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 …
MsCowgirl 
9:50am Thursday
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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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Rose Petal Jam
June 18, 2009 11:22am
Rose Petal Jam
Can't send someone you love a real rose, send them some Rose Petal Jam!
Now, here is the recipe
You need 125gm of …
This entry is private
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Such is Life....
May 30, 2009 2:09pm
The heartlifting moment of my day was seeing a little girl, about 6yrs old, pushing her toy pram along the path in the sunshine. She looked so at …
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I will write soon.......
April 27, 2009 9:22am
I need to respond to quite a few hugs and messages, so I have to apologise if someone hasn't heard back from me just …
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Hugbook
Hug
My best to you and your parents hun. I am with my parents as well. Hoping all is well with you...
Hug
I feel so badly. I responded to your note to me before I read your journal entry, and didn't realize the severity of your parents' situation. I am so sorry to read all the difficulties your parents are experiencing. I hope you are able to make arrangements for their safety and well-being with a minimum of difficulty. Do take care. You and your folks will be in my prayers.
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Hug
Hi! I hope you are ok and I wish your parents the best as well. I haven't been on line at all as I have been super busy at work. So far my RA has cooperated, but I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop, as this is the most stress I've had since I was diagnosed. So hopefully I won't have a flare.
I hope your RA has subsided a bit and you are feeling well. Take care of yourself and I hope all is ok with your parents and the rough time they are experiencing passes quicklyi for them. 
Hug
I loved Perth a beautiful city I had to see it being born in Perth Scotland I only wish I could've stayed. I hope all is well with your folks and you and yours, take care, Dal
Rainbow
You will be missed. Take care of yourself.
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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.
