Journal Entry for October 11, 2009
October 11, 2009 10:41am
I've got to pack those bags again and head back to Perth for a week to help my mum and dad, do some business and celebrate my nephews engagement …
MsCowgirl
1:31pm, October 25, 2009
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About Me
MsCowgirl
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About Me
Hi, I live on a farm 400km\'s from the city, that mostly produces livestock and grain. We are also right on the beautiful Indian Ocean coastline, where there\'s plenty of recreational fun like fishing, diving and tons of water/wind sports like surfboarding to keep everyone busy. It\'s thought I have RA/AS - still to find out. In the meantime I need to soak my brain cells up with as much information as I can, so please bear with me!
Hi, I live on a farm 400km\'s from the city, that mostly produces livestock and grain. We are also right on the beautiful Indian Ocean coastline, where there\'s plenty of recreational fun like fishing, diving and tons of water/wind sports like surfboarding to keep everyone busy. It\'s thought I have RA/AS - still to find out. In the meantime I need to soak my brain cells up with as much information as I can, so please bear with me!
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Interests
Bush Medicine/Animal and Wildlife welfare/Tai Chi/Natural History/Glass engraving
Bush Medicine/Animal and Wildlife welfare/Tai Chi/Natural History/Glass engraving
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Journal
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Willpower just wont do it!
October 5, 2009 11:37am
You know when you have one of those dreams and you wake up realising the "good times" are over, and it happens to really be Monday morning? …
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Faaaaaantaaaastic Whale Watching Trip!
September 29, 2009 9:44am
I am still getting the sand and Bougainvillia leaves out of the car, but we've just got back from a few days recouperation at Kalbarri, a …
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Home Sweet Home
August 25, 2009 9:43am
Finally home and so glad for it. The time away was spent trying to help my elderly parents through one crisis after another. My dads …
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I'll be back, but not sure when.
June 30, 2009 12:36pm
Our parents have had the fortune to see their children grow into adults, marry their loved ones and watched the family grow with each grandchild and …
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Hugbook
Hug
Hey Cowgirl!! Good to see ya. ;) I've been away for a while too. Been very busy running back and forth to doctors in the city. Things are a little quieter now thank goodness. Take care my friend.
Linda
Hug
Hi there! Just giving you a Tuesday hug because we all need those hugs!
Lynne
High Five
boooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Flower
Thank you Miranda for your concern and prayers. You are ahead of us on days tuesday is tomorrow here. I will let everyone know what I find out ruling out not winding up in the hospital. God bless.
Joey
Hug
Rhanks for your sweet comments. I'm very fortunate to not only live in a fabulous place, but to be able to get out in it. Sharing it is one of my joys. hugs, doug
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Photos
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Support Groups
Close Ankylosing Spondylitis
In Aug 2008 I had a minor headcold. What followed has been a rapid onset of what is thought to be RA/AS. I am not formally diagnosed yet but have just found out I have Grade 3 inflammation of SIJ's (tut)
Treatments
- Heat Working / Worked
- Invest in a flat electric heat pad for your back, one that you can control the temperature/time etc. They are worth their weight in gold!
- Humira Somewhat Helpful
- Been on it 3 months. Have had 3 flares since starting, 2 that required cortisone. Has helped reduce fatigue though
- Naproxen Not Working
- Trialled for 6 weeks, no real benefit noticed with yet another anti-inflammatory.
- Pets Working / Worked
- Both my dogs and cats sense when I'm not well. They are more gentle and affectionate.
- Physical Exercise Working / Worked
- I try and do at least 40 minutes, 5 times a week. Have to, otherwise I'm going to collapse and never get up. 1. Hydrotherapy/Swimming 2. Walking 3kms 3. Tai Chi 4. Home Exercise Program
- Pilates Working / Worked
- Pilates keeps my muscles strong, so that when the rest of me fails, I have something to keep me standing up.
- Tai Chi Working / Worked
- Great for maintaining flexibility of the spine in AS, but I still have to be careful not to over do it. The holistic approach to tai chi is also soothing and inspirational. I love it.
- Celebrex Working / Worked
Close Rheumatoid Arthritis
In Aug 2008 I had a minor headcold. What followed has been a rapid onset of what is thought to be RA/AS. After anti-inflammatories, cortisone, supplements; I am about to start on biologics
Treatments
- Celebrex Not Working
- The same as Naproxen - no joy.
- Dextropropoxyphene Not Working
- Not strong enough to aleviate my flare up pain.
- Fish Oil Working / Worked
- I take 6000mgs a day and don't really notice any benefit, until I stop them!
- Folic Acid Too Soon to Tell
- I take Vit B Forte daily
- Humira Somewhat Helpful
- Been on Humira 3months now, no real reduction in flares, but has helped reduce fatigue.
- Naproxen Not Working
- Was on 1000mg each night but could not determine any beneficial effects from it. Rough on the stomach too.
- Pets Working / Worked
- Both my dogs and cats sense when I'm not well. They are more gentle and affectionate
- Pilates Working / Worked
- Helps keep me standing upright, but hard to continue whilst flaring.
- Prednisone Too Soon to Tell
- It settles down the swelling and inflammation, but not the pain.
- Walking Working / Worked
- I love it. Gentle, enjoyable, good for the body and the mind.
- Elavil Working / Worked
- Has helped reduce the severity of the muscle spasm that I experience at night.
Open Adoption
A 30yr search for my birthparents. The path is long and winding, but I hope one day I will have success in locating one, or both.
Open Back Pain
I injured my lower back in a work accident back in 1983 and after a range of conservative treatments, reached the end of the road 6 yrs later, requiring a spinal fusion of L5/S1 with bone graft. It took 19 yrs for the wear and tear to become evident in the disc above, and in 2007 I had another fusion, this time an artificial disc (Maverick) was used. So far complete recovery, but getting there is still like climbing a mountain.
Treatments
- Bedrest Working / Worked
- Bedrest is a must, but getting pain/muscle spasm relief whilst lying down is another thing all together.
- Epidural Injection Somewhat Helpful
- I had a series of three epidurals a months apart. First one gave about 7 days relief, the 2nd about 48hrs and I did not consider having the third to be worth the travel/hospitalisation etc.
- Heat Working / Worked
- Helps reduce the muscle spasms well.
- Ibuprofen Somewhat Helpful
- Not useful for severe pain, but can help take the edge of a chronic back ache.
- Naproxen Not Working
- I took it regularly, but could not feel the benefits of taking it.
- Physical Therapy Working / Worked
- Core exercises are essential in maintaining my lumbar spine strength.
- Relaxation Working / Worked
- Usually its enforced, because I'm totally incapacitated when my disc blows.
- Stretching Not Working
- Manipulation by a physiotherapist, sadly caused my bulging disc to herniate completely.
- TENS Working / Worked
- Does provide relief, but difficult to self-apply to your own back
- Valium Working / Worked
- For all it's bad reputation, this is the best med for relieving muscular spasm.
Open Fitness Goals
Treatments
- Elliptical Trainer Working / Worked
- Good aerobic exercise, I started with just 5 minutes at a time.
- Martial Arts Working / Worked
- Tai Chi - very good for all ages and all levels of fitness.
- Pilates Working / Worked
- Would recommend pilates as it's great at strengthening your core muscles. For all the girls who have always wanted abs, this is recommended.
- Running Not Working
- Too high impact for me.
- Strength Training Working / Worked
- Very good for strengthening my hamstrings and reducing my lower back ache.
- Swimming Working / Worked
- Excellent, low impact exercise.
- Weight Training Considering
- I find the monotomy gets to me after a while.
Open Smoking Addiction & Recovery
MsCowgirl hasn’t entered any details for this support group.Open Insomnia
MsCowgirl hasn’t entered any details for this support group.
