in NC on 8/22/02 11:45 AM, Araminta Ditch at binky@... wrote: > Hello everybody, > > I'm relatively new to the list. I just subscribed a couple weeks ago. > > I was diagnosed with RA in 1997, but since I was trying to conceive at the > time, I told my doctor that I wouldn't take any medications besides > acetaminophen (Tylenol) and prednisone. I functioned fairly well on just > those medications until I became pregnant. At that point, my doctor told > me that I'd do fairly well while pregnant, but that about 5-6 weeks > post-partum, I'd have a flare-up. Well, that's exactly what happened, > right on schedule, too. My baby is now almost seven months old, and for > the past five months or so, I've been just functioning well enough to take > care of her. I can't do much else. The worst part of all this is the > fatigue!! > > Anyway, I find that there are little things that I simply cannot do > anymore, like opening a can or bottle. It's a really big deal to drink a > glass of juice around here!! What do you wise people on this list do for > assistive devices?? Has anybody seen a hand-held can opener that is > electric, and that opens a can by making two punctures (usually triangular > in shape) on either side of the can?? Note: I can't hold the can and the > opener at the same time!! Even bringing a glass of water to my lips has > become a two-handed operation. > > Thank you for your advice. > > Araminta > > > " Greetings little earthling buddy. " --- Ringenberg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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