Re: Digest Number 1941

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

Rhonda I am so glad you have found relief and caring here at this RSD list. Jo and Deb and I started this list because of the almost cruel way compassion and talking about our day to day lives was treated on some other lists.

Although we do exchange medical news the main thrust of this list is the personal stuff, which is why the only rule is not to say "your sorry." It's funny because I say this so much in my everyday life my friends have made a joke out of it.

I was taken by Rhonda mentioning the asking of "why me" when it comes to who gets sick and who doesn't.

The woman that drives me has a three year old little girl named Hannah. Yesterday morning I had a blood test so we where in the waiting room and I had pulled my sleeve up because over the weekend my left arm started acting up, swelling and pain and a significant change in temperature. Anyway, so the sleeve was bothering me so I rolled it back and resumed reading my magazine. Hannah stared at my arm for a few minutes then asked me "who did that to your arm?" Now I was never lucky enough to have children nor have I been around a lot of kids so I wasn't sure how to answer a tough question even from an adult but her Mom told her the arm was part of my sickness. She then asked why I had this sickness and both her Mom and I where stumped. I was saddened that the arm/wrist is so bad that a three year old can see it.

I am not sure how you answer these questions, how would you all answer this?

Felice

[Guest guest]

Hi Lori,

I know how frustrating it is to lose the use of your hands especially if you did cross stitch and stuff. I know do bunka and rug hooking as both use a tool that is fairly wide so it is easier on the hands.

The trick is not to work on it for a long period of time and that way you don't overdue letting the pain flare.

I used to sculpt a bit with clay and wood but now use paper mache, or at least am trying to use paper mache.

I think the most important thing for those that like to create is that there is a will, there is a way!

Felice

[Guest guest]

Felice - It's really hard with little ones who aren't developmentally ready to grasp more than a very simple answer. I would leave it with something that you know that she can understand....."No one did this to me. Sometimes people get sick and then they go to the doctor and the doctor helps them feel better.....Remember when you.........and the doctor helped you and you got better?" Keep it unsophisticated and offer short gentle reassurance that the child is fine and healthy. felicet867@... wrote:

The woman that drives me has a three year old little girl named Hannah. .... Hannah stared at my arm for a few minutes then asked me "who did that to your arm?" ........ I was saddened that the arm/wrist is so bad that a three year old can see it.

I am not sure how you answer these questions, how would you all answer this?

Felice

[Guest guest]

Felice,

You are so right!!! I do try to do a little bit at a time, especially if I'm having a fairly good day. Usually by the end of the day my hands hurt too much from typing for work but I try to take the weekends off to do a little bit as I love it so much. I'm still trying to come up with a solution though, I know I'll figure something out eventually, for as you said if you want it bad enough you'll do it. How is the paper mache working out? The worst thing with cross stitching is having to hold it while I work. I find that even with reading - holding up a book - or the phone, I have to rest it on my shoulders most of the time. Do you have to hold anything up with the paper mache? Let me know, I've been trying to think of other crafts to learn.

Thanks,

Lori