Re: Pulling Weeds

MSN: Maggies1429

AOL: Maggies85

dbargad@... wrote:

There is something called a weed wacker. There is also a tool

for weeds. Its a long thin tool with a grippy handle. It has two

prongs and it makes quick work of the roots without pulling. Just dig

in it and wedge the root it out. Your husband needs to buy a weed

wacker and start wacking. If he cant get with the program tell him to

sod off.........(PUN INTENDED) The only pulling you should do, is

lifting a 20 out of his wallet while he's sleeping and take yourself to

lunch or a movie instead. Pick your battles, do what you can and leave

the rest. Be good to yourself. Hugs to everyone, Deborah

June 24, 2005

----- Original Message -----

From: dbargad@...

> The only pulling you should do, is lifting a 20 out of his wallet while he's sleeping and take yourself to lunch or a movie instead. Pick your battles, do what you can and leave the rest.

HaHaHa, I love it!

Nina

June 24, 2005

----- Original Message -----

From: Maggie

> it's friends of ours that come over and the husband and wife tell me my weeds are out of control. My friend is always pulling weeds and yapping about how she did it, and I feel like she admonishes me for having so many weeds in the flower garden. I finally told my husband next time they tell me we have a lot of weeds, I'm gonna scream.

Nice friends! Tell them if they don't like it, you've got gloves they can borrow to pull the weeds for you. That's what I tell family and friends about my dirty house ... if you don't like it, clean it. I save my energy for the important things in life (most healthy people don't know what those are).

Nina

June 25, 2005

Oh boy! I loved your response. I just posted something similar to this. My

husband said I should be out weed wacking....I hurt almost all of the time.

Grabbing those weeds kills me, but I do it just to show him I did something! I

think the wives that have a supportive husband are so lucky. Mine is mean. He is

the one who told me to try to get on disability, now he tells me, maybe if you

get disability you can get handicapped license plates too....just being mean.

I try the best that I can. My house isn't perfect but I wouldn't be ashamed to

have anyone in. But to him it is never good enough...

Ohhhhhweeeee I'm on the same boat as a few others I guess....maybe we'll end up

somewhere real nice! :-)

Kathy

--- dbargad@... wrote:

From: dbargad@...

Date: Fri, 24 Jun 2005 17:10:20 EDT

Subject: Re: Pulling Weeds

There is something called a weed wacker. There is also a tool

for weeds. Its a long thin tool with a grippy handle. It has

two prongs and it makes quick work of the roots without

pulling. Just dig in it and wedge the root it out. Your

husband needs to buy a weed wacker and start wacking. If he

cant get with the program tell him to sod off.........(PUN

INTENDED) The only pulling you should do, is lifting a 20 out

of his wallet while he's sleeping and take yourself to lunch or

a movie instead. Pick your battles, do what you can and leave

the rest. Be good to yourself. Hugs to everyone, Deborah

__________________________________________________________

June 25, 2005

I think the next time I get company I WILL

give them a weed wacker LOL.

Have to admit, I miss the days when I could just get out in the yard

and do yardwork without pain.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Maggie

MSN: Maggies1429

AOL: Maggies85

June 25, 2005

Oh boy, so do I. Doing anything, that I like to do, causes pain. It makes me

soooo mad! Not that I love doing dishes..hahaha but it hurts to wring out the

dishcloth. Geezzz

Kathy

--- Maggie <meshouse@...> wrote:

From: Maggie <meshouse@...>

Date: Fri, 24 Jun 2005 22:30:46 -0400

Subject: Re: Pulling Weeds

I think the next time I get company I WILL give them a weed

wacker LOL.

Have to admit, I miss the days when I could just get out in the

yard and do yardwork without pain.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Maggie

MSN: Maggies1429

AOL: Maggies85

__________________________________________________________

June 25, 2005

You know- Its strange. The whole psychology of men and pain. When men are in pain, they are not stoic. They are big babies and need coddling. They expect the same level of function and productivity from a wife, mother, lover, friend, etc and most will always be in denial. Men are terrified of their own mortality. When they see pain and illness, they deny it completely and utterly, because it reminds them of FRAGILE life really is. That is the unevolved nature of men. Women are evolved and are coming into their own in this age. We are able to accomplish as much or more than a man can, mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. They equate illness with weakness. That is an unevolved ideal. My weakness (RA) is the source of my greatest strength. Men cant conceive of such a thing. I am filled with a wisdom, a compassion, a grace and humility that I never would have known living a completely normal life. Weakness has taught me to accept what my limits are, and to bask and revel in the smallest accomplishments I make. Most of all, this disease with all of its pain and disability has taught me something, nothing else ever could. To love myself. To cherish myself. To unconditionally love myself because I am weak. Because I am not like everyone else. This disease sets me apart. It is in me for a reason. It is in each one of us with the brightest strongest light.. Destiny gave me this "gift" so that I can understand what joy it is to breathe and speak and hear and taste and touch even in pain. What a gift it is when each step is followed by another. To simply be able to move at all. Each breath followed by another and wake up conscious. People get out of bed, eat, dress and go to work. For us, getting out of bed, eating and dressing IS WORK. No one gets that. I am so proud of all you that have to live each day in pain, and who endure huge amounts of physical and emotional and verbal abuse because of it. No one can make you feel small and weak, unless you let them. No one can insult you unless you allow them to. What makes you less in their eyes, is so much more than they can possibly imagine. They cant understand the amazing courage it takes and bravery to face a day with RA and everything it entails. We are all miracles. Every single one of us. You can call me anything you want, but at the end of the day, I am still a miracle. Hugs everyone, Deborah

June 25, 2005

Yes Kathy ,

In life theres some people that dont ever learn how to treat others or plain and simply just want to be mean

to them , but life has its way of evening things out it allways comes back to them , and one day they will be

accountable for all they've done to hurt anyone or thing and theres nothing or no way or anyone that'll

get them out of that one it'll have to be faced alone by all .

john katshapug@... wrote:

Oh boy! I loved your response. I just posted something similar to this. My husband said I should be out weed wacking....I hurt almost all of the time. Grabbing those weeds kills me, but I do it just to show him I did something! I think the wives that have a supportive husband are so lucky. Mine is mean. He is the one who told me to try to get on disability, now he tells me, maybe if you get disability you can get handicapped license plates too....just being mean. I try the best that I can. My house isn't perfect but I wouldn't be ashamed to have anyone in. But to him it is never good enough...Ohhhhhweeeee I'm on the same boat as a few others I guess....maybe we'll end up somewhere real nice! :-)Kathy--- dbargad@... wrote:From: dbargad@...Date: Fri, 24 Jun 2005 17:10:20 EDTRheumatoid Arthritis Subject: Re:

Pulling WeedsThere is something called a weed wacker. There is also a toolfor weeds. Its a long thin tool with a grippy handle. It hastwo prongs and it makes quick work of the roots withoutpulling. Just dig in it and wedge the root it out. Yourhusband needs to buy a weed wacker and start wacking. If hecant get with the program tell him to sod off.........(PUNINTENDED) The only pulling you should do, is lifting a 20 outof his wallet while he's sleeping and take yourself to lunch ora movie instead. Pick your battles, do what you can and leavethe rest. Be good to yourself. Hugs to everyone, Deborah __________________________________________________________

June 25, 2005

Hi Maggie,

I can't pull weeds either so I've changed tactics...smother the weeds with newspaper covered with mulch. Looks pretty, is easier for me to do and is a great way to enrich the garden and recycle newspaper which the earthworms love.

Love from my garden,

(SE Ohio)Maggie <meshouse@...> wrote:

I think I gave the wrong impression of my husband. He's not the one that cares about the weeds. He tells me not to worry about it and he'll get out there and pull them...it's friends of ours that come over and the husband and wife tell me my weeds are out of control. __________________________________________________

June 25, 2005

That sounds like a good idea Chris! Seems that since my RA doctor took

my prednisone down to 5 mgs my hands have flared up again. As long as I

was on 10-15 mgs, they didn't bother me. But better to get off of the

prednisone I suppose. It sure is a miracle drug for me...but I gain too

much weight and it's bad for me. I even had 3 shots in my right hand

on Tuesday...seems the RA is just toying with me and moving from joint

to joint in the right hand. I'm off to Target to buy some weed killer

and mulch. Thanks for the suggestions!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Maggie

www.LivingWithRheumatoidArthritis.com

MSN: Maggies1429

AOL: Maggies85

M. C. Warren wrote:

> Hi Maggie,

> I can't pull weeds either so I've changed tactics...smother the

> weeds with newspaper covered with mulch. Looks pretty, is easier for

> me to do and is a great way to enrich the garden and recycle newspaper

> which the earthworms love.

> Love from my garden,

> (SE Ohio)

>

> */

> /*

June 25, 2005

I think things can be done to strengthen your back. I dont think giving up is a good idea or completely accepting your limitations. You accept what you cant do, but try and do something. Keeping muscles strong is important. Disuse altogether is as bad as overuse. Everything in moderation. My boyfriend has a herniated disk. He goes to a chiropractor and is very proactive about it. My muscles are wasted because of many factors, but I am wiry now and still am active. I cant lift much or do aerobics but I manage okay. Dont give up just because you have it. Dont give up things like darling horses either. When you feel you might not be able to do it anymore, then reassess and get help from someone else. Trying in this disease is as important as not giving in to it in the defeating sense. Some men are very strong, but in different ways. Be well, Deborah

June 25, 2005

CHRIS THANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNK YOU.....................SO MUCH........SMART SMART SMART!!!!!!!!

June 25, 2005

Deborah I think you hit on something very well. You made me think of my husband, he has a herniated disc in his back that sometimes goes into spasms. He's had this for 20 years and rather than exercise and do things to strengthen his back he has simply accepted ALL the limitations that he is "supposed" to accept. I've never respected this acceptance because in my eyes he's done nothing to combat the problem. When I got RA and was not willing to accept that I would live with some many limitations I fought back and my husband often told me to just "give it up", you will never get better and almost insisted I sell my horses. He still tries to put a long list of limitations on me but I don't hear them.

I'm just not sure though that it's fair to say only women are strong, some men I've met are just as capable of fighting back as women, but it's not as common.

Dorey

----- Original Message -----

From: dbargad@...

www.LivingWithRheumatoidArthritis.com

Sent: Saturday, June 25, 2005 1:58 AM

Subject: Re: Pulling Weeds

You know- Its strange. The whole psychology of men and pain. When men are in pain, they are not stoic. They are big babies and need coddling. They expect the same level of function and productivity from a wife, mother, lover, friend, etc and most will always be in denial. Men are terrified of their own mortality. When they see pain and illness, they deny it completely and utterly, because it reminds them of FRAGILE life really is. That is the unevolved nature of men. Women are evolved and are coming into their own in this age. We are able to accomplish as much or more than a man can, mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. They equate illness with weakness. That is an unevolved ideal. My weakness (RA) is the source of my greatest strength. Men cant conceive of such a thing. I am filled with a wisdom, a compassion, a grace and humility that I never would have known living a completely normal life. Weakness has taught me to accept what my limits are, and to bask and revel in the smallest accomplishments I make. Most of all, this disease with all of its pain and disability has taught me something, nothing else ever could. To love myself. To cherish myself. To unconditionally love myself because I am weak. Because I am not like everyone else. This disease sets me apart. It is in me for a reason. It is in each one of us with the brightest strongest light.. Destiny gave me this "gift" so that I can understand what joy it is to breathe and speak and hear and taste and touch even in pain. What a gift it is when each step is followed by another. To simply be able to move at all. Each breath followed by another and wake up conscious. People get out of bed, eat, dress and go to work. For us, getting out of bed, eating and dressing IS WORK. No one gets that. I am so proud of all you that have to live each day in pain, and who endure huge amounts of physical and emotional and verbal abuse because of it. No one can make you feel small and weak, unless you let them. No one can insult you unless you allow them to. What makes you less in their eyes, is so much more than they can possibly imagine. They cant understand the amazing courage it takes and bravery to face a day with RA and everything it entails. We are all miracles. Every single one of us. You can call me anything you want, but at the end of the day, I am still a miracle. Hugs everyone, Deborah

June 26, 2005

I didn't give up the horses, in fact the horses were a very large part of my recovery.

Dorey

----- Original Message -----

From: dbargad@...

Sent: Saturday, June 25, 2005 2:41 PM

Subject: Re: Pulling Weeds

I think things can be done to strengthen your back. I dont think giving up is a good idea or completely accepting your limitations. You accept what you cant do, but try and do something. Keeping muscles strong is important. Disuse altogether is as bad as overuse. Everything in moderation. My boyfriend has a herniated disk. He goes to a chiropractor and is very proactive about it. My muscles are wasted because of many factors, but I am wiry now and still am active. I cant lift much or do aerobics but I manage okay. Dont give up just because you have it. Dont give up things like darling horses either. When you feel you might not be able to do it anymore, then reassess and get help from someone else. Trying in this disease is as important as not giving in to it in the defeating sense. Some men are very strong, but in different ways. Be well, Deborah

June 26, 2005

Hi Maggie I am on 10mg of prednisone my doctor tried going down and

I keep haveing flare up ao he has keft me at 1omg aand I am doing

fone I haven't tried going down in a while so I may have to try it

again and see what happens to me I do know I can not live with the

fare ups they hurt to much and I don't like pain and fare up at all

good luck on getting off prednisone I just wish I could get off it

to

Sherrie

>

> > Hi Maggie,

> > I can't pull weeds either so I've changed tactics...smother the

> > weeds with newspaper covered with mulch. Looks pretty, is

easier for

> > me to do and is a great way to enrich the garden and recycle

newspaper

> > which the earthworms love.

> > Love from my garden,

> > (SE Ohio)

> >

> > */

> > /*

June 26, 2005

Hi Sherrie, I've been on it for many years and going down to 5 mgs is

hard. I wake up now with pain in the hands, shoulders and ankle. After a

trip to the hot tub most of it goes away except the right hand. I'm

trying really hard to work thru it. My MTX was increased to 8 pills

Friday and unlike me, I have been in bed by 11:30 over the weekend.

Usually I can stay up til 1-2am...and I'm nauseous.

I hope you can go off of it, but sometimes I'd rather be on it :-)

Don't push yourself.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Maggie

MSN: Maggies1429

AOL: Maggies85

Sherrie wrote:

>Hi Maggie I am on 10mg of prednisone my doctor tried going down and

>I keep haveing flare up ao he has keft me at 1omg aand I am doing

>fone I haven't tried going down in a while so I may have to try it

>again and see what happens to me I do know I can not live with the

>fare ups they hurt to much and I don't like pain and fare up at all

>good luck on getting off prednisone I just wish I could get off it

>to

>Sherrie

>

June 26, 2005

You're welcome!dbargad@... wrote:

CHRIS THANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNK YOU.....................SO MUCH........SMART SMART SMART!!!!!!!!__________________________________________________

June 26, 2005

----- Original Message -----

From: Sherrie

> Hi Maggie I am on 10mg of prednisone my doctor tried going down and I keep haveing flare up ao he has keft me at 1omg aand I am doing fone I haven't tried going down in a while so I may have to try it again and see what happens to me I do know I can not live with the fare ups they hurt to much and I don't like pain and fare up at all good luck on getting off prednisone I just wish I could get off it to

I'm in the same position except I can't get below 20 mg. of prednisone. Since I can't take methotrexate and can't afford the Enbrel, Humira, etc., I'm pretty much doomed to be on prednisone for a while. Been on it hard and heavy (including by IV) since last August.

Nina

June 26, 2005

Yeah, Maggie, but she probably has no idea you feel that way.

People live inside themselves.Nina <ncampbell@...> wrote:

----- Original Message -----

From: Maggie

> it's friends of ours that come over and the husband and wife tell me my weeds are out of control. My friend is always pulling weeds and yapping about how she did it, and I feel like she admonishes me for having so many weeds in the flower garden. I finally told my husband next time they tell me we have a lot of weeds, I'm gonna scream.

Nice friends! Tell them if they don't like it, you've got gloves they can borrow to pull the weeds for you. That's what I tell family and friends about my dirty house ... if you don't like it, clean it. I save my energy for the important things in life (most healthy people don't know what those are).

Nina

Sports Rekindle the Rivalries. Sign up for Fantasy Football

June 27, 2005

Nina, Plaquenil and/or Sulfasalazine are sometimes effective and they are generally milder than Methotrexate and cheaper than Arava or the biologics. I think even Dichlofenac is used sometimes. You should look for some metication to help you. God bless.

----- Original Message -----

From: Nina

Sent: Sunday, June 26, 2005 9:04 AM

Subject: Re: Re: Pulling Weeds

I'm in the same position except I can't get below 20 mg. of prednisone. Since I can't take methotrexate and can't afford the Enbrel, Humira, etc., I'm pretty much doomed to be on prednisone for a while. Been on it hard and heavy (including by IV) since last August.

Nina

June 27, 2005

Hi Maggie have you tried going on MTX shots they seem to be cheaper

and a hole lot easier on the stomach and nauseous I was on the shots

at one time and I didn't have any problems with nauseous they will

teach you how to give yourself the shots they arn't hard my daughter

gave me mine they taught her how to do it I got mine in the arm once

a week its not that bad good luck

Sherrie

>

> >Hi Maggie I am on 10mg of prednisone my doctor tried going down

and

> >I keep haveing flare up ao he has keft me at 1omg aand I am doing

> >fone I haven't tried going down in a while so I may have to try

it

> >again and see what happens to me I do know I can not live with

the

> >fare ups they hurt to much and I don't like pain and fare up at

all

> >good luck on getting off prednisone I just wish I could get off

it

> >to

> >Sherrie

> >

June 27, 2005

Thanks Sherrie, I think i'll check into that next appt. I took the

actenol today....YUCK! Can't tell if I'm feeling icky from the MTX or

the Actenol now , probably both. Nap time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Maggie