Re: Thanks for advice - jar/bottle openers for us RA people?

May 1, 2008

Hi ! The first thing to learn is, this disease works differently

in everyone. For some the fatigue is negligible (I work with one of

those) and for others it is usually worse than the pain (me so far).

Some have only several concentrated areas of pain and inflammation,

others get everywhere involded from the get-go. Before my official RA

diagnosis, my papers read " palindromic rheumatism " meaning the pain

jumped around, often on a daily or hourly basis. My first flair had

me with issues in every joint from my jaw to my toes, but some joints

have never acted up since that first flair (like my jaw, thank

god...flashbacks to dental surgery complications, SHUDDER). My Hands.

wrists, and elbows have been the most consistant source of my trouble

since that flair. And that first flair ended in last December, so

this is all stil rather new for me....point is, there are as many

stories as there ar people with RA practically. You sound normal

Another thought....I notice that when my hands are bad, I use my arms

more. Makes sense and my doc even said an occupational therapist will

teach you this, using larger muscles instead of smaller joints. Well,

maybe using them more is just making me realize how much my elbows

bother me. It's not muscular, it's the joint itself, but they are

worse. Progression or overuse, who knows. But I am sure you are not

imagining it!

Lastly, OXO makes a nice handheld jar opener, if you still have

torque strength. It has metal teeth that grip the lid while you push

the handle sideways. But it will strip plastic bottle caps. There are

electric jar openers, too, if even the torque gets to be too much.

Worth every penny.

Hugs,

>

> Thanks , , and everyone else,

>

> I really hope I get on the mexotrexate (sp?), because I've

heard it may

> even help keep my leukemia in remission. Although, I must admit,

I want the

> pills only. I don't think I could give myself a shot, but I

imagine

> everyone thinks that at first, right?

>

> I do have a " maybe silly " question...This RA came on

suddenly,and

> started in my fingers and hands, both at the same time. Now,

however, I SWEAR it

> is moving up to my elbows. Am I imagining this, or is this how

this disease

> progresses? My wrists never hurt until about two months ago, and

now they

> hurt so much, and now my arms and elbows feel funny. Okay, if I'm

imagining

> this, don't be afraid to tell me...

>

> Fatigue. Is that a major symptom of RA? I have seen it

listed as a

> symptom, but is it a prominent symptom, because I've had fatigue

for quite some

> time.

>

> Last question - is there such a thing as a bottle/jar

opener? I just

> can't get water bottles and jars open any longer. Remember, I'm

only on

> naproxin or Alieve until they figure out another drug for me.

>

> I do lead an active life. I work full time, and have been at

the same

> company for over 35 years. I do take FMLA time when needed, and

there are

> some days I need it. I always request the full amount of time

each year, but

> only use 14 to 20 days a year. I use it for all of my dr's

appointments, and

> on the occasion that I just can't get rolling on time, or am just

fatigued

> that day, but Thank God it's not too often.

>

> My husband and I also have two horses that we board, and I

ride often.

> I must admit, getting that girth tightened is a challenge some

days, as is

> picking feet. So, I can't wait to get on SOME drug to stop

the

> progression.

>

> To those craft people out there, I love crafting too!

Mostly, right

> now, I like making cards and rubber stamping. Coloring the

designs brings back

> childhood, and is therefore relaxing! I must admit, I haven't

done it for a

> while, because I'm also a voracious reader, but I do miss it.

>

> I found out this weekend that gardening is out. I tried to

pull some

> weeds - not gonna happen. I was able to turn over the soil with

that spikey 4

> foot crabclaw thing - whatever it's called. It was fine to use.

I think

> the only way I'm going to get the two flats of flowers planted

this year, is to

> hand them to my hubby, and then point out the location....

>

> Thanks for " listening "

>

May 1, 2008

My supervisor, sweetheart that she is, found this wonderful gadget on

vacation and brought it home for me. It's a can opener and small

bottle opener in one. I mean soda cans with the tab. I haven't been

able to open a soda can since November with my fingers but this little

gadget is invaluable. I'll try to do a little research and see if we

can find them somewhere. I love mine!

> >

> > Thanks , , and everyone else,

> >

> > I really hope I get on the mexotrexate (sp?), because I've

> heard it may

> > even help keep my leukemia in remission. Although, I must admit,

> I want the

> > pills only. I don't think I could give myself a shot, but I

> imagine

> > everyone thinks that at first, right?

> >

> > I do have a " maybe silly " question...This RA came on

> suddenly,and

> > started in my fingers and hands, both at the same time. Now,

> however, I SWEAR it

> > is moving up to my elbows. Am I imagining this, or is this how

> this disease

> > progresses? My wrists never hurt until about two months ago, and

> now they

> > hurt so much, and now my arms and elbows feel funny. Okay, if I'm

> imagining

> > this, don't be afraid to tell me...

> >

> > Fatigue. Is that a major symptom of RA? I have seen it

> listed as a

> > symptom, but is it a prominent symptom, because I've had fatigue

> for quite some

> > time.

> >

> > Last question - is there such a thing as a bottle/jar

> opener? I just

> > can't get water bottles and jars open any longer. Remember, I'm

> only on

> > naproxin or Alieve until they figure out another drug for me.

> >

> > I do lead an active life. I work full time, and have been at

> the same

> > company for over 35 years. I do take FMLA time when needed, and

> there are

> > some days I need it. I always request the full amount of time

> each year, but

> > only use 14 to 20 days a year. I use it for all of my dr's

> appointments, and

> > on the occasion that I just can't get rolling on time, or am just

> fatigued

> > that day, but Thank God it's not too often.

> >

> > My husband and I also have two horses that we board, and I

> ride often.

> > I must admit, getting that girth tightened is a challenge some

> days, as is

> > picking feet. So, I can't wait to get on SOME drug to stop

> the

> > progression.

> >

> > To those craft people out there, I love crafting too!

> Mostly, right

> > now, I like making cards and rubber stamping. Coloring the

> designs brings back

> > childhood, and is therefore relaxing! I must admit, I haven't

> done it for a

> > while, because I'm also a voracious reader, but I do miss it.

> >

> > I found out this weekend that gardening is out. I tried to

> pull some

> > weeds - not gonna happen. I was able to turn over the soil with

> that spikey 4

> > foot crabclaw thing - whatever it's called. It was fine to use.

> I think

> > the only way I'm going to get the two flats of flowers planted

> this year, is to

> > hand them to my hubby, and then point out the location....

> >

> > Thanks for " listening "

> >

>

May 1, 2008

There are some great brands of jar openers out there. Black and Decker has a

nice one. There are many tools that can help you with your wrists and hands.

There is a " Grabbit " which is the metal hand type device that you can use to

reach up or reach down and it will grab things for you. I have two types of

plastic devices I ordered that help me remove the lids from my pills. I put the

top of it on my pill bottle and place my palm on the large rubber top of the

device and it does the twisting for me. I also have a device that opens up

anything with a tab. I hope this helps:)

thea7441@... wrote: Thanks , , and

everyone else,

I really hope I get on the mexotrexate (sp?), because I've heard it may

even help keep my leukemia in remission. Although, I must admit, I want the

pills only. I don't think I could give myself a shot, but I imagine

everyone thinks that at first, right?

I do have a " maybe silly " question...This RA came on suddenly,and

started in my fingers and hands, both at the same time. Now, however, I SWEAR

it

is moving up to my elbows. Am I imagining this, or is this how this disease

progresses? My wrists never hurt until about two months ago, and now they

hurt so much, and now my arms and elbows feel funny. Okay, if I'm imagining

this, don't be afraid to tell me...

Fatigue. Is that a major symptom of RA? I have seen it listed as a

symptom, but is it a prominent symptom, because I've had fatigue for quite

some

time.

Last question - is there such a thing as a bottle/jar opener? I just

can't get water bottles and jars open any longer. Remember, I'm only on

naproxin or Alieve until they figure out another drug for me.

I do lead an active life. I work full time, and have been at the same

company for over 35 years. I do take FMLA time when needed, and there are

some days I need it. I always request the full amount of time each year, but

only use 14 to 20 days a year. I use it for all of my dr's appointments, and

on the occasion that I just can't get rolling on time, or am just fatigued

that day, but Thank God it's not too often.

My husband and I also have two horses that we board, and I ride often.

I must admit, getting that girth tightened is a challenge some days, as is

picking feet. So, I can't wait to get on SOME drug to stop the

progression.

To those craft people out there, I love crafting too! Mostly, right

now, I like making cards and rubber stamping. Coloring the designs brings

back

childhood, and is therefore relaxing! I must admit, I haven't done it for a

while, because I'm also a voracious reader, but I do miss it.

I found out this weekend that gardening is out. I tried to pull some

weeds - not gonna happen. I was able to turn over the soil with that spikey 4

foot crabclaw thing - whatever it's called. It was fine to use. I think

the only way I'm going to get the two flats of flowers planted this year, is

to

hand them to my hubby, and then point out the location....

Thanks for " listening "

**************Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car

listings at AOL Autos.

(http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp00300000002851)

May 1, 2008

Does anyone know of a product that will help with fastening seat belts? This is

very difficult for me in cars and autos...

stephanie <stephieann2@...> wrote: There are some great brands of

jar openers out there. Black and Decker has a nice one. There are many tools

that can help you with your wrists and hands. There is a " Grabbit " which is the

metal hand type device that you can use to reach up or reach down and it will

grab things for you. I have two types of plastic devices I ordered that help me

remove the lids from my pills. I put the top of it on my pill bottle and place

my palm on the large rubber top of the device and it does the twisting for me. I

also have a device that opens up anything with a tab. I hope this helps:)

thea7441@... wrote: Thanks , , and everyone else,