Is my beautiful, goldendoodle, Gracie. Against my better judgement, we adopted her a couple of years ago. Two months later I was diagnosed with RA. She has been my constant companion ever since. She stays with me the entire day if I am aching and in bed. On days when I am feeling better, she is super frisky and so much fun. She doesn't talk back, get tired of hearing about my aches and pains, or put pressure on me in any way. She just is, and she has been a life saver for me. She is cuddly, super soft, and has the most precious face that makes my heart just melt. She has an affinity for my boys' dirty socks, but even that doesn't bother me because she is so dang funny about sneaking them. When I go to pull the sock out her mouth, I discover not one, not two, but at least three or more stuffed in her mouth from front to back.
Of course I have family and friends to depend upon and for that I am grateful. But my sweet doodle Gracie lifts my spirits and makes my heart light in a way helps me navigate my illness even on my worst days.
Does anybody else have someone or something that helps you through this crazy RA world?My RA is behaving itself, for the most part. But, of course, that's not the only thing that can go wrong in a 40-year old human body! When I feel icky (mentally or physically) our little cat cheers me up. She is the goofiest little creature! Always licking my face like a dog; meowing as if she's talking to me - it sounds like she's asking me questions, and then talking back when I talk to/at her; insisting on being petted, insisting on laying right on me; purring as if my lap is heaven on Earth.
Don't get me wrong, I love my family and they are a source of comfort too - but it's hard to rest and relax when constantly being asked to fix this, get that, settle an argument, listen to one boy tattling on the other, the husband whining about the fact that he hosed up his computer again and needs back on the network NOW...
When everthing is getting to me I go get a manicure/pedicure. The people at the salon I go to really make a fuss over me but in a quiet way. They do an exceptional massage of the hands and arms up to the elbow during the manicure and really work the feet and legs during the pedicure. It's like they can feel where I hurt- I see a look come over their faces and they really concentrate on areas I have pain. They also do a little neck and shoulders massage when they take you over to the drying station. makes me feel like a Princess.yes. my comfort is furry too! I have lot of them though.. I have my Irish Wolfhound who is the sweetest most intuitive dog! He knows when I feel bad.. and he's there, putting his head (cause that's all that fits) into my lap!!
I have my little Cairn Terriers.... two little comics that make me laugh all the time..
then I have my bed buddy Gracie the Cat.. she sleeps w/ me at night and pokes me in the a.m. when I've hit the snooze too often
Then, my special boy.. My Cashmere.. He's a Ragdoll cat... the softest, sweetest, noisiest boy who has learned that all food comes from the kitchen and if you walk in there, he's yelling for a share of whatever it is.. Thanks to my Middle son Zac, Cash is a begger boy!!
They delight me....... even when they come in muddy or wet and smelly!!
I have alot of animals but I guess I need alot of comfort
non furry comforts is a comfy chair.. a good book...and a cup of tea..........
[QUOTE=wanttobeRAfree]When everthing is getting to me I go get a manicure/pedicure. The people at the salon I go to really make a fuss over me but in a quiet way. They do an exceptional massage of the hands and arms up to the elbow during the manicure and really work the feet and legs during the pedicure. It's like they can feel where I hurt- I see a look come over their faces and they really concentrate on areas I have pain. They also do a little neck and shoulders massage when they take you over to the drying station. makes me feel like a Princess.[/QUOTE]
Oh Im jealous.. I gave up manicures and pedicures because it hurt....
I too have my little cat. He is about 7 years old but we still call him 'the kitten'. Probably because he always acts like one, silly as all get out. He is like a puppy, when he hears a car or truck going down the street, he races to the window as if he would just love to chase it. He follows me to the loo and sits outside crying if I don't let him in. He loves to chase moths and bugs and just leaps and pounces around after things too small to see and looks hysterical. He will sleep on my belly or legs and loves the recliner...extra lap space!
Most of all he just loves to be with me and can give hours of laughter and giggles. We have another cat but she is too much of a snob to be funny and doesn't like to be near anyone. My wee Yoda is a mama's boy and gives many hours of cosyness and giggles.
Apart from my animals who are a great comfort, I have my bed...lol We bought the bed about a year ago. Its Super Kingsize and has a special matress. When I hurt and i feel down and depressed i go lay on my bed and within minutes I feel loads better. Its the most comfortable bed i have ever owned and with it being so big I can move around on it (when my joints hurt and are hot ) and find the cold spots to ease my pain...It also faces the large window in my room and i can lay and watch the sun come up...
My Golden Retriever, Charlie. When I was stuck in a chair for all that time when RA first hit, that dog never left my side. And when I would have to get up to hobble somewhere, he took special care to walk slowly beside me, never bumping into me, and that is a feat because his normal personality is just happily bounding where ever he happens to be going! He is one of my best friends.
Graciesmom~ I laughed when I read about your dog, Charlie is a notorius sock carrier as well. He likes to have something in his mouth to just carry around with him. I've read that that is a common trait amongst Goldens.
God Bless our dogs!
I have a big shepherd mix. She is 14, which is ancient for a big dog. She is also riddled with arthritis, but she still makes it her mission to stand right next to me wherever I might be. My kids know when I am in the bathroom because Sage will be standing guard outside the door. I will need to make some decisions about her pain levels, and whether or not I'm holding on to her selfishly, too soon. I can't even bare to think of it. I'm just trying to enjoy her now..
[QUOTE=leila]God Bless our dogs!
I have a big shepherd mix. She is 14, which is ancient for a big dog. She is also riddled with arthritis, but she still makes it her mission to stand right next to me wherever I might be. My kids know when I am in the bathroom because Sage will be standing guard outside the door. I will need to make some decisions about her pain levels, and whether or not I'm holding on to her selfishly, too soon. I can't even bare to think of it. I'm just trying to enjoy her now..
[/QUOTE]
When I was working my way through school (back in the day) I worked for a vet. There is so much you can do for arthritis pain in dogs. Is sage on asperin or glucosamine?
Thanks so much for asking waddie!
She takes the max dose of rimadyl (doggie NSAID) and glucosamine/chondrotin supplements. Her latest xrays show that she is essentially bone on bone in her hips and lower back. I feel so bad for her. She was my running/hiking partner for years. In my low moments I feel like I ruined us both. Besides my DH, who really is my shinning star, I have PC, my cat. No, PC does not stand for politically correct or personal computer and I am far to polite to say what it does stand for! My DH rescued him (and named him), which was odd because he has never been a fan of cats. PC is a talker, a pouncer, a cuddler, a fighter of all things invisible and most of all, my friend and confidant.
[QUOTE=leila]Thanks so much for asking waddie!
She takes the max dose of rimadyl (doggie NSAID) and glucosamine/chondrotin supplements. Her latest xrays show that she is essentially bone on bone in her hips and lower back. I feel so bad for her. She was my running/hiking partner for years. In my low moments I feel like I ruined us both. [/QUOTE]
Oh Leila, don't feel bad about that! I'm sure if you would have left her behind she would have been so miserable! It is not your fault, it is just the course of life. It is so hard when our best friends are in pain and we feel we can not ease them. Thanks so much waddie and snowowl, your kind words made me ridiculously emotional!
I'm hoping we're through the worst of the cold here in sunny Ca. In the summer she's bound to feel better.
And of course i just love my dh too.... but he doesn't wait for me outside the bathroom (thank goodness!)
[QUOTE=SnowOwl]
Cordelia, our last rat was named Cupcake. She followed Cookie, who was about the sweetest Rat ever. After Cupcake moved in, I heard one of my children remark "The new rat is ok, but she's no Cookie" So that became family code for all things substandard... "The coach was ok..but he's no Cookie".
My sixth child was a toddler in our Cookie days. One day when I took her to our local nature center, we were able to see one of the rats in the 'maternity ward' and her new pups. Abby got really excited and started shouting "O look Cookie Cookie!" The volunteer shook her head sadly, as if my daughter was the most pitiful thing she'd seen all day and said "No dear, that's not a cookie, that's a rat""My dh's also my main source of comfort, he's big, he snores, is a messy eater and very furry so he's rather like having a big shaggy dog ambling around the place, except he can open jars."
Snowowl, this cracked me up as well. ( I don't know how to use the quote thingy. I'll have to figure that out.)
Cordelia my girl loves to nap and spoon with me too. It's really nice, except when she misses her mark and plops her 55 pound fluffy body on top of one of my sore spots. I have my little Lilly. She's a toy poodle and definately my best little pal.
Post a picture of Gracie. We considered a doodle of some sort but opted for a small dog in the end. I'm glad we did. It's a heck of a lot easier on my back! I love to hold her.
Leila, love the whole Cookie Cupcake thing.
Graciesmom, they are so lovely when they spoon, aren't they. The dog girls are smaller than yours but when Sophie jumps on top of me...OWIE!
Animals are so healing for us and that's important.
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