ABOUT RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS, AND PROBABLY A WHOLE LOT OF NOTHING, MARINADED IN HUMOR.
February 29, 2008 10:57 AM
Happy Birthday!
I used to make many birthday cards. Everyone would receive one on their special day. I could distinguish between grown-ups and kids cards by choosing a more general or playful subject, but that was about it. The materials were all the same, shapes and colors would vary. I hardly make them anymore due to lack of time. One thing I would not even consider, was to send one of my home-made cards to a business person, or company. Even though the cards always turned out nice, somehow that didn't seem to be very professional, or sophisticated. I suspect many business owners and high placed persons don't even consider sending Birthday cards. However, if you like to keep a good relationship with your clients and want to show your employees how much you value their loyalty and dedication, what better way is there, then to send them a beautiful, personalized card?
 I love this one. It is colorful and still very stylish. Imagine this card fully customized, with professional printing of your company name and/or logo and a personal, kind and heartfelt message inside. What an outstanding impression that would make! It is so easy to personalize these cards online. Nothing to it. Simple, fun to do and oh, so thoughtful! :-) 
POSTED BY corryc AT February 29, 2008 10:57 AM
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February 29, 2008 10:12 AM
Mindful
M stands for Mindful.
To be mindful of eachother is essential in a relationship. In any relationship for that matter, be it with loved ones, friends, or even a very superficial random contact, like the lady behind the register. They all are persons with their own joys, burdens and trials and all are entitled to be treated as a person.
No, we may not always want to, but then consider how we would feel if someone else wouldn't be mindful of us. What if they totally overlooked and ignored us? How would that make us feel? I know I would be very hurt!
Just keep in mind: What goes around, comes around. You reap what you sow. :-)
POSTED BY corryc AT February 29, 2008 10:12 AM
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February 29, 2008 8:41 AM
Honey, I Shrunk Myself!!
Being overweighed can have a physical condition as a foundation, but also emotional! I have seen it around me. Stress, depression, anxiety and even boredom, can lead to eating. It is instant gratification to feeling somewhat better. A diet is often broken due to the above mentioned mental and emotional state. All the lost weight is quickly gained, and then some! It is more beneficial to examine why you eat, instead of what you eat, and take back the power by changing that habit. That beats every diet! Dr. Roger Gould's "Shrink Yourself" program addresses both weight loss and the psychological aspect of eating. The results are remarkable. A decrease in weight and an increase in well being. The site www.ShrinkYourself.com provides free articles, interactive tools, tips, and a supportive, active community. The online program is very easy and affordable, with a 100% money back guarantee! 
Why need a Shrink, when you can
in every aspect of the word!
POSTED BY corryc AT February 29, 2008 8:41 AM
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February 28, 2008 8:05 AM
Is There A Doctor In The House?
I already know many who are on an extensive waiting list to see a Rheumatologist. It can take up to several months before your appointment. In the mean time, all you can do is suffer. Some even have to go for many miles and hours to consult one. No one likes to have to live in pain on a daily basis and the sooner something can be done about it, the better. Especially when it concerns Rheumatoid Arthritis. This disease can cause deformities in a very rapid pace and they are irreversable. What is currently, and in the future, causing this shortage of Rheumatologists? " Currently, 46 million people have had a doctor tell them they have a form of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis (OA) or RA, or a related condition, such as lupus, gout or fibromyalgia. Within 25 years, as the over-60 population peaks, that number is expected to reach 67 million. And those figures don't take into account the millions more people who have joint symptoms and may need to see a doctor to find a diagnosis. They initially may see their family physician, but then either request to see a rheumatologist or be referred to one. This growing demand for rheumatologists could affect care significantly for millions of Americans.For those who don't live near a major city, long drives to see rheumatologists are common. People in metropolitan areas may live close to a rheumatologist, but they, too, experience the effects of their doctor being overbooked, busy and in demand.Waiting to see a rheumatologist is more than just inconvenient. For new patients, there's a window of opportunity for starting treatments that can delay progression of the disease. If treatment is delayed for several months, permanent joint damage could occur. That's something rheumatologists are concerned about. And for established patients who can't get in to see their rheumatologists, medication adjustments and critical laboratory tests could be delayed.Most people with OA are treated by a primary care physician, a physical therapist or perhaps eventually an orthopaedic surgeon. The same is true for some people with other forms of arthritis. On the other hand, primary care physicians send some patients to rheumatologists in an effort to diagnose and treat inflammatory forms of arthritis as soon as possible, because they realize they don't have the expertise to provide the new biologic therapies. Bio-engineering and a greater understanding of immunology, enabled development of extraordinarily powerful medicines that can make a quantum difference in people's lives. The biologic drugs like abatacept (Orencia), adalimumab (Humira), anakinra (Kineret), etanercept (Enbrel), infliximab (Remicade) and rituximab (Rituxan) provide the potential for disease modification now, that wasn't available 10 years ago. But the best medications in the world won't do much good if there aren't enough doctors available to administer them.Getting future doctors to commit to rheumatology often boils down to money:
1. To become a rheumatologist requires three years as an internal medicine resident and another two or three years completing a fellowship in the subspecialty of rheumatology. Although the number of fellowship slots available is limited, in rheumatology some slots go unclaimed because funding isn't available. (Funding for fellowships help a hospital pay for the doctor's salary and benefits. Increasing the number of fellowship slots also requires increasing the number of full-time faculty to supervise them.) 2. Rheumatology remains among the lowest paid of all the internal medicine subspecialties, bringing in far less in reimbursements from insurance companies and Medicare. The median compensation per rheumatologist in 2003 was about $180,000, compared with $305,000 for gastro-enterology and $335,700 for general cardiology. This also plays a role in new doctors' desire to go into rheumatology, especially when they finish medical school with $150,000 or more in debt.To address the shortage, the ACR (The American College of Rheumatology) has developed recruitment materials and raised money from pharmaceutical companies to attract people to rheumatology careers. And it has provided funds to give students exposure to rheumatologists they don't receive early in their medical school training. Redesigning medical practices to make them more efficient could help reduce costs, balance the supply and demand for rheumatologists, and better serve patients. For instance:
-Group appointments work well for educating patients, doing routine care and answering questions.
-Group appointments provide patients an instant support group.Group appointments are only one tactic for improving efficiency. Also recommended is pre-appointment management for new patients. A study reviewing the medical records of 279 patients referred to a rheumatologist found only 59 percent of them needed to see one.Such changes likely would take years. In the meantime, a lack of rheumatologists will not mean a lack of caregivers or access to care – for adults, anyway. The ACR plans to expand high-quality training programs for health-care professionals, such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Rheumatology relies heavily on teamwork to meet the needs of patients. Physician's assistants and nurse practitioners provide the continuity of care, which is needed to give the role of the rheumatologist room to expand. Creating dependable care takes the understanding and support of all those affected - the patients, doctors and nonphysician clinicians. The financing and delivery of health care is broken in the U.S. and people need to advocate for fundamental change.
The good news: The number of new rheumatologists has risen in recent years, from 122 in 2000 to 168 in 2006 - a 37-percent increase.
The bad news: The healthy-sounding growth will be outpaced by the rate of retirement. The estimates are that about half of practicing rheumatologists will retire within just eight years, and that by 2025 there will be a shortage of 2,600 rheumatologists in the U.S. Specialists for children:
When it comes to pediatric rheumatology, a crisis is there. Although the 218 pediatric rheumatologists in the U.S. are younger, on average, than adult rheumatologists, most are women - who work fewer hours and see 35 percent fewer patients than their male counterparts. And within the next five years, 32 percent of pediatric rheumatologists plan to reduce the time they spend seeing patients, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Although adults often face long waits for appointments with rheumatologists, the situation is far worse for the 300,000 children with rheumatic diseases, who may have to travel hundreds of miles for one appointment. And 10 states don't have a single pediatric rheumatologist. Today's shortage means that one-third of children younger than 18 who have arthritis, will see an adult rheumatologist. Legislation wending its way through Congress could improve the situation. When passed, the Arthritis Prevention Control and Cure Act (APCCA), supported by the Arthritis Foundation and the ACR, will help ensure an increase in pediatric rheumatologists by providing support for more pediatric rheumatology fellowships and partial loan forgiveness for medical school debt. The Arthritis Foundation is stepping up not only through advocacy efforts to get the APCCA passed, but also by trying to raise $5 million to pay for additional pediatric rheumatology fellowships."
~Arthritis Foundation. by Debra Gordon and Donna Rae Siegfried. Sounds disturbing, huh? A good thing, they are on top of it and doing what needs to be done to try and alter these prognoses.
POSTED BY corryc AT February 28, 2008 8:05 AM
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February 28, 2008 6:20 AM
A Helping Hand
The popularity of pay day loans has increased to an all time high over the past years. So has the number of lenders! To see the forrest from the trees is almost impossible. Many lenders tend to take advantage of their customers. Simply because they can, since the custormer needs money. The last one finds out too late he is in a bad financial bind. Congress has enforced laws to protect the consumer by having lenders follow state's small loan laws, have lender and borrower agree on an interest rate and by setting restrictions on maximum loan amounts. All good and well, but how does that affect you, when you need some cash advance? At least you know you will be protected against mal practice and falling into the hands of shady companies. You don't have to spend a lot of time to find a suitable, reputable lender. Easy Online Payday Loan will do that for you. All it takes is to fill out an easy online form with your up to date and most relevant information and they will work with their lending partners and find you a loan. Isn't it nice to know someone is watching out for you and lending a helping hand?!
POSTED BY corryc AT February 28, 2008 6:20 AM
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February 28, 2008 6:16 AM
Another Act of Love
This little story I found in the mail and it touched me deeply. I had to share it, because it makes up for all the harshness in life. :-) Our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died, my 4 year old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so she dictated these words:
 Dear God,
Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick.
I hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her. You will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.
Love, Meredith.We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.
Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, "To Meredith , " in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, "When a Pet Dies." Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:
Dear Meredith,
Abbey arrived safely in heaven.
Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away.
Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by.
Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you.
I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much.
By the way, I am wherever there is love.
Love, God. It is so encouraging to see and hear there are loving, compassionate and caring people. Even without knowing this family, the need was seen and met. Without reservations, without wanting anything in return. Just out of love. May God bless this person and may we all be more mindful of one another. On that note, it is better to give, than to receive. :-) I wish y'all an extremely blessed day, filled with lots of joy, hope and encouragement.
POSTED BY corryc AT February 28, 2008 6:16 AM
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February 27, 2008 2:58 PM
Printing Away!
I can't tell you how happy we are with our printer. It's an all in one. We have already made good use of the copier, scanner and printer. We try to restrain ourselves, because it does use lots of ink. Okay, I am asking myself here, why we would buy brand name ink, when there is a lot cheaper alternative? I buy generic medications, so why not generic inkjet cartridges? With a 30 day no questions asked return policy and 100% warranty, for a full year against defects, plus free ground shipping, Inkers can fuel our printer!
POSTED BY corryc AT February 27, 2008 2:58 PM
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February 27, 2008 2:00 PM
Life and Death
This is not a subject many people like to discuss. I am fully aware of that, but it is essential to consider and to talk about. What happens to your loved ones after you die? Are they stuck with lots of debts? Can your kids even attend college? In other words, have you taken adequate steps to ensure and insure your family's financial situation? It's already hard enough to have to go on without you, without getting into financial hardship. A life insurance policy is the best way to do that. Even if you don't need it (which I hope!), retirement might be easier, because you are able to enjoy more of your assets. It doesn't hurt to get some life insurance quotes and information. It can only be of help in the long run!
POSTED BY corryc AT February 27, 2008 2:00 PM
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February 27, 2008 1:23 PM
Love
L is for Love! We all need to be loved, but we also need to love. It's better to give than to receive.:-) Love is not all about constantly being happy and butterflies. It's also about making sacrifices, putting those you love before yourself. Doing what's best under any given circumstance. Feelings of love do not necessarily mean you love someone, you also choose to love them. You can feel love, but when your actions are all geared towards your own wants and how to get it, there is no sacrifice in that. The choice to love is to set your wants aside and do what is best for the other, fill their needs. Even when it hurts, apply the Golden Rule. "Love your neighbor as yourself." If we all did that, wouldn't the world be a so much better place?!
POSTED BY corryc AT February 27, 2008 1:23 PM
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February 27, 2008 7:00 AM
Down Under
The Internet is such a wonderful way to connect and keep in touch. From the time we started blogging until now, we have made many dear friends around the world. One of them lives in Australia, doing lots of mission work and charity. She is as sweet as can be and recently got engaged. Congrats, girl! :-) We would love to visit her sometime and vacation a while. Australia has got so much to offer. I heard Melbourne is definitely a "must see", but the diversity in nature is what draws me most. Nothing easier than picking up the phone, dial a flight to Australia, have all arranged with one phone call, including travel ideas. So what's keeping us? Time! We are way too busy. Our plates are so full, it's falling off, haha. Oh well, maybe things will slow down in the near future. :-) 
POSTED BY corryc AT February 27, 2008 7:00 AM
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February 27, 2008 6:30 AM
What's In A Name
Kory. I know you must be wondering what kind of word that is, well... it isn't, haha. But here is the scoop: I was about 4 years old when I had gotten a ball. That was the greatest thing to me, I loved it. There was one big concern however, I was afraid I would loose it. Now how could I make sure to get it back in case I did? Simple, write my name on it, since Mom had been teaching me already how to write and read some. I found a pen and made sure to write my name on the ball in huge letters. That way it couldn't be overlooked. It took me quite a while and when I was finally done, I went to show my mom, who was outside talking to the neighbor-lady. Proud as I was, I showed them my prize-possession. Confusion set in as they both started laughing. My mom had taught me how to read and write a little. I had no clue at that point yet how to spell my own name and instead of Corry, I had written Kory. Can you imagine my disappointment??? :-)
POSTED BY corryc AT February 27, 2008 6:30 AM
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February 27, 2008 5:42 AM
A Postcard, Just Because...
As you may have seen on my blog, I do pencil drawings. So far I have done mainly portraits, but I love to draw still lives as well. I have been told by many to render my services and make a living out of it. I tried and set up a shop, but honestly, most of my work I send off for free. Especially where it concerns family and friends. I don't feel good about asking them for money, when this talent God gave me brings so much joy. Maybe I am a softy and that's fine. As long as people enjoy my work, I am happy. The consideration of making postcards out of my drawings has crossed my mind several times. I love sending and receiving postcards. It is a thoughtful gesture! :-) The time and effort involved though is more then I can handle right now. It is tedious work and I have been looking for a company to create cheap postcards for me. One that allows me to upload my own images and design the cards the way I would like. VistaPrint meets all my requirements and more. When I use the coupon code "BlogPostcards100" at checkout, I even receive 100 postcards for free! I strongly suspect the snail mail is going to deliver some more postcards in the future. :-) 
POSTED BY corryc AT February 27, 2008 5:42 AM
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February 27, 2008 5:11 AM
Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis!
The reason why this pops up in my thoughts is, I have a friend in New Zealand who is stricken with this disease. She has had it ever since she was a child and is in a lot of pain. She is only 20 years old and no pain medication seems to help. When it does, it's only for a very short period of time. Her body gets immune to it very quick. Bless her little heart!
In spite of being constantly in pain, she has the greatest disposition I have ever seen. Always joyful, encouraging and making the best of things. I admire her determination and commitment to go on, even when the pain almost prevents her from walking. Way to go girl!!! You are in my mind, heart and prayers.
I don't always stick to RA, I investigate different arthritis related conditions as well and JRA is on my list!
POSTED BY corryc AT February 27, 2008 5:11 AM
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February 26, 2008 8:31 PM
Seafood Treat
Two oysters are enjoying the day on the bottom of the ocean. One is blabbering away and the other is awfully quiet. "Why are you so clamped up today?". Asks the talky one. "I am not, I am talking my head off with the rest of the world". Says the other. "How can you? There is no one around but me". Says the talker. The quiet one looks at his neighbor and says:" You crack me up. Don't you know the world is your oyster?" Living so close to the Gulf has it's advantages for seafood lovers like me. Shrimp, crab, any type of fish, fried oysters, I love it all . Raw oysters don't really appeal to me, which is a good thing as it turns out, because raw or under-cooked Gulf oysters can cause serious illness, or even death from Vibrio vulnificus bacteria.  When you have a liver-disease, cancer, diabetes, stomach disorders, or a condition that weakens your immune system, you better beware and avoid raw oysters. Enjoy these tasty sources of zinc, vitamin B12 and omega-3 fatty acids any other way you can. Steamed, fried, grilled, char-broiled, go ahead and eat all you like. But... be oyster and health aware!
 
POSTED BY corryc AT February 26, 2008 8:31 PM
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February 26, 2008 6:28 AM
Kids
 Sometimes I wonder where time goes. I guess it's part of getting older, haha. I mainly think that when we see our grand-baby (no, it's not him in the drawing). Each time he has grown and his features have changed a bit more. And you know what? We see him at least once a week! I can only imagine what it must be like if I would see him a only a few times a year.
POSTED BY corryc AT February 26, 2008 6:28 AM
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February 25, 2008 5:51 PM
Live it, instead of it living you!
Living with chronic pain is extremely difficult. No one can see anything physically wrong with you, but you hurt constantly. People with Rheumatoid Arthritis and other Arthritis conditions know exactly what I am talking about. Every move hurts and if you find a medicine that controls the pain, you overdo without knowing, and hurt twice as much the next several days. It is extremely depressing, especially when you are first diagnosed with it and don't know what to expect, or to do. Depression lowers your immune system even more. The pain gets worse. It is a vicious cycle. There is a way to break that cycle and even overcome the pain. No, the disease will not go away, but you are in control, instead of it controlling you! The Sedona Method teaches how to become emotionally happy and improve your overall well being. It will have a great impact on your physical state! The free DVD and CD tells you how simple it is to take back your life and enjoy it. You will experience a new earth, a new life, a whole new way of living The Sedona Method is a peaceful revolution in consciousness and value. It gives you the power to break the pain and regain your happiness, so that you too can say: "I learned to live it, instead of it living me!" :-)
 
POSTED BY corryc AT February 25, 2008 5:51 PM
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February 25, 2008 6:59 AM
Now What??
Many people diagnosed with RA and Arthritis, fall into a black hole at first. I know that from experience as well! You don't know what to expect, what to do, or how to go on. I hope this article may be of some help. "The "Take Control" Time line:After receiving an RA diagnosis, follow this general guideline for what should happen in the first two years. Everybody is different, however, so talk to your doctor about the course of treatment that's likely to work for you. "If you are functioning as you need to for your life, your arthritis is well controlled and you're not having excess pain, then your treatment is on target," says Arthur Kavanaugh, MD, rheumatologist and director of the Center for Innovative Therapy at the University of California, San Diego. At the first sign of symptoms:Make an appointment with a physician for a diagnosis. Joint damage will be assessed using MRI or X-ray. Prognosis will be estimated based on age, test results and the presence of other rheumatic conditions, such as Sjogren's syndrome, and any involvement of the lungs, heart, spleen or blood vessels. Within two months:Methotrexate usually will be the first disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) prescribed. Methotrexate takes one to two months to show benefit, so consider a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) or analgesic for pain while the methotrexate begins to work. Within six months:If methotrexate is not working by now, your doctor may switch you to another DMARD or add a biologic agent. Monthly or bimonthly liver function tests will be done if you're taking Arava, methotrexate or Remicade; periodically if you take cyclosporine; and yearly if you're taking salicylates or other NSAIDs. By one year: If examinations and tests show disease activity, progression or joint damage, your doctor may step up your medication. After two years: Disease activity and progression will be monitored at each visit. Discuss the effectiveness of your medications and any health problems you experience with your doctor. Always: Continue to learn about your condition, exercise regularly, eat well, lose weight if necessary, stay socially active and protect your joints.
~Arthritis Foundation,Posted 5/8/07, May-June 2007."The main thing in all of this, however, is not to loose courage and faith. For those of you just diagnosed with RA, take this from this ol' gal, who has been living with it for 19 years now: the meds these days are so good, you won't have to live in and with pain anymore, and the deformities can be stopped before they happen! Yes, you may have to adjust your life some, but... God may close one door, but He will always open others! :-)
POSTED BY corryc AT February 25, 2008 6:59 AM
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February 25, 2008 6:21 AM
Settling Down
Did you know that South Africa once was a Dutch colony? They didn't intend to colonize it when they landed in 1652. They only wanted to establish a secure base camp for their passing ships on their trading route to find shelter, and where hungry sailors could stock up on fresh supplies of meat, fruit, and vegetables. They started trekking North and eventually settled down. In 1815 the British took over and claimed their sovereignty.  Life may not have been easy at that time, living like nomads for a while until they found a spot to build a house. At least they didn't have to worry about mortgages!
POSTED BY corryc AT February 25, 2008 6:21 AM
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February 24, 2008 8:00 AM
Foreign Exchange
Years ago I did some wheeling and dealing at the Dutch stock market. It seemed a quick and easy way to make money. It was, but it took time and effort to find out what to buy and sell, and some money of course. I never saw any future or profit in Forex Trading (Foreign exchange). Maybe I would have with a good Forex training program, teaching me the tricks of the trade. Had I followed a Forex Trading Seminar, I probably would have made a killing by now, buying Euro's, when they were first introduced, and exchanging them for Dollars at present! Oh well, live and learn!
POSTED BY corryc AT February 24, 2008 8:00 AM
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February 24, 2008 7:23 AM | |
