Re: RA and craft for sanity's sake

[Guest guest]

Hi Annie,

I've had RA for 11 years now, pretty well controlled, I have been quilting

for about 14 years. I also like punchneedle and cross stitch.

in PA

On Mon, Jan 10, 2011 at 12:11 AM, Annie T <annietm46@...> wrote:

>

>

> Hi everyone. I post rarely if at all but am home on holidays presently and

> sadly am sick with a cold or virus so was feeling flat and thought I'd put

> up a post.

>

> I am from Australia and do not know many people with RA although I am told

> of many people who have it but these people are well into their retirements

> years. I am in my 50's and only had it diagnosed for 12 months.

>

> I have suffered the hair fall out to the point that if I use one particular

> bathroom at work I could see the top of my head shinning away. It is

> amazing how we start to see things that we never noticed before.

>

> What keeps me going is my work and my craft - patchwork. I enjoy patchwork

> whilst I can still do it and when I am unable to do some things myself when

> my hands are inflamed, I have some dear patchwork girlfriends who come to my

> rescue and see me over the tough patches. Are there any others in the group

> that like to do patchwork or other crafts? How do others keep their sanity

> with this dreadful disease?

>

> It would be nice to hear what others do.

>

> Annie from Oz

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

When I'm having a flare, I still go hang out with my crafting buddies (we

scrapbook), and I just hang out & talk, or do something really easy on my

hands. It helps to have friends - they are the best!!

[Guest guest]

Hi Annie

I'm in Oz too (northern NSW, Byron Bay), in my 60's with lots of 50's

friends. I've had RA for 6 years after being in remission for 15

years. I keep myself happy with book groups and meditation groups,

I'm a botanical artist which I'm now able to do for longer periods

than the first couple of years I had RA. I've done lots of patchwork

in my life but enjoy tapestry work now. I also adore my dog who keeps

me walking when it's the last thing I want to do!

My fear of hair falling out was one of the main things that kept me

from using methotrexate or other drugs. I used plaquenil and

minocycline and that keeps everything under control.

Thank goodness for friends! I don't work any more so it's important

to keep my social network going. But it's hard work and takes a lot

of energy to keep in contact with everyone very regularly. And it's

hard not to talk about the difficulties of this disease to friends so

that's why I like the online groups - we're all in the same boat.

Ros

[Guest guest]

Hi Annie.

I was sorry to read that you have RA too. You are too young to have this ugly

beast of a disease.

I am glad you can do your patchwork. Nice that your girlfriends are so good to

you, and you can share this hobby together. Nice to be able to do this and

accomplish it. We do need things to save our sanity when the pain is really

bad. I would be lost without my crafts and reading as well.

Awful to lose your hair. Mine is so fine and thin I fear I will lose it soon.

I will cross that bride when I come to it.

Sorry to read that you are sick and not feeling good. I hope it passes quickly.

No fun to be sick and then have RA on top of it.

I wish you better days ahead. Keep patchworking! What are you working on to

make? Right now I am doing needlepoint and folk art painting. I pick what to

do by however I am feeling.

Feel better soon.

Hugs,

Barbara

>

> Hi everyone. I post rarely if at all but am home on holidays presently and

sadly am sick with a cold or virus so was feeling flat and thought I'd put up a

post.

>

> I am from Australia and do not know many people with RA although I am told of

many people who have it but these people are well into their retirements years.

I am in my 50's and only had it diagnosed for 12 months.

>

> I have suffered the hair fall out to the point that if I use one particular

bathroom at work I could see the top of my head shinning away. It is amazing

how we start to see things that we never noticed before.

>

> What keeps me going is my work and my craft - patchwork. I enjoy patchwork

whilst I can still do it and when I am unable to do some things myself when my

hands are inflamed, I have some dear patchwork girlfriends who come to my rescue

and see me over the tough patches. Are there any others in the group that like

to do patchwork or other crafts? How do others keep their sanity with this

dreadful disease?

>

> It would be nice to hear what others do.

>

> Annie from Oz

>