odds and ends

[Guest guest]

Your posting addressed some interesting points. It also raises some

questions. I think one question is: should we as little people hold

ourselves to standards different from standards that we hold other people?

You mentioned that you sometimes see little people acting childish.

Obviously, all of us see average size adults acting childish sometimes.

Usually we don't think much of it because everyone may act in that way once

in a while. But is it more damaging for little people to act in such a way

because it reinforces stereotypes? And should we be aware of this in our

behavior and act accordingly? My first reaction might be, what do I care

what other people think of the way I act. But is there more at stake for us

other than what people think of me as an individual?

You also say that you see a lot of complaining but no one ever wants to do

anything about it. I disagree. I think the majority of people do want to do

something about it. But organizing people, and then following through on a

struggle against injustice is, in my opinion, one of the most difficult

things there is. To make things even more difficult, there aren't very many

of us and we are scattered across the country. I don't want to make an

excuse; I just think there is more support out there than it might appear.

You mentioned something about a union. I think what needs to happen is

indeed the creation of some kind of advocacy group with a specific mission

and with specific principles in mind. this could probably happen over the

internet through the creation of another listserve. If the group had a

specific mission it might be easier to identify issues which would require

action and then create a strategy for implementing an action. It doesn't

necessarily have to be a listserve. It just might be the most simple way to

network with a group of people who want to advocate on behalf of certain

issues. One way to get support for a " union " or an advocacy arm of lpa or

whatever you want to call it is through an action during the lpa conference.

There is this group called ADAPT which is considered to be the advocacy side

of the disability rights movement. They decide where to hold their annual

conference every year based upon who they plan to demonstrate against. I

understand the principle mission of lpa is not direct action but if we

scouted out the cities where lpa conventions were to be hosted every year

and located a bar that hosts midget boxing, or dwarf tossing or a disc

jockey who consistently mocks little people based upon their difference or

the american dairy association and demonstrated against them then you would

not only draw out and earn the support of advocates within lpa but you would

also earn support from the broader community of civil rights groups.

Anyway, I don't know what to do. But I agreed with most of your points.

And I agree that something should be done. There is too much at stake. If

we don't do something about it, it will be too late. Like someone else said

a few weeks ago:

Battles over media roles, discrimination and diversity are more important

> than ever. If the world is saying we can be eliminated through genetic

> testing and eradicate imperfection, than we must be perceived by expecting

> parents, schools and employers as viable, loving and worthwhile Human

beings.

Odds and ends

[Guest guest]

WOW! Whata great response! I don't always know all the answeres only know that

in the entertainment business alone, less than one percent of entertainers have

a disability. There are many angles to our problems but I also think, as you

said, something has to be done. I am not quite sure how or what but we deserve

to not be treated in the stereotypical way that so many people treat LP's. Its

like using the 'n' word to a black person when someone calls us a midget. Any

body has any ideas or needs support I will try to help as much as I can, I am

not sure how, but just say the word. Thanks alot!

Kurt

Arnold <@...> wrote: Your posting addressed some

interesting points. It also raises some questions. I think one question is:

should we as little people hold ourselves to standards different from standards

that we hold other people? You mentioned that you sometimes see little people

acting childish. Obviously, all of us see average size adults acting childish

sometimes. Usually we don't think much of it because everyone may act in that

way once in a while. But is it more damaging for little people to act in such a

way because it reinforces stereotypes? And should we be aware of this in our

behavior and act accordingly? My first reaction might be, what do I care what

other people think of the way I act. But is there more at stake for us other

than what people think of me as an individual? You also say that you see a lot

of complaining but no one ever wants to do anything about it. I disagree. I

think the majority of people do want to do something about it. But organizing

people, and then following through on a struggle against injustice is, in my

opinion, one of the most difficult things there is. To make things even more

difficult, there aren't very many of us and we are scattered across the country.

I don't want to make an excuse; I just think there is more support out there

than it might appear. You mentioned something about a union. I think what

needs to happen is indeed the creation of some kind of advocacy group with a

specific mission and with specific principles in mind. this could probably

happen over the internet through the creation of another listserve. If the

group had a specific mission it might be easier to identify issues which would

require action and then create a strategy for implementing an action. It

doesn't necessarily have to be a listserve. It just might be the most simple

way to network with a group of people who want to advocate on behalf of certain

issues. One way to get support for a " union " or an advocacy arm of lpa or

whatever you want to call it is through an action during the lpa conference.

There is this group called ADAPT which is considered to be the advocacy side of

the disability rights movement. They decide where to hold their annual

conference every year based upon who they plan to demonstrate against. I

understand the principle mission of lpa is not direct action but if we scouted

out the cities where lpa conventions were to be hosted every year and located a

bar that hosts midget boxing, or dwarf tossing or a disc jockey who consistently

mocks little people based upon their difference or the american dairy

association and demonstrated against them then you would not only draw out and

earn the support of advocates within lpa but you would also earn support from

the broader community of civil rights groups. Anyway, I don't know what to do.

But I agreed with most of your points. And I agree that something should be

done. There is too much at stake. If we don't do something about it, it will be

too late. Like someone else said a few weeks ago: Battles over media roles,

discrimination and diversity are more important

> than ever. If the world is saying we can be eliminated through genetic

> testing and eradicate imperfection, than we must be perceived by expecting

> parents, schools and employers as viable, loving and worthwhile Human

beings.

Odds and ends

[Guest guest]

On Fri, 22 Feb 2002, oidrummer wrote:

> Personally I would love to see more LP's walk out of situatons when

> they are made to look pathetic, there should be a UNION or something

> to protect us all from discrimoinating rolles.

These issues aren't new. Check out this message from yours truly, posted

over a year and a half ago:

dwarfism/message/9089

Some actor or lawyer or both should take these kinds of ideas and run with

them.

Dave

[Guest guest]

At 02:06 PM 1/10/04, you wrote:

>Been reading about the muscles spasms others have been suffering with, and

>I have suddenly developed these also. Wake up at night with excruciating

>calf spasms and sometimes my fingers literally draw up and freeze. Very

>painful.

Do the fingers get stuck in the " drawn up " position? You probably have

trigger finger, which is a result of inflammation of the joint pulling on

the tendon and causing a tendon problem. It's the tendon that pulls on the

finger and gets stuck in the sheath (which is inflamed itself). Trigger

finger can be resolved by cortisone injections or sometimes minor surgery.

I would suggest checking into this with your GP or RD a.s.a.p., because one

of my untreated trigger fingers ended up in a boutonniere deformity. It

*is* very painful when it happens, and I literally almost passed out with

pain more than once when I tried to stretch the finger back out. Not fun!

[Guest guest]

Hi Electrolytes are essentially salts such as sodium, potassium,

calcium, magnesium etc. As they relate to muscle spasms or cramps, they are

involved with the conduction of nerve impulses. Electrolyte imbalance can be

caused

by dehydration as result of not drinking enough water or by loosing excess

water due to diarhea, significant blood loss or profuse sweating. Second cause

of

imbalance can be from excess consumption of certain salts and minerals which

may be in the water itself such as water from some wells. Third cause may be

drug related especially diuretics.

As for the crack on the side of the mouth and soft gums, treated by you

doctor as fungal(candida, thrush) you might try supplementation with vitamin

C(scurvy), folic acid(sores as seen with MTX therapy), and/or B vitamins

particularly B2(riboflavin for cheilosis) Perhaps a good daily multivitamin is

in order.

As for the peeling on the big toe and wedding ring, combined with what the

doctor viewed as likely being fungal infection of the mouth that sure leans

suspicion in the fungal direction.

Looking at the big picture in your case I would suggest also taking a wide

spectrum probiotic containing live cultures, especially Lactobacilis

acidophilus, the culture used to make yogurt and buttermilk, that may help

increase

resistance to fungal overgrowth and may help with B2 deficiency. If fungus is

part

of the problem reducing sugar intake may also help.

Intestinal fungal overgrowth could cause diarhea leading to dehydration and

electrolyte imbalance and the loss of water soluable vitamins. Significant

intestinal fungal overgrowth usually causes symptoms of bloating, excess gas and

diarhea or constipation.

I hope this is helpful to you and if I hit on anything that seems to fit

your situation please let me know. Orin

[Guest guest]

a new problem is developing and I wonder if anyone else on this list

has ever encountered it. I have developed a crack on the side of my

mouth, then a large red splotch around it. Nothing has worked to

heal it or lesson the patch of redness. Dermatologist gave me

Econazole Nitrate Cream but it has done nothing at all, and it has

been a full week of treatment. >>

Hi, I seldom post, but I always read! I thought I was the only person

in the world with this problem. I've had a split with a burning red

splotch on the left side of my mouth for years. The right side just

gets the splotch. None of my doc's have any ideas or have ever given

me anything that works. What works for me? Blistex, the white cream

in the little tube. When my fingertips crack open I use it there too,

under a bandage.

The back of my big toes and a bit on the ball of my right foot are

peeling also. Haven't tried Blistex there though. I try to keep my

feet dry by wearing non synthetic socks. I moisturize them just with

Vasaline Intensive care. So far, not too bad. I sometimes think that

the stuff they prescribe for us is not as good as what we can just

pick up at the drug store.

Since I'm posting I'll just go for broke. The muscle spasms, no

solutions, but dang they hurt eh? My biggest problem right now is

tendons. All of them I think, at least it feels like it. My left hip

is on strike and has decided it doesn't want to let my leg bone move

around smoothly. It locks up and dang that hurts too. My right big

toe has decided to move into the seconds toe's spot causing a domino

kind of thing. My left thumb, well, I'm not speaking to it at the

moment. Luckily, the right thumb is the space bar thumb. We're still

on speaking terms.

Ok, it's late and you can likely tell I'm a tad silly, but hey if we

don't laugh what's the alternative?

Pat

[Guest guest]

> Been reading about the muscles spasms others have been suffering

with, and I have suddenly developed these also. Wake up at night

with excruciating calf spasms and sometimes my fingers literally draw

up and freeze. Very painful. Dr. gave me quinine pills and they do

relieve it ASAP. Just do not know why all of a sudden I have

developed this problem. Someone wrote in that it might be from lack

of electrolytes. What causes the lack of electrolytes? In fact,

what are electrolytes?>>

Hi ,

Cramps at night are nasty! I had them in both pregnancies and

sometimes during summer when you lose a lot of electrolytes in sweat.

I'm a regisitered nurse so I know a little about electrolytes but I'm

certainly no expert, so anyone is free to correct any misinformation.

What I'm sharing with you should never replace the medical advice of

your doctor. This is purely anecdotal advice.

Electrolytes are chemicals that when dissolved in water are

electrically charged. They are involved in metabolic activities in

our bodies and are an essential part of normal function in all cells.

The principle electrolytes are Sodium, Potassium, calcium, magnesium,

chloride, bicarbonate,and phosphate.

The concentration of the various electrolytes in body fluids is

maintained within a narrow range. Electrolyte imbalance is when your

blood serum levels are too high or too low. This can be caused by

dehydration, inadequate intake of electrolytes and changes in the

bodies ability to absorb, distribute and excrete water and

electrolytes. In other words:

Dehydration: ie You might not be drinking enough water and/or are

losing bodily fluid through sweat or vomiting and diarrhoea. Improper

use of diuretics.

Inadequate intake of electrolytes: ie inadequate intake of mineral

rich foods.

Changes in absorption: ie Impaired absorption in the intestinal tract

or reabsorption in the kidneys. Sometimes some drugs can cause this

other times it's caused by other factors such as impairments of the

intestines or kidneys. Sometimes your body has an elevated demand or

use of electrolytes such as in stress, pregnancy, alcoholism, salt

wasting kidney diseases etc.

Changes in excretion: ie Improper use of laxatives, chronic

diarrhoea, High phosphorus can suppress calcium retention.

When cramps are caused by electrolyte depletion it's usually sodium,

potassium and calcium but also magnesium (causing leg and foot

cramps)

Effervescent Salvital has always worked for me and contains

magnesium sulphate and sodium bicarbonate. I'm sure other sports

drinks containing these electrolytes would work too. Make sure you

are drinking enough water. Eat adequate amounts of fruit and veg that

are packed with vitamins and minerals (and electolytes). Don't point

your toes.(Got that tip from a pregnancy manual!) Believe me if you

want to bring on a cramp when youv'e been having them lately that

certainly seems to do it.

I've heard quinine helps. I don't know what specific action it takes

but my patients tell me it works.

Tell your doctor you have cramps, he may have a much more simple

explanation and/or he may want to outrule the possibility that this

is a symptom of another health problem.

Hope this helps,

.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/10/2004 9:08:40 PM Eastern Standard Time,

lschroe3@... writes:

Someone wrote in that it might be from lack of electrolytes. What causes the

lack of electrolytes? In fact, what are electrolytes?

Electrolytes would be your sodium, potassium and chloride. If for any

reason they are depleted then you may get nasty leg cramps. If you happen to be

on

a diuretic then this can cause it or else just plain dehydrated. Can you

think of anything causing this problem?

Janet

[Guest guest]

That split in the side of mouth and splotch is a side effect of Soriatane.

Are those of you experiencing this on Soriatane??????? I have had this since I

was on Soriatane......dermo told me to use Eucerin's Aquaphor. It works WONDERS.

Does not make the split go away, but it is very comforting and easing on the

pain!

LeAnn Cayer & Furbrats Blossom & Meriko

Heart Bandits American Eskimo Dog Rescue

Railroad Coordinator www.heartbandits.com

[Guest guest]

I vote for Blistex, too. A dentist got me on it years ago. And I use

campho-phenyque for sores in my mouth.

Just came upon a neat cream from Avon - Soy Milk Hand and Foot

Theraphy. First time I rubbed it in after a bath I thought, how

soothing. The next morning I arose to discover long term thick skin

(callous or psoriasis - don't know) had dropped off overnight - stuff

so thick you couldn't cut it off, but this cream did the trick. Can

order it on-line from www.avon.com. Its very light on fragrance so I

think men could use it without anyone thinking they were in their

wife's cosmetics.

Some of the best treaments are simple. We must share what works.

JudiRose

[Guest guest]

Janet, Sometimes is depletion of calcium or magnesium - take two Tms

and call back in the morning. Seriously, in college I had so much

problem with leg cramps I went to see the nurse and she said milk at

bedtime. Milk is a good source calcium. But clacium needs magnesium

to work. So, since Tums has both, its an inexpensive try. And there

is always the Gatorade that has been mentioned the last few days.

Tums for my tummy, for my legs,for my bones, JudiRose

[Guest guest]

just a thing about Lyme disease and another about sugars- from my paper.

http://usaweekend.com/thinksmart/index.html

[Guest guest]

At first you may feel a bit weak, but there are ways to get in the

protein on the liquid phase. I got into eating Won Ton Soup/Hot Sour

Soup strained and drinking just the broth. Both soups are made with

pork, chicken, shrimp and veggies...so you'll get the protein in.

Also, you can try the 50 Gram Slam...I was introduce to this by

Jenni on our excursion to Mexicali in October. GNC sells it and it

has 50gs of protein but I believe this is when you are on full

liquids {Not Clears} which is I think week 3. Anywho, you can also

put some of the non flavored protein powder in your liquids to help

you not be so tired. I would have lots of water, broth, jello (SF),

apple juice...lots of WonTon/Hot Sour broth...mmmm. Good Luck, it's

not easy sticking to the diet, it's very hard but if you can stick

with it, you'll see better success in the future.

Kelli

>

> I want to first thank everyone for being so helpful in answering

all

> the questions I have had. This is a great place!

>

> So of course I have some more questions as the closer my surgery

date

> is (3/24). I have seen " pbing " in a lot of posts and I think I

know

> what it means, vomiting? but want to ask to make sure.

>

> In a few days I will start my pre-surgery diet and I bought some

> chicken & fish, eggs, lowfat string cheese, low carb veggies &

jello.

> Does anyone have any suggestions what would be good to include in

the

> pre-surgery diet? I tried find protein bars but the carbs were

way

> too high. I did buy 1 protein drink that was 21g of protein & 9g

of

> carbs(still kinda on the high side). Can anyone recommend some

that

> meet the requirements?

>

> I was also looking at the post-op diet....I went grocery shopping

this

> weekend for both pre & post surgery diet so I didn't have to worry

> about it when I got home from Mexico. Anyway, so as you know its

all

> liquids the first few weeks to let our stomachs heal. Did any of

you

> experience extreme fatigue due to little protein? I didn't think

we

> could have protein drinks because they weren't clear. Any tips on

> those first few weeks would be very helpful!

>

> Thanks again for looking at my post and answering my questions.

You

> guys have really help me feel more and more at ease with the

> surgery.

>

> Nadine

> DOB 3/24/07

>