Re: What do you do in your spare time?

[Guest guest]

Kate,

I'm sorry to hear about your husband's illness, but he is certainly

fortunate to have such a caring partner. Most of the kind folks posting here

will tell you in the beginning RA is terribly debilitating. To be exhausted

after a day of doing nothing is very normal. Reading was even hard for me

as my hands would go numb when I held the book. The situation was

depressing. You feel isolated and worry about losing who you are to the

disease.

The good news is through the care of a competent rheumatologist and major

drug therapy most people begin to feel like themselves again. It's a process

and it takes time. He should rest as much as he needs. Researching RA

helped me too. Reading all the posts from this site kept me going. I would

encourage your husband to share news of his condition with friends and

family. It took me a long time before I opened up to folks and was pleasantly

surprised by all the caring support I received. Phone calls from friends,

invitations to the movies or to eat out made such a difference. We all

need something to look forward to.

I wish you both the very best.

Jane in Michigan

In a message dated 6/20/2009 7:22:15 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

k8watt@... writes:

My husband was diagnosed with RA a couple of weeks ago after months of

suffering. He feels lonely and useless. The dr has told him it will probably

take 2 - 3 months before the medication really kicks in. The prednisone he is

taking helps a little, but he is still left with a lot of fatigue and

unpredictable joint pain.

The activities he normally likes to do in the summer are not possible for

him to participate in at this time. Normally his summer is full of golf,

kayaking, fishing etc. The thought of not being up to his normal activity

level has really depressed him.

Right now I feel so guilty leaving him at home while I go off to work. By

the time I get home he is very lonely and bored out of his mind.

What are some activities/hobbies that might help distract him when he is

home alone?

Kate

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[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/20/2009 6:22:08 P.M. Central Daylight Time,

k8watt@... writes:

What are some activities/hobbies that might help distract him when he is

home alone? >

While I waited for the meds to work, I watched a lot of tv shows on my

computer (in bed).

dd

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[Guest guest]

Perhaps your husband would enjoy bridge online.

I spend hours daily. It keeps my brain functioning.

www.okbridge.com

is free for a week. They have free lessons and discussions.

I have formed many friendships and have access to social contact 24/7.

Good luck...

Raniolo

From: Kate <k8watt@...>

Subject: [ ] What do you do in your spare time?

Date: Saturday, June 20, 2009, 6:49 PM

My husband was diagnosed with RA a couple of weeks ago after months of

suffering. He feels lonely and useless. The dr has told him it will probably

take 2 - 3 months before the medication really kicks in. The prednisone he is

taking helps a little, but he is still left with a lot of fatigue and

unpredictable joint pain.

The activities he normally likes to do in the summer are not possible for him to

participate in at this time. Normally his summer is full of golf, kayaking,

fishing etc. The thought of not being up to his normal activity level has really

depressed him.

Right now I feel so guilty leaving him at home while I go off to work. By the

time I get home he is very lonely and bored out of his mind.

What are some activities/hobbies that might help distract him when he is home

alone?

Kate

[Guest guest]

It depends on what he can get interested in. I enjoy genealogy and

scrapbooking. I'm sure he wouldn't want to do scrapbooking, but what

about genealogy? It is a fascinating hobby and is like trying to put a

puzzle together. There is a lot of information online.

Sue

On Jun 20, 2009, at 6:49 PM, Kate wrote:

>

> What are some activities/hobbies that might help distract him when

> he is home alone?

>

[Guest guest]

I was diagnosed almost a year ago, and went trough a rough time before that, and

went through a rough time after that with the depression. A support group helps,

the none physical things he did in terms of books and movies gives him something

to do. I got an aquarium with simple goldfish, got a few plants and tried to do

things that are fairly low maintenance. I also talked to my GP about the

depression and he gave me something mild to take for it, I would suggest the

same. The bottom line is that he's going to have to work through the reality of

it, all you can do is be encouraging and supportive. Rheumatoid Arthritis

changes everything, hopefully the meds will work for him and that offers some

relief on the emotional side of things. My GP told me it takes 1 to two years to

grasp it, I think he was right from own experience. It's almost like the five

stages of grief and we just have to work through it on top of all the medical

stuff. Hope this offers some kind of help.

Stan

Seattle, Cloudy.

[ ] What do you do in your spare time?

My husband was diagnosed with RA a couple of weeks ago after months of

suffering.  He feels lonely and useless.  The dr has told him it will probably

take 2 - 3 months before the medication really kicks in.  The prednisone he is

taking helps a little, but he is still left with a lot of fatigue and

unpredictable joint pain.  

The activities he normally likes to do in the summer are not possible for him to

participate in at this time.  Normally his summer is full of golf, kayaking,

fishing etc.  The thought of not being up to his normal activity level has

really depressed him.

Right now I feel so guilty leaving him at home while I go off to work.  By the

ti   me I get home he is very lonely and bored out of his mind.

What are some activities/hobbies that might help distract him when he is home

alone?  

Kate  

[Guest guest]

Have him join us here! :-)

*~ Kami ~*

[ ] What do you do in your spare time?

My husband was diagnosed with RA a couple of weeks ago after months of

suffering. He feels lonely and useless. The dr has told him it will probably

take 2 - 3 months before the medication really kicks in. The prednisone he is

taking helps a little, but he is still left with a lot of fatigue and

unpredictable joint pain.

The activities he normally likes to do in the summer are not possible for him

to participate in at this time. Normally his summer is full of golf, kayaking,

fishing etc. The thought of not being up to his normal activity level has really

depressed him.

Right now I feel so guilty leaving him at home while I go off to work. By the

time I get home he is very lonely and bored out of his mind.

What are some activities/hobbies that might help distract him when he is home

alone?

Kate

[Guest guest]

I was gonna suggest that but I didn't know if he is a computer guy. If so,

there's tons of stuff to do, like my side-line hobby: annoying .

Stan

Re: [ ] What do you do in your spare time?

Have him join us here! :-)

*~ Kami ~*

[Guest guest]

Stan, unfortunately for me, you are not alone.

Not an MD

On Sun, Jun 21, 2009 at 1:50 PM, <stanpfister@...> wrote:

>

>

> I was gonna suggest that but I didn't know if he is a computer guy. If so,

> there's tons of stuff to do, like my side-line hobby: annoying .

>

[Guest guest]

You should be a Moderator on Facebook. There appers to be millions to manage!

Stan

Re: [ ] What do you do in your spare time?

Stan, unfortunately for me, you are not alone.

Not an MD

On Sun, Jun 21, 2009 at 1:50 PM, <stanpfister@...> wrote:

>

>

> I was gonna suggest that but I didn't know if he is a computer guy. If so,

> there's tons of stuff to do, like my side-line hobby: annoying .

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you to everyone for the kind thoughtful comments. When I posted this

question, I was not expecting the type of comment that Jane and a few others

gave. But it was exactly what my husband needed me to hear from all of you! He

laughed when I told him you all suggested he rest when he needed to. His rheumy

stressed that he needed to maintain his normal activities, so we felt like we

weren't doing something right. And I kept nagging him to do something to occupy

his brain. I'll give it a rest now.

Perhaps in time he will join you all here. He prefers to read rather than

comment though. He has a list of groups regarding RA that he reads most days.

Sometimes it's helpful, sometimes depressing.

The good news, he found an old project in the closet he hadn't finished. He was

working on re-wiring an old guitar. He may not be able to work on it

frequently, but it gives him something to plan and research.

Thanks everyone! We are both feeling a little better emotionally.

Kate

> Most of the kind folks posting here

> will tell you in the beginning RA is terribly debilitating. To be exhausted

> after a day of doing nothing is very normal. Reading was even hard for me

> as my hands would go numb when I held the book. The situation was

> depressing. You feel isolated and worry about losing who you are to the

disease.

> The good news is through the care of a competent rheumatologist and major

> drug therapy most people begin to feel like themselves again. It's a process

> and it takes time. He should rest as much as he needs. Researching RA

> helped me too. Reading all the posts from this site kept me going. I would

> encourage your husband to share news of his condition with friends and

> family. It took me a long time before I opened up to folks and was

pleasantly

> surprised by all the caring support I received. Phone calls from friends,

> invitations to the movies or to eat out made such a difference. We all

> need something to look forward to.

>

> I wish you both the very best.

>

> Jane in Michigan

[Guest guest]

Hi Kate - I would recommend a " honey-do " list " . Little things around the house

that have needed to be done, but were too small and insignificant to tend to

before. He could still go fishing as long as he didn't do it alone - it would be

a shame to have the " big one " get away because he wasn't able to reel it in on

his own. Does he know how to work the computer? Get him involved with this RA

Support Group, show him where to find online games - even online movies.

The one thing I've learned through all of this is to be creative. Things that I

can't do anymore might be possible with some modifications to the way I used to

do them. Perhaps he needs an antidepressant, too. There are alot of us (me

included) that have to take it for anxiety/depression. There's hope and there's

help - he's just got to want to seek it out.

Best of luck to you both. Keep us posted.....Doreen

My husband was diagnosed with RA a couple of weeks ago after months of

suffering. He feels lonely and useless. The dr has told him it will probably

take 2 - 3 months before the medication really kicks in. The prednisone he is

taking helps a little, but he is still left with a lot of fatigue and

unpredictable joint pain.

The activities he normally likes to do in the summer are not possible for him

to participate in at this time. Normally his summer is full of golf, kayaking,

fishing etc. The thought of not being up to his normal activity level has

really depressed him.

Right now I feel so guilty leaving him at home while I go off to work. By the

time I get home he is very lonely and bored out of his mind.

What are some activities/hobbies that might help distract him when he is home

alone?

Kate

[Guest guest]

Well i talk to my DH in Iraq on the PC also play PC games read e-mails & such

(hes hm on R & R right now for 2 weeks) also cross stitch ALOT its my addiction,

crochet, try to to some activities @ least the hot tub @ the YMCA, trying my

damnedest to stay in the massage therapist program i enrolled in; I'm due to

graduate in March of next yr if i can get just hold through i want to wrk

w/chronic pain & elderly patients. We also have 4 kids (2 live here full time) 2

inside cats & 2 inside puppies bout 6mnths old 1 a white husky the other is

husky terrier mix. Animals, kids, devoted friends & family help get ya through

the crappy days & make the good days amazingly fun.

I wish things the best for ya!

Enjoy your day we r never promised another, MayAnn

I would just suggest trying different things til he finds something i know you

can get memberships to some pc games that are not to bad or handheld games or

game books

>

> What are some activities/hobbies that might help distract him when he is home

alone?

>

> Kate

>

[Guest guest]

Genealogy is my addiction, along with reading. I have a pillow that i prop my

books on to take some of the weight off my hands. I also love, love LOVE to cook

for people. I recently cooked for 36 people who are staff at my daughters'

missionary sending agency.(taco soup. easy to cook, can be done in stages,and

feeds a bunch.) I have thought about finding an organization that records books

for the vision impaired, that would be putting a passion of mine to good use.

Dealing with RA is really an adjustment, sending blessings and good wishes your

way.

Jane in Dallas

>

> My husband was diagnosed with RA a couple of weeks ago after months of

suffering. He feels lonely and useless. The dr has told him it will probably

take 2 - 3 months before the medication really kicks in. The prednisone he is

taking helps a little, but he is still left with a lot of fatigue and

unpredictable joint pain.

>

> The activities he normally likes to do in the summer are not possible for him

to participate in at this time. Normally his summer is full of golf, kayaking,

fishing etc. The thought of not being up to his normal activity level has

really depressed him.

>

> Right now I feel so guilty leaving him at home while I go off to work. By the

time I get home he is very lonely and bored out of his mind.

>

> What are some activities/hobbies that might help distract him when he is home

alone?

>

> Kate

>