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Arthritis Insight Newsletter * Vol. 1 Issue 26 September 27, 2000
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--------------------------------- Wow! 26th issue. We've really been doing this for 6 months? Sure doesn't seem like it. Arthritis Insight has really grown during the past 6 months. We've gone from 25 members that first day to over a thousand today. And we're adding more everyday! As most of you know, I've worked on two other arthritis related websites and I've not been happier with any of them then I am now.
--------------------------------- Hi all welcome to another edition of Ron's Ramblins. The first thing that I want each of you to do is to read all the nominations for the Shining Star award and vote for your pick. I am extremely pleased with the quality and quantity of nominations that we received. After reading them all, I wish that we could give each and every one of them an award. However, we need to choose a winner. Each of the people nominated has some special talent that makes them special to their nominator. Thank you all for your nominations and I do urge you to vote. Just click on contest at the top left of the front of the site, and follow the cues from there.
--------------------------------- And they are our future??
Check out all the jokes at fun/jokes/index.html. Send yours in today!
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Arthritis can affect your ability to do even the simplest of tasks. I've heard some people say, "Accept your limitations." I'm not sure accepting them is the way to go. I prefer to challenge those limitations, work around them, finding alternate ways of achieving the same goal. Every week I'll share some tips I've found to work around those annoying limitations and I hope all of you will send in your tips too. We may not be the next Martha Stewart, but sometimes the simplest things can help so much.
Arthritis can affect your ability to do even the simplest of tasks. I've heard some people say, "Accept your limitations." I'm not sure accepting them is the way to go. I prefer to challenge those limitations, work around them, finding alternate ways of achieving the same goal. Every week I'll share some tips I've found to work around those annoying limitations and I hope all of you will send in your tips too. We may not be the next Martha Stewart, but sometimes the simplest things can help so much.
Check out more tips at living/tips.html and send in yours today to Tina@arthritisinsight.com.
--------------------------------- This week's Featured Discussion is
Medical Records. By the end of the week you'll be on your way to keeping track of your medical information.
feature/records
--------------------------------- On Monday we had an open forum about medical records. It was short, as we quickly got off topic, but we did learn from each other. Our Osteoporosis chat on Monday Oct 2nd with Dr. Susan will be postponed. We'll reschedule it just as quickly as we can.
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--------------------------------- From Donna: Congratulations!
Help us and help yourself!
Special Offers for Arthritis Insight Members
Whenever possible we will try get to our sponsors to agree to discounts and the like for our members. Here are our current special offers:
KC Comfort Zone (www.kccomfortzone.com)
KC Comfort Zone offers Innovative Products for Healthy Living. Safe, instant, portable, reuseable hot and cold Therapy packs as well as many other products for your comfort. KC Comfortzone will give Arthritis Insight members free shipping on ALL orders! And they'll donate 10% of your order total to the Arthritis Foundation. Just put (arthritis) next to your name on the order form.
KAS Enterprises (http://www.kasenterprises.com/theraband.html?ai) has graciously offered to help us out in our quest for fitness. They have put together a special package of Thera-Bands® and accessories. All for $19.99 with free shipping and a free instruction manual. If you mention Arthritis Insight you'll get double Frequent Buyer Bonus Points so you can earn free products!
Sore No More gel (http://www.sorenomore.com/) will send a free sample of the pain relieving gel to any Arthritis Insight Community Member who emails them at dma@glogerm.com.
Therabath Paraffin Therapy Bath is offering $30 off of their regular price of the Therabath unit. Visit http://www.wrmed.com/special_offer.htm for more info.
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Weekly News Summary
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--------------------------------- Two frogs fell into a deep cream bowl.
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Vol 1 Issue 26
The information in this newsletter should not take the place of advice and guidance from your own health-care providers. Material in this newsletter is provided for educational and informational purposes only. Be sure to check with your doctor before making any changes in your treatment plan. Information presented here is the opinion of the authors and has not necessarily been approved or endorsed by the medical advisors.
Notes From Tina
(tina@arthritisinsight.com)
The community we've formed here is just incredible. The caring, the compassion, the support are second to none. The knowledge possessed by those that frequent the chatroom and message boards is phenomenal. There are new people every day in the chatroom and posting on the boards, they are always welcomed with open arms. I can't think of a better place to find support.
A great big thank you to all of you that have made this website what it is today!
Ron's Ramblin's
(ron@arthritisinsight.com)
Now you are going to find out why this is called ramblins. I have several things that I want to mention very briefly.
First is that for the past few weeks I have been feeling pretty good. Finally after 3 years I am getting some relief. But you know it really doesn't feel like I thought it would. Instead of really feeling good about it, I feel guilt because I know that there are many out there who are much worse than I ever was. I wish I had a magic wand that would allow me to share with you. This is not a pity party, as a matter of fact, nothing would please me more than to close the site knowing that a cure had been found and no one would ever face any form of arthritis again.
Secondly, I want to remind you that this is your newsletter. If there is something that you like or don't like, please let either KJ or me know. As most of you know we try to accommodate any reasonable request. As I said before, this is your newsletter, therefore, if you feel like writing an article about something that is on your mind, go ahead and write it and send it in. If possible we will try to use as many of your articles as we can.
Finally, I want to all of you for your loyalty to the site. It still amazes me how fast the community here has grown not only in size but also in closeness. If you doubt that, drop in to chat almost any evening or take a look at the message boards, providing accurate information is a big part of the site but equally is the interaction and support of our members for each other.
LOL, I didn't start out to write a mushy article, just kind of rambled there. And now you know how the column got its name. Until next week, feel good, be happy and most importantly keep up the good work in providing a support mechanism for all of us.
(((((((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
~Indy
Your Weekly Giggle
Interpretations of nature from junior high, high school, and college test papers and essays submitted to science and health teachers (spelling errors preserved)....
"When you breath, you inspire. When you do not breath, you expire."
"H2O is hot water, and CO2 is cold water"
"To collect fumes of sulphur, hold a deacon over a flame in a test tube"
"When you smell an oderless gas, it is probably carbon monoxide"
"Water is composed of two gins, Oxygin and Hydrogin. Oxygin is pure gin. Hydrogin is gin and water."
"Three kinds of blood vessels are arteries, vanes and caterpillars."
"Blood flows down one leg and up the other."
"Respiration is composed of two acts, first inspiration, and then expectoration."
"The moon is a planet just like the earth, only it is even deader."
"Artifical insemination is when the farmer does it to the cow instead of the bull."
"Dew is formed on leaves when the sun shines down on them and makes them perspire."
"A super-saturated solution is one that holds more than it can hold."
"Mushrooms always grow in damp places and so they look like umbrellas."
"The body consists of three parts - the brainium, the borax and the abominable cavity. The brainium contains the brain, the borax contains the heart and lungs, and the abominable cavity contains the bowls, of which there are five - a, e, i, o, and u."
"The pistol of a flower is its only protections agenst insects."
"The alimentary canal is located in the northern part of Indiana."
"The skeleton is what is left after the insides have been taken out and the outsides have ben taken off. The purpose of the skeleton is something to hitch meat to."
"A permanent set of teeth consists of eight canines, eight cuspids, two molars, and eight cuspidors."
"The tides are a fight between the Earth and moon. All water tends towards the moon, because there is no water in the moon, and nature abhors a vacuum. I forget where the sun joins in this fight."
"A fossil is an extinct animal. The older it is, the more extinct it is."
"Germinate: To become a naturalized German."
"Liter: A nest of young puppies."
"Magnet: Something you find crawling all over a dead cat."
"Momentum: What you give a person when they are going away."
"Planet: A body of Earth surrounded by sky."
"Rhubarb: A kind of celery gone bloodshot."
"Vacumm: A large, empty space where the pope lives."
"Before giving a blood transfusion, find out if the blood is affirmative or negative."
"To remove dust from the eye, pull the eye down over the nose."
"For a nosebleed: Put the nose much lower then the body until the heart stops."
"For drowning: Climb on top of the person and move up and down to make artifical perspiration."
"For fainting: Rub the person's chest or, if a lady, rub her arm above the hand instead. Or put the head between the knees of the nearest medical doctor."
"For dog bite: put the dog away for sevral days. If he has not recovered, then kill it."
"For asphyxiation: Apply artificial respiration until the patient is dead."
"For head cold: use an agonizer to spray the nose untill it drops in your throat."
"To keep milk from turning sour: Keep it in the cow."
Tina's Tips
Another great tip from Linda:
Seems like I'm always coming up with a tip...maybe that's because I'm still trying to find ways to cope since just being diagnosed a year ago. This tip is about grocery shopping.
I recently gave up the mega grocery store and have started shopping at a much smaller store. In addition to much less walking and time spent in the store, I actually spent less money! The first thing I noticed was that unlike the mega stores where there might be 5+ brands of an item, my little store had one or two. This is also a big help as the store I had been using seemed to enjoy moving products all around from week to week. I would stand sometimes for several minutes just trying to find a particular item that had been moved. My RA was making grocery shopping a real challenge as I could barely get through the store - and then after checkout, still had to load. My new store treated me more like a person, even OFFERING to load my groceries. And there were even sufficient baggers so I didn't have to bag my own groceries. Good-bye to the modern, mega stores! It's back to the good old days for me!
And from Tina
If you wear your wrist splints to the grocery store, even those big chains will ask if you need help loading the groceries.
What's New?
Advice for Better Living
How do people deal with calling in sick to work when they're having one of those days where you wake up and can't move? Tell us!
living/advice/
Expert Advice:
There was information in the news a few weeks ago about women taking birth control pills continuely which would also prevent them from having their periods. They said this would especially be beneficial to women with certain diseases, RA being one of them. Something to do with keeping the hormones more level since some women experience increased pain before their periods. Is this something to consider if you are a woman with RA? Can taking birth contol pills be helpful? Or would it only be helpful if you experienced increased RA activity in relation to your period.
See our Experts' response to this and other questions.
medical/advice/
Question of the Week
What is the funniest thing that has happened to you because of arthritis?
community/question/
Questions From Friends & Family
I've read and heard about many different remedies for arthritis that really work according to those who have tried them. Yet when I tell my mother-in-law about these things that will help her, she does not listen to me. Doesn't she want to get better?
No responses? I can't believe no one feels a need to comment on this!
C'mon folks, tell us what you think.
living/family/questions/
Member Stories
More new stories, but I think we need yours!
community/stories/
Our Shining Star
Let the voting begin! What a wonderful bunch of people, they are ALL Shining Stars to me! We will vote until Sunday evening and announce the winners on Monday. VOTE NOW!
contest/index.html
Social Security Disability
We took the information presented in our Featured Discussion and formed a new section in the Better Living area. If you are thinking about filing, you'll want to read this.
living/ssdi/
Site Map
We have a great new site map! Thank you Ken! Ken Akers took on the time consuming task of listing all of the major pages in the site. He did an incredible job!
map.html
To see all of our latest additions see: updates.html
Check it every morning and you won't miss a thing.
What's Coming?
Our next Featured Discussion will be Osteoporosis. Are you aware of the risks factors for Osteoporosis? Are you taking steps to prevent osteoporosis? Tell us about it, fill out our survey.
feature/survey.html
What do you want to see on Arthritis Insight or in the Newsletter? Let us know and we'll do our best to accommodate!
Arthritis Insight Chat
community/chat/
The complete chat schedule can be found at community/chat/schedule.html.
Cooking With Char!
char@arthritisinsight.com
I still seem to be in a Crockpot mood. So how about some Crockpot desserts?
Crockpot Caramel Apple Topping
2 medium apples (cored, peeled and cut into about 8 pieces)
1/2 C apple juice
7 oz. of caramels
1 tsp. of vanilla
1/8 tsp. of cardamom
1/2 tsp. of cinnamon
1/3 C of creamy peanut butter
Combine apple juice, caramels, vanilla and spices
Drop tsp. of peanut butter over those ingredients. Then stir.
Add apple wedges and cook on lo for 5 hrs.
Stir thoroughly and cook (still on lo) for an additional hour.
Serve approx. 1/3 cup over angel food cake or a dish of vanilla ice cream.
Approx. 7 servings.
YUM!!!!
And did you know you can bake in your Crockpot? I vaguely remember reading that in the directions when I got my first Crockpot, but have never tried it. This recipe is so easy, I tried it 2 evenings ago.
I substituted super chunky peanutbutter. And I didn't have any nuts, so I substituted raisins instead. I also added a bit more water than it asks for. I recommend this be served warm with a glass of milk. It would make a good afternoon snack, when the kids get home from school.
Crockpot Chocolate Peanutbutter Cake
2 C Chocolate cake mix
1/2 C water
1/3 C creamy peanut butter
1/2 C chopped nuts
Combine all ingredients in one bowl and mix well. Beat about 2 minutes.
Pour batter into well greased and floured 2 lb. coffee can.
Cover top of can with 8 paper towels.
Cover Crockpot and bake on high for 2-3 hrs.
Doesn't get much easier than that!
If you have questions or comments, please address them to Char@arthritisinsight.com
And please remember, I am still looking for recipes for my series of holiday columns. Looking for family favorites, decorating ideas, recipes for entertaining, etc. I really need your help on this. I am counting on you!
Notes and Insights:
When...October 12-15
Place...Wooster, Ohio
Just a couple more weeks! Is everyone ready?
Complete information is posted at http://fadedjeans.com/ohio
Arthritis Insight member Kelly is expecting!
Holiday Shopping Directory
We know how difficult holiday shopping can be when you have arthritis. We are putting together a directory of wonderful online stores. You can please everyone without leaving your house (or changing out of your pajamas!) If you know of an online vendor that would like to be included in our Holiday Directory, tell them to contact us.
Happy Birthday!
A lot of birthdays this week! Happy Birthday JRHITEACH aka Marsha, Donna aka FACES, Nightowl aka Diane2, Swimmer aka Sue and Margie!
Check out all the birthdays at community/birthday/ and make sure to send them an arthritis-friendly e-card:
cgi-bin/postcards/postcard.pl
We've begged, we've pleaded, now we are paying! Internet sites typically pay 15% commission to any ad agency that brings them a sponsor. Well, we're offering that commission to you! Refer any potential advertiser to us and receive 15% of the price of their ads!
Wendy Tindell
New Research suggests the many over-the-counter calcium supplements used to keep bones strong contain small amounts of lead that could be a health risk if recommended doses are exceeded. Over-the-counter calcium supplements tested for lead, with lead content of each in micrograms per 1,500 milligrams of calcium.
http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/EMIHC000/333/341/298155.html
NEW GUIDELINES FOR HIP AND KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS MANAGEMENT
The American College of Rheumatology has updated its guidelines for the medical management of osteoarthritis.
http://rheumatology.medscape.com/27389.rhtml
HYSIOTHERAPY BENEFITS PATIENTS WITH ANTERIOR KNEE PAIN
Patients with anterior knee pain benefit from proprioceptive muscle stretching and strengthening as part of physiotherapy, according to a report in the September issue of the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
http://rheumatology.medscape.com/27529.rhtml
(You do have to register to read the Medscape articles, but it is free)
DG DISPATCH - ASBMR: Etidronate And Alendronate Effective In Men With Osteoporosis
Didronel (etidronate) and Fosamax (alendronate) are both effective for increasing bone mineral density in older men with osteoporosis.
Researchers at McMaster University have also found that it is possible to switch from one of these drugs to the other.
http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/1e290e.htm
ASBMR: Gender-Specific Reference Levels Needed To Identify Men At Risk Of Osteoporotic Fracture
Just as measures of heart disease in women for years were based on the male cardiovascular model, today doctors are forced to use female-based measures to diagnose osteoporosis in men.
Jane Cauley, Dr.P.H., associate professor of epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, has conducted research showing that using such female-specific reference values can miss a significant number of osteoporosis cases among men.
http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/1e2556.htm
Life and Laughter with Arthritis
(ron@arthritisinsight.com)
No funny stories this week. Someone please send one in! Laughter is the best medicine!!!
Contribute
Have you written something you think our subscribers would like to read? Send it to Tina@arthritisinsight.com and maybe we'll use it in our newsletter.
A Closing Thought
One was an optimistic soul.
But the other took the gloomy view.
"We'll drown," he lamented without much ado,
and with a last despairing cry,
he flung up his legs and said "Goodbye."
Quote the other frog with a steadfast grin,
"I can't get out but I won't give in,
I'll just swim around till my strength is spent,
then I'll die the more content."
Bravely he swam to work his scheme,
and his struggles began to churn the cream.
The more he swam, his legs a flutter,
the more the cream turned into butter.
On top of the butter at last he stopped,
and out of the bowl he gaily hopped.
What is the moral? It's easily found...
If you can't hop out, keep swimming around!
Author Unknown
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Arthritis Insight Newsletter Copyright 2000
Page last updated on September 27, 2000
The information provided by
Arthritis Insight.com should not take the place of advice
and guidance from your own health-care providers. Material in this site is provided
for educational and informational purposes only. Be sure to check with your doctor before
making any changes in your treatment plan.
Information presented on ArthritisInsight.com is the opinion of the authors and
has not necessarily been approved or endorsed by the medical advisors. The
information contained on this web site may not be published, broadcast or
otherwise distributed without prior written authorization.
