that you did before your RSDS? When Inhishands asked about hobbies it brought up what I was wanting to ask about.

What things do you do now that you did before RSDS?

Do you go to Church?

Do you take walks with your mate?

Do you go hiking with your mate or just by yourself?

Do you take rides to enjoy the scenery?

Do you go on picnics?

Do you go window shopping?

Do you go grocery shopping?

Do you spend the day with your kids or grandkids doing things?

Do you go to peoples houses for any length of time such as parties or get togethers?

Do you take trips to other states?

Do you go hunting or fishing?

Do you go camping?

Do you play games with your kids or grandkids such as throwing the ball or racing or hide n seek?

Do you go on picnics?

Do you hold down a job, full or part time?

Do you go to school?

Do you sat and read a whole book without falling asleep or giving up because you can't keep your mind on it?

Do you write letters that need to be written?

Do you pay bills?

Do you deal with money problems over the phone yourself?

Do you deal with bill collectors with no stress?

Do you deal with problems of any type with no stress?

Do you ride bikes?

Do you ride horses?

Do you clean your own house or have the energy or getup and go to do it?

Do you do your own laundry?

Do you work in your yard?

Do you spend time with your mate and are you able to enjoy it and concentrate on it?

Can you be intimate with your mate? This is personal but it is just one of the normal things in life that I found hard to do due to my health?

Do you drive yourself to the Dr?

Do you drive yourself anywhere you go?

Do you go to nightclubs or dances?

Do you have nights out with your mates?



I really don't expect any of you to answer all of these questions. These are just some of the things I am really interested in having some input on.

As I told you before in March I am having a VNS put in due to depression and I am so hoping that it will open the door for me to do some of the things I did before I got RSD and TOS.

I was just talking to my PCP and he uses the word unique when he describes me. I always say I'm abnormal, he hates for me to say that, but I feel that way. My Neurologist describes me as a walking miracle, I just think I'm a lost cause.

I just wanted to know how many of you are living somewhat of a normal life in the ways I mentioned above or ever thought about it. I might depress you by getting you to think about it but at least it will get you guys to strain your brains. Just kidding.

It just really bothers me that I am the way I am. Bill took care of me for the last 19 years but after the RSD and TOS I was so much worse and my depression was so much worse.

I just wanted to know if any of you feel the same way I do about things you can't do that you use to do.

Thanks to all of you for the love and support I get here. All of you help keep me going. If I'm down I can come here and read and talk to you. We need that support.

Ada

Ok. Well, that is a long list with very few that apply to me.

I won't say the things I can't do. That is a long list.
But almost all those things on the list are things I can't do...llike fix a meal or ADL's or wash hair.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Things I can do now (without help) that I did before:

* I can wash my face with disposable baby washcloths, soak my arms/feet
in warm water & Epsom salts.
* walk around my house.
* occasionally read the same page of a book three times or more.
* watch TV for short periods.
* Mostly can deal with problems w/o too much stress.
* Go to church with my husband.
* We can go out to eat a few times/year, but mostly take out.
* Talk on phone wearing a headset
* Computer using Dragon Naturally Speaking
* Sleep

If I think of more as I go through my day tomorrow, I'll add on ...Thanks! Hope

Thanks for the reply.

I thought about this after I posted last night and I realized there are several out there that may not even be able to bathe or do their hair. Sorry for leaving that out.

Ada

My problem is that the things that cause the most trouble don't usually cause trouble until later. It makes me afraid to try to do much of anything.

Before I was in robust good health except for a trick back and awful sinuses.

Please understand that most of these things I do not due, strickly because they are not comfortable for me. Many of these I am assisted with help.

Do you take walks. With DD only in good warm weather

Do you take rides. When I feel up to it, the car is not always comfortable, ad gas is expensive in NY

Do you go on picnics. Maybe in the spring

Do you go grocery shopping, usually once a week on a good day, do not like it though and I am always assisted because I cannot push the cart and lift many items.

Do you spend the day with your kids. Yes but adapted to how I can now, vrs before I was sick.

Get togethers? Only with people who understand my conditions and where it would be acceptable to lay down (Family mostly).

Do you go camping? Yes but my DH has to totally handle packing, setup, teardown & cooking and all that fun stuff that everyone hates about going. It pains me that there is little I can do to help.

Do you play games with your kids. Only board or cards as I feel I can

Do you hold down a job. I am trying to get back to work, but now I am not sure I will ever be able to. I am 100% disabled at this point.

Do you write letters that need to be written? No because writing is very painful and basically unreadable. Thank goodness for DD or would not have lists.

Do you pay bills? Yes, via internet

Do you deal with money problems over the phone yourself? Yes, but If it is too complicated, I may defer to DH.

Do you deal with problems of any type with no stress? Nope, problems are stress and stress is pain.

Do you clean your own house or have the energy or getup and go to do it? I do what I can and my family handles the rest.

Do you do your own laundry? As I can sometimes assisted sometimes not, depends on pain and resting inbetween.

All things like going out and being close are uncommfortable for me. I do not like anyone near my arms at all. Touching is usually a deffinate no no. Thank goodness my family understands all of this and are as compassionate as possible about it.

Just my 2 cents, Rain

Gee that big list is my use toos. The only things I do now is work on peoples computers, and very slow at that. Also create websites, research online businesses, a post to you all.