Stories From The Chronic Life

Taking Care of Others

2008-03-01T12:40:00.000-08:00

So many times in life, we have to take the focus off our own problems and help others in need. February was like that for me.

My father has emphysema, but it's controllable with inhalers. At the end of January, he became very ill. Now that we've sorted it all out, there were three things that happened in a a span of a week. He had a reaction to a new drug, Spiriva, he developed a bronchial infection, and he was retaining fluids in his heart and lungs because he was taken off his diuretic.

The combination left us fearful and bewildered. He went from being able to walk 2 miles a day to not being able to get out of his chair without breathing troubles. It was so hard to watch this very active person be reduced to old age mentality.

In this case, it all worked out. Once each problem was indentified and resolved, his breathing returned to normal. The constant fatigue went away. It still took about two weeks for his body to return to health.

Things like this are not only scary for the person suffering from them, but for the family. One starts to think about how much care the person will need, will this be the best shape they'll be in for the rest of their lives, and so on. As a chronically ill person myself, the extra burden of keeping track of the doctors, treatments, and medications of another family member can really be overwhelming. Organization and support are the things that see your through.

Happy New Year!

2008-01-01T17:23:00.000-08:00

I would like to wish all my readers a Happy 2008! May it be a prosperous, enjoyable year filled will whatever you want it to be.

I have to apologize for the lack of posts at the end of the year. I had so many things to do with the holidays that I didn't take time out for other things. It's difficult to juggle time and abilities when you live with a disability. I find that I get so much done then I'm fighting fatigue for a couple of days. When I get it back together, I'm right where I started! UGH!

I'll try my best to bring fresh material to the blog in the new year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Children and Chronic Pain

2007-09-29T17:45:00.000-07:00

I can deal with my own limited abilities, but I really have a hard time when children are going through the same thing. We accept that adults will suffer more pains as they grow older. Children should never be pain though!

One of my 11 year old relatives was diagnosed with OCD (osteochondroitis dissecans) last March. After many tests, they determined their was a fracture in the ball of her femur. In OCD, the fracture doesn't heal. She couldn't walk without pain and her knee kept catching on the notch and locking up.

The first course of action was physical therapy. She seemed to do really well with that. After a month of crutches, she no longer needed them. It appeared that the doctors did the right thing.

Right after 4th of July everything changed. Her knee started popping again. And, then she was back on crutches and in pain.

The doctor decided it was time for surgery. The idea was the explore around maybe insert some pins and drill some holes. With OCD they are never sure what the outcome will be after surgery, but she couldn't walk anyway so they had to take the chance.

In August, she had outpatient surgery. They removed some tissue that was in the wrong place. They drilled small holes around the fracture to assist healing. She went home and spent 8 weeks non-weight bearing on crutches.

She's now in physical therapy. She's got some pain but now it's different pain. Only time will tell if the surgery heals her OCD. It's possible it may never heal fully and then she might face a life of disability. Things are looking good so far.

After going through what I've gone through, I hope to God she will heal! No child should have to go through this kind of discomfort. Children should never have to deal with chronic pain.

Capzasin Roll On is Back

2007-07-31T18:20:00.000-07:00

Capzasin took the roll on off the market a couple years ago. I was really disappointed because I use that all the time. But now it's back!

If you've ever used hot pepper lotion, you'll know that it's dangerous to get it on your hands because always ends up in your eyes. When I buy it tube form, I use a Q-tip because it always gets on your fingers.

The roll on cost about the same as the tubes of lotion. It does last longer than it so much easier to apply. It's alot easier to work with and you don't have to touch the applicator.

It does seem to be stronger than any of the lotions on the market. You should test it out on a small area for spreading it everywhere. It's great stuff if you can tolerate it.

Happy 4th of July!

2007-07-04T18:48:00.000-07:00

Wishing everyone a very happy 4th of July!

It's the Little Pains

2007-05-23T18:30:00.001-07:00

I'm always worried about having some spectacularly, clumsy accident that will plop me on the couch for a week. So, why is it when I do almost nothing at all I have the most pain?

Yesterday, I took care of the dog's breakfast. As I was walking down the hall, I felt a little pull in my left ankle. I didn't even trip or slip.

That little hitch hurt me all day. I couldn't stand and each time I took a step it zapped me. My foot was sore all night long. It did feel better this morning so at least it wasn't a sprain.

It always surprises me that I can trip and fall on my face without any repercussions. But, lift my foot the wrong way, turn it a tad in midstep, and I'm out the rest of the day. Is it the same for you?

Walkwell Shoes Rock

2007-04-12T17:53:00.000-07:00

As I posted a couple of weeks ago, I've been trying out a pair of Walkwell shoes. I haven't had much good luck with shoes over the last 10 years so I really didn't expect much. I have to say that these shoes rock!!!

Normally, it takes me a week or more to break in shoes, so I do it slowly. I wore the Walkwells an hour one day, two hours the next, and so on. However, after four days my feet had adjusted. It caused me more foot pain to keep switching shoes than to leave on the new pair.

I had one problem on the fifth or sixth day. I developed muscle cramps in my left foot. I worked through it and they went away two days later. I think because these shoes are shaped a bit differently than my last pair, the muscles in my feet had to adjust.

It was a bit difficult getting the adjustments right. I had everything set then my left heel started sliding around. I think I've got that worked out now.

What are the benefits I've found? First, these shoes are open toes, which I love. My toes hate anything touching them. Second, they are adjustable. There are three velcrostraps across the top. There are also two velcro straps across the heel that can be adjusted. The shoes have a very thick sole, so you don't feel every step. Also, the toe turns up a bit. It was really strange walking this way at first. The Darco shoes were flat. The Walkwells give you a little of a rocking action. I think it's a plus. It makes me feel like the shoes are doing part of the work and there is less strain on my feet.

I'd give the Walkwell shoes two thumbs up!!!

Trying Another Pair of Shoes

2007-03-25T18:22:00.000-07:00

If you have problems with your feet then you will understand. Over the last 10 years, I've bought about 8 different pairs of "special" shoes. I've got orthopedic sandals, Pedors, Converse high top tennis shoes, Keds, orthopedic old lady shoes, and so forth. I've spent anywhere from $10 to $100. All of them look so pretty sitting on the shelf in my closet because I can't wear one darn pair! I call it my shoe collection.

I've been wearing Darco after surgery shoes for about 9 years. They are the only thing my feet will tolerate. The problem is I keep wearing them out. When I was sitting around the house, they were fine. They'd last 6 months. Since I try to be a little more active, I'm killing them. I'm no marathon runner. I take my dog on two 5-10 minute walks each day. I walk around the house to keep the blood flowing. Even still, I wear out the heels and I have a nasty habit of cracking the sole in half. It has become imperative that I find something that is comfortable but longer lasting.

I came across Walkwell shoes on the internet. I bought a pair. Maybe they would do the trick. I really dread having to break in new shoes, so I let them hang in the bag for 3 weeks. Last Wednesday I took them out of the bag, adjusted the straps, and had them ready to go for the next morning.

If you have the same problems, then you can visualize the process. I can't just strap the suckers on and start walking. I have to build up my time so they don't hurt my feet. The first day I went an hour. I felt like I could go longer, but didn't push it. The next day I went two hours. Then I went four hours. In between, I readjusted the straps hundreds of times. Today I got up to six hours before I developed a cramp in the arch of my left foot. That's not bad.

The Walkwells are similar to the material used in Pedors but shaped more like a Darco "blue" shoe with an open toe. It differs in that it's adjustable. It has three straps going across the top and one across the heel. They are light weight, but have a thicker sole than the Darco shoes I was wearing. The black is a bit of a nuisance. I have a yellow lab dog and hair gets everywhere. They are already finding my new shoes.The only thing I don't like is I have to pull up at least one strap to get my foot in. That's a pain since it takes me an hour or so to get them feeling comfortable.

Tomorrow I'll try for six hours again. There will be a point when switching shoes back and forth will hurt more than just leaving on the new ones. I hope that by the end of the week I'll be able to leave them on all day.

Probiotics Part III: Back to Acidopholus

2007-03-17T12:58:00.000-07:00

After spending a little over a month on Natrol's Acidopholus Complex, I decided my stomach didn't feel the same as it did on plain ol' acidopholus. So, two weeks ago, I switched back.

It didn't take long before my digestion was working better. I wasn't having stomach problems, but I didn't feel as I good before.

I'm not sure why there was a difference. I should have felt better since I was getting a multitude of good bacteria. It's possible that because I was taking a higher dose of acidopholus than what was in each Natrol capsule that I wasn't getting enough.

Anyway, I'm back to the original program and feeling pretty darn good. I wish I had known about acidolpholus 20 years ago. I would have saved a ton of money on prescription drugs that didn't work and over the counter digestive aids that only brought temporary relief.

Probiotics Part Two

2007-02-12T19:23:00.000-08:00

Well, I've been doing probiotics for several weeks now. I must say that I am really pleased. I've had some good results digestion wise.

I've also had some surprising results. I have bad diarrhea every menstrual period. I've tried adding fiber, taking mylanta, changing what I eat, drinking more water, drinking less water, and more. Nothing works. It comes unbidden and it's a doozy. Usually, I have a really bad day and then I feel swishy and drained for about 3 days more (which is what I need after cramps and back pain!)

After being on acidopholus for a month, I noticed that although I got diarrhea, the recovery was a heck of alot quicker. I felt pretty good the next day. I decided this was a fluke.

After the first month, I switched to Natrol's Acidopholus Complex which has other bacteria in it too. The next period, same results. I just had my period last week. I had my bout of diarrhea. By that evening I felt pretty good and I had no problems the next day.

I don't really know how to explain it. It almost seems too good to be true. But, maybe those good bacteria are waging war on my stomach eruptions--and they are winning. I hope it continues because I like having these quick recoveries.

Have You Tried Probiotics?

2007-01-30T18:24:00.000-08:00

I've been aware of probiotics for a few years. The health food store near my house sells acidopholus. I would read the bottles and then decide that injesting live bacteria was too weird for me.

My stomach was have it's usual menstrual eruptions in October. I had heard that some probiotics can help your digestion. I decided to do some research to see if they might help me.

I learned from Dr. John McDougall's website that we have all these bacteria in our digestive tract. They help us digest our food. When we feed them certain things like leafy greens they grow and prosper. When we have diarrhea, take anti-biotics, get sick, etc., those good bacteria die off. Then we have stomach woes.

I decided to take the plunge. It was very difficult finding dairy free probiotics. I finally settle on taking acidopholus as it was the only thing I could find that was dairy free.

I talked to others and was told to not expect immediate results. I started with one capsule a day. I didn't have any side effects so I upped it to two capsules a day.

When my first menstrual period rolled around three weeks later, I was curious to see what would happen. I had my usual digestive eruption. Normally, I have a really bad day, then spend three or four days feeling yucky. I had the bad day, but by the evening of the next day, I felt perfectly fine. In the next menstrual cycle, I noticed the same thing.

Was it the probiotic? I'm not ready to give the verdict. I'll let a couple cycles go by before I pass judgement. It's very promising though!

Since then, I switched to Natrol's acidopholus complex. This has several live bacteria strains. I'll be curious to see if I notice any difference. I know I've wreaked havoc on my digestive tract for the last 20 years. It's nice to give it something that will help it do it's work.

One Week on the New Med

2007-01-15T23:56:00.000-08:00

I decide to take the plunge last weekend and switch to Aleve. Mobic was starting to give me problems so I decided what the heck! Aleve was one of the few over the counter drugs I had not tried for my arthritis.

So far, so good. I am taking one a day which seems to be enough to keep my inflammation at bay. I had a couple of transitory days where my left foot was red and hot, but that has subsided. My fingers seem to be feeling alot better with the Aleve.

I've also had a couple unforeseen pleasant surprises. I was getting bloody noses quite often--it's one of the side effects of Mobic. Haven't had one in 9 days. I also had these bumps on my forehead. They seemed to be there for at least a year. Sort of what I call "surface zits". I assumed it was because I have a bad habit of putting lotion on my hands then rubbing my face. (My face does not like lotion!) However, I noticed yesterday that the bumps are gone. My skin has cleared up. I won't raise any flags yet, but it appears that was another side effects. My digestion felt a little sluggish the last couple of weeks but I feel a bit lighter these days.

I always dread trying new medication. You never know what side effects you'll have. With arthritis meds, there always seems to be a lag period where you have to build up the drug in your system. I've made it through week one. Keeping my fingers crossed, which is not easy to do!

To Change Medications or Not

2007-01-06T13:11:00.000-08:00

One of the dilemmas we all face is when do we decide to change our medications. Chances are if you've got a chronic illness or injury you're taking something every day or at least on a regular basis.

There are times when those tried and true medications turn on us. Maybe they don't work as well as they once did. Side effects may crop up. You just don't feel as good as you used to. It may be that your medical insurance has decided they know what's best for you and refuse to pay for your prescriptions anymore.

My case is a little bit of the above. I've been on Mobic for two years. Slowly I've seen little side effects pop up. None too serious, but annoying none the less. I start to wonder if this drug is worth everything else that comes with it. When you have to take something once a day, it seems that before long the honeymoon wears off.

I'm always leery trying new medications. I read all the side effects then I have myself convinced that I am going to experience all of them. And, should I take one today and then switch tomorrow? Should I give my body a day in between? I'm beginning to think I create half my problems with all this awfulizing (a term I learned in a positive thinking class--I don't think the class worked LOL)

I also worry if I'll have a flare during the transition. I have not had a serious flare in some 6 or 7 years. Between NSAIDs and hot pepper lotion, I've kept my disease in check. I always worry if the next thing I do will be worst than the last.

Is it easy for you to switch medications? Do you make it known that something isn't working for you? Do you put up with all the quirks and side effects when the meds give you relief? And, is it all worth it?

Christmas is Over

2007-01-03T13:18:00.000-08:00

Christmas has come and gone. It always leaves me with one question...why, oh why, do I have so many Christmas decorations???? I sure love looking at them but it's a big pain to put it all away when you can't stand for more than 5 to 10 minutes at a time.

So, I did what I do every year. We got rid of the tree one day. Two days later, I put all the ornaments back in their boxes. I was on a roll and I put away all the figurines.

For the next three days, my feet were killing me. It was great to get all that crap put away, but I paid the price for the standing and kneeling.

Monday, I rid myself of the paper snowflakes. And, last night I finally got all the Christmas cards down. I kept a few to make Christmas tags from, sorted out the letters that need to be kept, and recycled the rest.

Now, my house looks like the houses in Whoville. It is nice to start fresh in the new year. At the same time, I miss the festive atmosphere...the cute little snowmen, the laughing Santa's, the goofy reindeer, and all the rest that goes into holiday decorating.

I don't really decorate for other holidays. Maybe that is a good thing!

Season's Greetings!

2006-12-24T12:17:00.000-08:00

It's Christmas time again. For those will illness or disability, it can be a trying time. You're frustrated because of all the things you can't do or you don't feel well enough to do anything.

The important thing is to share time with family and friends. So what if you can't make a big dinner or go out caroling? Enjoy what you can and let the other stuff take care of itself. The spirit of Christmas is in the sharing and giving. You can do that will out knocking yourself out. LOL

So...Enjoy your celebrations!
Merry Christmas to all!

Holiday Hassles

2006-12-18T20:13:00.000-08:00

Getting through the holidays, whatever your celebrate, can be daunting. It's really a challenge if you are chronically ill or disabled. All the things you loved to do like making cookies, buying presents, visiting with friends and family may have become chores rather than joys.

I have had to cut down on my holiday activities. No more cookie baking--it just beats me up. I no longer wrap presents unless I have to. That's what my nephew is for :) If he isn't around, I get everything I can into give bag.

I get help wherever I can. My Mom helped me get the house clean, my nieces and nephew helped me decorate, and my Dad got the tree.

I do all the shopping I can online. The internet is a blessing for the disabled, let me tell you!!! And, when it comes to those with financial limitations, you can't go wrong checking out the auctions at Ebay. Other stores like bookcloseouts.com have a dollar for dollar sale (buy books, get an equal amount in dollar value free). There are also used sites like paperbackswap.com and swapacd.com where I was able to find gift quality books and cds to fill in my skimpy gifts. I did all of shopping online this year saving my wallet and more sore feet.

So, when you approach the holidays don't think about how hard it all is or how you won't be able to do all the things you like to. Eliminate what isn't necessary to your enjoyment of the season, get help where you need it, and look for deals online to save time and money. You'll appreciate the holiday season alot more if you aren't flat out in bed during the events.

Others Get Sick Too

2006-10-20T13:02:00.000-07:00

This has been one of those periods in time where I can't seem to find time for myself. I've been in caregiver or worry wart mode for a couple of weeks.

My mother went through five weeks of radiation theraphy. Each day I checked on her, phoned her to make sure she was getting on okay. When a family member is ill, the burden is shared. You can see the ripple affects. Even if you are not there taking care of them, they weigh heavily on your mind each day. You worry about them. Are they eating? Are they taking their medication? Are they asking for help when they need it?

As the one who is usually sick or needing assistance, it's somewhat strange to be thrown into the opposite role. One might not have the energy to do as much as is needed. It can be difficult measuring your capabilities and not working too hard.

My mother has finished her treatments and she's getting back to normal.

Hooray for Generic Drugs!!!

2006-10-02T18:46:00.000-07:00

I've been on Mobic for a year or so. My insurance refused to pay for it because they deemed it unnecessary. Evidentally, if a over the counter drug exist, then they think you should be on it -- even if you already tried that drug and it doesn't work for you.

Mobic cost me $95 for 30 tablets. And, that was the cheapest price I could find!!! What a rip off!

Imagine how thrilled I was to find out that Mobic was now available in generic form. Yipppeeeee!!!! The price difference is huge. The generic version cost me $16. I can afford my medication now. Of course, my health insurance rates just went up so I don't that I will actually experience those savings.

I know that there are patent issues and rules as to why drugs don't become generic right way. I wish they would though. It would make medication choices alot easier for people.

I Miss My Maid!

2006-08-10T19:07:00.000-07:00

I haven't been able to clean house in over a year. My Mom was taking care of things for me. She'd come over every other week and give the house cleaning like you wouldn't believe. That woman LOVES house work! Now with her having to deal with health problems of her own, I find myself maid-less.

I can do little things, but there is no way I can keep up with a messy house. Tonight I mopped the bathroom and the small kitchen area. You would think that I had scrubbed the floor on my hands and knees! I am about to fall asleep at the keyboard.

I keep looking for time and energy savers. I bought one of those Scrubbing Bubbles Shower Cleaners. You've probably seen it on TV. Press a button and viola! Your shower is spotless. Since my shower was dirty to begin with, I'm not expecting alot. It says it takes 12-14 days to do a dirty tub, so I'll hold all judgement until then.

I find myself doing little things in passing. I might wipe down the toilet before a shower. Dust the table tops as I'm passing through to let the dog out. I doubt I will be able to keep up. I do hope to keep us from choking on the dust clouds.

Tough Decisions

2006-08-02T12:39:00.001-07:00

It's so difficult making medical decisions even when you have all the information on hand. It's even worse when the doctor either says "Well, the tests came out fine, but..." or "You could do this procedure but it may not improve your pain." How do you decide what is best when it seems like none of the choices are all that great?

A relative was recently diagnosed with cervical cancer. The surgery went great. They removed the tumor. The lymph nodes are all negative--no abnormal cells. But, now they are worried about whether abnormal cells are on what they call "the highways". They offered her radiation (5 1/2 intensive weeks) or the wait and see approach with CT scans every 3 months. What would you decide?

On a lesser scale, I faced something like this with my arthritis about 10 years ago. If you've been reading the blog and my website, you know that my feet are a mess. I'm bone on bone in many joints. Surgery came up several times. They would do bone fusion and insert pins in certain places. It had some God awful recovery period of 4-5 months (non-weight bearing, that is) The dilemma was they could not guarantee I would be out of pain or that I could walk any better afterward. I spoke to some folks who had similar surgery. It seemed once one joint was fused, it had a cascading affect. Each person had multiple surgeries.

The last doctor I talked to said he would not recommend it unless I couldn't walk at all. Well, that was debatable. If you could call what I was doing walking, then it qualified! I decided to hold my breath and take my chances. I do muscle strengthening and range of motion exercises every day. I am still walking. In fact, I take two 10-15 minute walks a day with my dog.

I won't say that I am perfect. I don't have pain free days. There are days where my toes are buzzing and I have stabbing pain coming up through the bottom of my feet. But, I'm still moving. I can't do alot of things. But I can get to the bathroom, enjoy a walk with my dog--as long as I am careful.

In my case, 10 years have passed and I am still moving around. I could not predict this outcome 10 years ago. Same with my relative. She is taking her chances either way. No matter what she decides there are risks involved and second guessing. It never gets any easier, does it?

I Got Holes In My Shoes

2006-07-31T18:52:00.000-07:00

I wear Darco shoes. You know the kind that folks where after they have surgery...the blue shoes? Lately, it seems like I'm wearing them out like there is no tomorrow. I don't think I'm any more active than before. But, since I am walking the dog regularly now, I may be wearing them out on the sidewalk. I cringe at trying to find another pair of shoes that I can wear. I've got 1 pair of canvas sneakers, 1 pair of tennis shoes, and 2 pairs of orthopedic "special" shoes in the closet that I can't wear at all. Each is uncomfortable in it's own way. I really don't want to add another pair of shoes to the collection.

I had to laugh over the weekend. I was walking around the house when I noticed a very different noise coming from my right shoe. There was a click following me! When I turned the shoe over, it was almost cracked in half. I was very close to walking away with only half a shoe.

I got online quickly and ordered another pair. For now, I've got them glued with some packaging tape around them (Well, that stuff sticks to everything I don't want it to, so it must be good!) Sure hope they are here tomorrow. These are the only shoes I've got. I have a vision of walking around the corner and finding that I've left half my shoe in the gutter.

Role Reversal

2006-07-26T13:29:00.000-07:00

Role Reversal

I am so used to being the "sickly one" (as my sister calls me sometimes). I have been in and out of doctor's offices since I was 16. I am used to the labels and the so called sympathy.

Not too long ago, my Mother was diagnosed with Cancer. This is so strange to me! Not that I own illness or anything. But, my Mother has always been a "go, go, go" kind of person. Always cleaning, always shopping, always doing something. She is up at 5 am and cleaning house by 7 am. It is very hard for me to imagine her ill.

She just had surgery to remove the tumor. She stayed with me 5 days. How odd it was to be the one saying "Should you be doing that?" and "Did you take your pills?" She already wants to do everything for herself and I had to chide her like a child a couple of times.

It's peculiar to find myself as the care giver and not the care taker. Although, I can say I know what it's like to have pains and to feel nauseous. I can be a bit empathic.

Still, I don't know if I like this role of having to worry about my Mom (and I do). She's back home and I find myself wondering if she has the sense to not climb up on the chair to reach something. Will she call us to help clean house or will she hurt herself vacuuming because she doesn't want to bother us? I'm not so sure her restlessness won't win out! Damn, this mothering stuff is hard!

I Feel Good...

2006-06-14T23:15:00.000-07:00

I knew that I would. I am always amazed at how good I feel this time of year. It isn't something that I jumps out at me. I may feel crappy all Winter and part of Spring, especially when the weather fluctuates. It's as if my body doesn't know what season to be.

Then one day I'll be doing something and I realize that my feet are walking better, my hands aren't as swollen, and I'm walking with a little pep in my step. When I take my dog for her walks, I don't feel the resistance in my ankles.

Mentally, I don't seem to be as cranky. I'm in a better mood all around.

I like this time of year. I don't feel so arthritic. I actually feel a little bit normal. It's good to have this. I can enjoy the summer a bit even if that means sitting in the yard rather than hikes in mountains.

Getting up in the morning and knowing that my body will be half way decent feels good. It's going to last for several weeks (until Autumn changes to Winter). I think I'll take a deep breath and just say "ahhhhhh..."

RA Clinical Trial Needs Participants

2006-06-13T18:38:00.000-07:00

Normally, I don't write about this kind of stuff, however, I thought I'd pass this on. Genentech is doing clinical trials and needs folks with Rheumatoid Arthritis. I do not know anything about the study and am not affiliated with the organization. Please read the following and visit the website, then draw your own conclusions about participating. You may contact Stephanie at: holbroos@fleishman.com if you have any questions.

Here is the information:
My name is Stephanie Holbrook and I am contacting you on behalf of Genentech, a leading biotech company, with multiple products on the market for serious or life-threatening medical conditions. I wanted to inform you about three clinical trials that are taking place at more than 200 U.S. medical facilities, nationwide. Researchers are currently enrolling patients in three rheumatoid arthritis clinical trials for an investigational drug, rituximab. Those who are between 18 and 80 years old and suffer from active rheumatoid arthritis may qualify for one of these trials.

Please consider informing your audience about these three rheumatoid arthritis clinical trials, by featuring this information on Chronic Life. For more information on these trials, visit http://www.studyra.com. StudyRA.com provides information about each of the three individual trials, as well as inclusion and exclusion criteria used to help identify appropriate participants. Your audience members can see if they may qualify to participate by taking an online survey (http://t.pollg.com/o25863.htm ) to assess their eligibility for the trials or by calling 1-888-82-STUDY (78839) to talk to a representative. The survey only takes about 10 minutes to complete. Please feel free to feature any information from StudyRA.com on your site.

Life Ain't So Bad

2006-06-04T18:43:00.000-07:00

My list of medical woes is forever growing. My fingers are swollen. Two of them haven't bent in a week. My feet are perptually sore. I got kinks in places I didn't know I had. I can fall asleep at the drop of a hat. I could go on, but I won't.

I think that my situation is bad. Then I read about some of the people coming back from Iraq. I did not know this but there have been many, many, many more amputees than any other war. The reason is we've made major medical advances. We can save a person with surgery and medical devices. We have electronic prosthesis that emulate actual walking. We have drugs that ease the pain. A person who might have died of their wounds in World War II can be saved by new medical technology. Among these are people who are multiple amputees and burn victims. Once they are "saved" they then are subjected to a pain, adjusting to new limbs, physical therapy, and a completely different life. Some may never recover mentally.

When I think about the pain I endure or the difficulties I have holding onto object I can be thankful. At least I have all my limbs. They may not work all that great but they are all still attached to my body. That is something to be greatful for.