Quilting with disabilities

[Eileen K.]

Patti,
For future reference, look into the ergonomic office chairs for your sewing. There has to be one out there that would support the part of your back that needs it.
I have to get one because my kitchen chair I've been using for years is now too low. I can't hold my arms as high for as long as I used to be able to do.
Don't get one online-go to the store, if you can, and sit in them.
Just a thought,
Eileen

[Margo C.]

I just got an interesting article from my DIL about a woman who was nearly dead from ASPARTAME POISONING from drinking diet sodas!! It presents as MS and lupus and fibro!! SCARY STUFF!!
The info is from the EPA and I don't know how true it is, but it sure made me glad that I don't drink diet sodas! It's a long article, and I won't post it here, but will be happy to forward it to anyone if you let me know you are interested.

[Patti P.]

Thank you Rachel and yes Eileen, as soon as there's some money coming in, I want to buy a decent chair for my studio. I did end up sitting at the sewing machine for an hour, took a half hour break and then did another hour working on my Feb BOM. So all in all I did 4 hrs total sitting (2 in upholstered chair). It got painful after that but not as painful as before. Today, I'm working on hour number 3 in the studio chair. It's not comfortable but no pain. Uncomfortable I can handle at work. Wish it were more but if this keeps up, I'll try to get cleared maybe to work part time.

[Eileen K.]

WooHoo, Patti!! Good luck!! We'll all be pulling for you!!
eileenkny

[Patti P.]

Thanks Eileen. Had a bad day today and thought I wasn't going to be able to sit at all but discovered something. I have posted in the blog a need to find a pattern for my girlfriend. I was trying to scan thru all the pages of the Quilters Cache and the pain was driving me nuts. But it subsided after about a half hour with several shifts of position and weight. I'm glad I wanted to find something for my friend because I would have given up otherwise.

[Patti P.]

Margo, I've had my doubts about aspartame for years now. Have wondered about a connection between the huge increase in ADHD kids and pregnant moms who drink diet sodas sweetened with the aspartame. In reading labels at the store, I seldom purchase anything that contains that product. I'll stick to Sweet N Low and Splenda.

Pat in Rockport, TX

[Patti P.]

Part of the rise in ADHD I personally think is parents who are no longer home when children are small. That and when they are home they don't do thing like the nursery rhymes and little games. Not because they don't want to but because they are exhausted. Remember when your kids were little there were many more stay at home moms and if mom did work it was only part time. Well now mom has to work and it has to be full time (unfortunately). Well these kids are not getting the one on one attention. My 10 year old when he started school was one out of 4 that knew nursery rhymes. A few knew songs. Basically these kids were dropped off at babysitters houses and played all day with no direction to their play. These teachers have to teach so much in one school year they don't have time to stop anymore. So if a kid gets lost there is no way he can catch up and then he become a behavior problem. Next thing you now he has a label. Another problem is we have removed the right to discipline from our parents and our educators. Now these kids know that they can act out and all they have to do is call child protection. Just happened the other day one of my son's friends called CPS on his dad for washing his mouth out with soap. He had called his mom a certain word. Dad grabbed him and shoved soap in his mouth then paddled his backside. CPS came told him he couldn't do that. Dad said hold on just a second. Went upstairs came back down with a backpack full of clothes and said he's your's. They all changed their tune really quick.

[Patti P.]

I can not tell you how much better I feel. Since The Drs. have increased my Topamax I feel so much better. It is unreal !!!!

[Patti P.]

Rachel, so glad to hear you are feeling better.

Margarita in Auburn, CA

[Patti P.]

Sorry last report was so short but a lightning storm came up really quick and I wanted off the computer but I did want to give everyone a positive update. Aside from being tired and having issues getting my meds. The increase in topamax has been really a turnabout in how I feel and I just thought I would let everyone know. Apparently in on very long runon sentence
Rachel

[Eileen K.]

I don't know if this has been posted here before but this is the perfect forum for it.

http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/na...poonTheory.pdf

Yesterday, DH asked me to go to the mall with him and we walked at least 2 miles between stores. In and out of the car, different stores; you get the idea. After about 4 hours, I told him I was done-I had very few spoons left. He gave me a funny look so I decided to print this out for him.
It's a very interesting way to think of ourselves when we can't do it all.
eileenkny

[Sandy F.]

Thanks Eileen. That article helps me better understand my good friend who has Parkinson. I thought I understood from taking care of my father who had Parkinson but I don't think even he understood why things were happening and why he could not do everything he used to do. My friend understands more what is happening to her but it was hard for her to accept that she could not do everything she wanted to do. If it is hard for her to understand it is doubly hard for me but this illustration helps me understand her. Thanks so much.

There was an article on cnn.com this morning about fibromyalgia and I know it has been discussed here. How fustrating it must be to you who are dealing with it.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/condi...gia/index.html

[karen f.]

I can truly relate to this article, Eileen. Very timely as I washed my hair this morning and had to "take a break" and rest up before I did my makeup. I get told you don't even look like you have Parkinsons sometimes but I tell them they would see if they were looking from the inside. Still I know it could be much worse, so don't count this as a complaint just a recognition of a familiar experience.

Karen

[Patti P.]

I printed the article out cause who could read that small print on the computer? But I finally got to it today and it really is an excellent analogy.

[Sue R.]

Hi Ladies !

I've read all 24 pages of the postings in this category--I feel like I already know you !
Like most of you here, I deal with CF and chronic pain. I'm a SAHM due to a brain injury, 3 kids, one off and married, a very patient DH and a crazy dog.
I just don't know how you all find the time to quilt---at least the ones with kids at home. By the time all the duties of the day are done, my fatigue is at peak and my brain power is gone :shock: This smiley looks a whole lot like me at night---deer in the headlights <g>.
I did manage to take a quilting class last year, and hope to take a few more in the fall. So I've accumulated lots of SQ episodes, a fair amount of books and fabrics, several unfinished class projects, and just need to get plugging on them.
It's been lovely to meet you all and look forward to talking more with you.

Sue in NH