Attitude

There once was a woman who woke up one morning,

Looked in the mirror,

And noticed she had only three hairs on her head.

‘Well,’ she said, ‘I think I’ll braid my hair today.’

So she did and she had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up,

Looked in the mirror

And saw that she had only two hairs on her head.

‘Hmmm,’ she said,

‘I think I’ll part my hair down the middle today.’

So she did and she had a grand day.

The next day she woke up,

Looked in the mirror and noticed

That she had only one hair on her head.

‘Well,’ she said, ‘today I’m going

To wear my hair in a pony tail.’

So she did, and she had a fun, fun day.

The next day she woke up,

Looked in the mirror and noticed

That there wasn’t a single hair on her head.

‘YAY!’ she exclaimed.

‘I don’t have to fix my hair today!’

Attitude is everything.

______________________________

Be kinder than necessary,

For everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Live simply,

Love generously,

Care deeply,

Speak kindly…….

Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass…

It’s about learning to dance in the rain.

-Unknown

For those of you that have read all of my posts…(I’m sure that is a small number ) you will know that I have RA, my husband has CAD (Coronary artery disease) and my daughter had ITP (idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura) earlier this year. Until today, my son was the only one of us without a label. Today, he got a label.  He was diagnosed with an osteochondroma (benign bone tumor). For almost a week, I have been praying, worrying, denying, crying, stressing, and researching. The doctors originally thought that it was benign, but changed their mind and thought that it could be malignant. After a MRI, bone scan, x-rays, and CT scan, they decided that it was the lesser of two evils and gave me the call with the good news that I was waiting for. Thank you Lord!

My children are my greatest blessings.  I would easily trade places with them when they are sick or hurting.  As I was giving the hospital business office my insurance card, and then my unreimbursed medical expense card to cover the deductible, I looked over at my husband and told him that I may have to re-think my thoughts about universal healthcare.  I cannot imagine what it would be like to not have insurance that would pay for appropriate medical testing  for your child or your spouse.   There has to be a way to provide affordable healthcare for everyone.  I don’t think it needs to be “free”, but affordable.  I hope that very soon…somebody, somewhere can figure out how to do it.

So, for today I am counting my blessings.  I’m one of the fortunate ones that has insurance and a job that enables me to help provide for my family.  I’m thankful for a husband that loves me and our children.  I’m blessed that I don’t work for an employer that might fire me for missing a staff meeting because I was on the phone with the doctor.  I’m thankful that on most days, I walk without a limp, can still wear high heels occasionally, and that my medication is doing its job and keeps my RA under control.   And…..I’ve lost three pounds on the Rapid Weight Loss Worried About Your Kids Diet.  There are so many things to be thankful for.  What are you thankful for today?

I read this a few years ago.  It is so true and good to remember.

-J

Lord you know better than I know myself that I am growing older and will some day be old.

Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking that I must say something on every subject and on every occasion. Release me from craving to straighten out every body’s affairs.

Make me thoughtful but not moody, helpful but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom, it seems a pity not to use it all, but You know Lord that I want a few friends at the end.

Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details, give me wings to get to the point. Seal my lips on my aches and pains. They are increasing and love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by. I dare not ask for grace enough to enjoy the tales of others’ pain, but help me to endure them with patience.

I dare not ask for improved memory, but for a growing humility and a lessening cocksureness when my memory seems to clash with the memories of others. Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be mistaken.

Keep me reasonably sweet. I do not want to be a saint, some of them are so hard to live with, but a sour old person is one of the crowning works of the devil. Give me the ability to see good in unexpected places, talents in unexpected people, and give me, O Lord, the grace to tell them so.
Amen

I attended a retreat for women at my church this weekend. It was a great opportunity to get away from my normal routine and meet other women in the community. The main focus of the weekend was building friendships with other women. The food, fellowship, music, and worship was outstanding and I enjoyed it so much. However, for those of us with RA I ask…do we really have to stand up to sing praise? Now, I already know the answer to this question, but I still have to ask. You know how it is…you get that feeling that your joint/s are starting to swell…you start shifting…you try standing on one leg. After standing on one leg for a while and trying to balance and bumping into the person next to you, your hip begins to hurt, so you try to put some weight back on your foot and feel that familiar sting and wish you had your gel pack.  It’s hard to concentrate on worship when you are constantly trying to shift your weight to a position that doesn’t hurt.

Because I try to be an optimist, I have found a bright spot in modern worship services…at least we don’t have to worry about holding the hymnal now that the words are on the big screens! I wonder if they were thinking about those of us with RA when this concept was started? Hmmmm….nope, probably not. But, nonetheless it’s helpful, so yeah for words on the screen! (It’s also great for those of us that just had to start wearing glasses…but that’s another story for another day.)

I looked around and noticed that there were a few people sitting down but, if I sat down what would people think?   (I look forward to the day when I’ll not care what people think)  But until that day, I’ll just  shift and wiggle and balance to get through it until the much anticipated words are spoken…”you may be seated”.  Can I hear an amen?  Amen.

Oh happy day… sitting here with my foot on the ottoman and a frozen gel pack on top.

This little flare up is odd.  My foot isn’t very swollen, but is hot & sensitive to the touch and doesn’t want to bend.  Strange.  And, naturally it is rearing its ugly head as I’m preparing to attend a weekend retreat that starts tomorrow.  It’s always nice when people’s first impression of you includes a limp and a swollen foot.  But, guess what RA?!  I’m going anyway.  Aaaarrgghh..

As I searched for a picture of my beloved gel pack,  I found this great recipe for making your own.  Just click this link for the recipe & instructions.

Rheumatoid…makes me think of hemorrhoid.   The similarity between the two is that they both involve pain and both could easily fit in the “pain in the a**” category.

Then, there’s the word arthritis.  Arthritis…the kind your grandmother had is not the same as rheumatoid arthritis.  I think we’ve all probably experienced a conversation that went something like this…”Oh, you have arthritis?”  Followed by, “you know… Aleve really works for my Aunt Gracie”.  Let me tell you something that I know for sure…when you are having an RA flare, Aleve is no more effective than eating a sweet tart. Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s defense system attacks itself and causes the joint lining to become inflamed and swell.  I know that there is pain involved with any of the over one hundred types of arthritis, but I’m just sayin’…RA provides a different kind of pain.

There are so many misconceptions & myths about rheumatoid arthritis.  I think a name change is in order.  Any ideas?

Within a few months, I was referred to a rheumatologist…an excellent one. Over the course of a couple of months of testing with negative results, she told me that I have seronegative rheumatoid arthritis.  She said that approximately 20% of all patients she sees test negative for rheumatoid arthritis, but actually have the symptoms.  It has always been expected, so it wasn’t too much of a surprise. I had already done the research, so I was prepared. RA isn’t something that I would wish on anyone, but in the big scheme of things….it’s manageable. At the time, I had already lost a friend to cancer, so I didn’t take the time to participate in a pity party. I have a life and a happy family to be a part of…upward and onward!

My rheumatologist prescribed another round of prednisone and started me on methotrexate and folic acid . The folic acid helps to prevent hair loss and mouth ulcers, side effects of the methotrexate. Within three weeks, my stiffness and swelling went away. In the three years since diagnosis, I have only had two major flares! Many people have a poor response to methotrexate so I feel very blessed. My only bad reaction to all of the medications that were prescribed earlier was to Mobix. My face blew up like a blowfish. But, even this gave an opportunity for my family to laugh at me…we like to laugh.

My morning started out in this rheumatologist’s office for a checkup. It is always nice to go in and report that I am doing well. I don’t think she hears that from many of her patients. We decided that I could try reducing my methotrexate in the off chance that I am in remission. Here’s hoping. (Whatever happens….I’m still wearing my Tevas)