Happy April Birthday to:
03 - Kathy aka MsKathy26
10 - Cheryl aka LoyalAlways
17 - Jacquie
17 - Roy aka rcspe
17 - Carol aka CarolVIBC
25 - Kat aka KatKatzie
26 - Kelly aka manatey
Because we respect the privacy of our friends and we do not appreciate getting “spammed”, we do not give out e-mail addresses unless specifically asked to do so. Please stop by our message board to post your birthday wishes! And a note to you birthday people! Don't forget to check the message board to get all your well-wishes soon - birthday posts are removed after one month in order to conserve space!
I am so glad to be part of this group, everyone participates, everyone offers to help with tips and hints for the newcomer. We have seen several "oldtimers" this past month that we haven't seen for a while and they update on how they feel. As Dez says, if you are feeling good you don't take your meds, and I think the chat is like that. Feeling good you want to get on with your life and someone wrote me, that she no longer wants to be reminded that she has crohns as she has achieved remission. I can understand, she said she does not want to be reminded of the disease as long as she feels good and wants to go about her life. I wish all of us could achieve remission.
I don't know if many of you get the same commercials that we get in New York, but Centocor, the makes of Remicade, are touting REMISSION FOR EVERYONE with Centocor, never mentioning that it is in fact Remicade, or that not all of us can achieve remission with it, or can even get it. The best part of the commercial is that they tell you what it is like to have crohns, but at least they got the crohns name out. Once again I would like to thank Jan for the bowl a thon. - Good Going!
I want to mention that our 2 year ANNIVERSARY is next month! Wow can't believe that 2 years flew by and I have met and gotten help from some wonderful people! Along that vein, please, please send in your tips about crohns, like what you can eat during a flare, how to keep on weight or something simple like the best place YOU get your information! Thanks in advance, and of course I will be reminding you about this all month long, beats hearing we are not doctors........etc.! Happy April! - Debbie
CATCHING UP WITH TOM
Hi there, I've been off on Medical leave since May 24, 2001, when I had a bit of major surgery. Since then, I've gotten divorced, moved out of Michigan, and I'm presently waiting to undergo more surgery, which should be in early to mid March. This one is to repair my hernia, once again, and to put in some mesh to hold everything in place. Last time my body rejected the mesh after about 5 1/2 years. Lets hope the same thing doesn't happen again.
I also started taking helicopter lessons this week. At this point I can't afford to go all the way through to I can get my license, as that takes about $10 to 12,000 because of the cost of the helicopter. At $200 an hour, it adds up fast.
I seem to be going into a small flair right now, for the first time in several years. I guess it's time for more remicade!!!
Tom’s Recommended Links:
This one was found on one of the yahoo sites: For those applying for disability benefits due to their Crohn's disease, I have found a website that offers free advice and information for people applying for Social Security and Supplemental Security Income disability benefits. The information on the site is provided by a former Social Security disability determination specialist. If you click on "Feedback" on the left side of the screen, you can ask your own question about disability benefits.
http://www.thedisabilityexpert.com
For those interested in Scrapbooking here is a very good link. Looks like you can get just about everything you may need.
http://www.stickersgalore.com/
To find out everything you ever wanted to know about orchids and other flowers, please check out this site.
Our Friend Terry aka tr1107 sent this:
Deb I was just thinking if Cancer, Aids and others are called life-threatening illnesses, what do we call Crohn's?
I have come up with some choices people may want to vote on to see how severe everyone thinks of their own case:
Life-changing (a complete change of life-style)
Life-interrupting
(sometimes causing disruptions)
Life-annoying (just minor annoyances now
and then)
Life-ignoring (basically you can ignore the symptoms altogether)
Let us know how YOU feel! Please fill out our survey. Thanks!
From Sheryl aka SherylKir
Here are some pain group addys-you might already know about these places, but thought I would send them in case you don't.
A number of private organizations offer a variety of services and information that can help those affected by pain. They include:
American Chronic Pain Association
P.O. Box 850
Rocklin, CA 95677-0850
916-632-0922
http://www.theacpa.org
Self-help organization that offers educational
materials and peer support groups. They emphasize positive approaches to coping
with chronic pain. They will be launching a national pain awareness campaign in
2002.
American Pain Foundation
201 North Charles Street, Suite 710
Baltimore, MD 21201
410-783-7292
888-615-PAIN (7246)
http://www.painfoundation.org
Independent non-profit information, education and advocacy organization serving
people with pain. Raises public awareness, provides practical information,
promotes research, and works to remove barriers and increase access to effective
pain management.
Arthritis Foundation
1330 West Peachtree Street
P.O. Box 7669
Atlanta, GA 30309
404-965-7100
800-283-7800
http://www.arthritis.org
Volunteer-driven organization that works to improve lives through leadership in
the prevention, control, and cure of arthritis and related diseases. Offers free
brochures on various types of arthritis, treatment options, and management of
daily activities when affected.
National Chronic Pain Outreach Association
P.O. Box 274
Millboro, VA 24460
540-862-9437
ncpoa@cfw.com
Non-profit organization which
serves as a clearinghouse of information about chronic pain for pain sufferers,
their physicians, other health care professionals, and the public.
National Foundation for the Treatment of Pain
1330 Skyline Drive, Suite #21
Monterey, CA 93940
831-655-8812
http://www.paincare.org
Not-for-profit
organization dedicated to providing support for patients who
are suffering from intractable pain, their families, friends, and the
physicians who treat them. Offers a patient forum, advocacy programs,
information, support resources, and direct medical intervention.
"Pain: Hope Through Research," 2001, NINDS
This pamphlet was written and published by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), the United States' leading supporter of research on disorders of the brain and nerves and the pain that is often associated with these disorders. NINDS, one of the U.S. Government's National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, is part of the Public Health Service within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Prepared by:
Office of Communications and Public Liaison
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
National Institutes of
Health
Bethesda, MD 20892
NIH Publication No. 01-2406
From Sandra:
So many of you have been asking where can we find good e-cards....so it is my honor & privilege to announce:
We've got free greeting cards from Angel Winks on the CCNL web site!!! We're offering eight different styles of cards - something for just about anybody! And the cards change everyday!
Stop by and check them out!!!
Our ChronniesChatter of the Month:
Jeanie!!!
It is with great pleasure that we announce our Chatter of the Month - Jeanie or TNjeanie as she is called in the chat! She is one of the nicest persons on the internet, always lends an ear when one is needed, has great advice to give out, and makes the chats the success that it is. She has qualities I wished I possessed, dignity, faith, diplomacy, and an abundance of kindness. If you ask anyone who is the nicest person on the internet invariably Jeanie's name is mentioned and that is why she is Chatter of the Month, she is an example to be followed. You can read Jeannie's story here.
Congratulations Jeanie!!!
Note of thanks to CarolVIBC for making certificates for all our Chatters of the Month!
Quote of the day:
"We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are."
- Anaias Nin
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