Devotion: Have You Put Out Your Net When Coping With Your Illness?

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"When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, 'Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.' Simon answered, 'Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.' When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break." (Luke 5:4-6) Last year I had a falling out with my rheumatologist of over ten years. She was ready to retire, out of options or ideas for my rheumatoid arthritis, and basically decided to try yelling at me to see if that would motivate me to decrease the prednisone I had been trying to get off of for years. I went through a few days of tears, frustration, anger, and mixed emotions. I knew God had … [Read more...]

Clever Idea! Make a Pill Box Out of a Crafty Bead Box

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Are your medications and vitamins overwhelming you? I have 4 pillbox holders that I fill up 2 weeks at a time for morning and evening. But all the other bottles have been disorganized. And as much as I try to stay up on getting refills, some are last minute or I even miss a day. None of them seem to run out at the same time. We have a "drug drawer" in the kitchen with a lock. But as the rest of the family has added vitamins and medication over the years, my medications have suddenly become mixed in with everyone elses. So every time I spent 5 minutes going through 15 bottles looking for a particular one I think, "There has got to be a better way!" And. . . There is! Check this out! Can you guess what it is? It is a bead … [Read more...]

Prayer Request for Rest Ministries Assistant, Kara

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Hi, friends, Many of you have been blessed when you have called Rest Ministries to speak to my volunteer assistant, Kara. Her sweet southern voice and compassion is a comfort to us all, and she keeps the ministry running smoothly and me (relatively) sane. A couple of weeks ago she let me know she'd been diagnosed with breast cancer and last week she had a lumpectomy. I briefly posted on Facebook this week as she was in surgery, but I asked her permission to share it publicly and she said it would be fine (and prayers appreciated). Wednesday following surgery Kara posted the following: I'm already home from the hospital after the lumpectomy and lymph node sampling and praise the Lord that's all for now, depending on what the lymph … [Read more...]

Saturday Morning Obstacles

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Without hesitation I get out of bed. . . Ugh! The knee won't bend. I cannot put weight on it. A tiny piece of bone has moved into a place it should not be sometime during the night. And it is stuck. Oh, not today, Lord. Pleee-eee--ase, not today. If only we could be pain-free on the weekends. I lean over on the bed with my arms and try to bend and unbend the knee as my husband snores. He got home from work sometime around midnight. It was a deadline day. It was an impossible deadline. He worked 15-hour days all week and still didn't make the deadline. He will have to go back into work today, Saturday. I try putting weight on my foot again. Wince. Moan. I try to vocalize my pain quietly. I limp to the living room. Chair. I need a … [Read more...]

Devotion: Who Among Us Would Honestly Choose Pain?

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"At least I can take comfort in this: Despite the pain, I have not denied the words of the Holy One." (Job 6:10) I told my wife to start calling me "Pain Douglas" after a visit with my surgeon. He put a chemical on my wounds to make them heal faster, and the chemical burned like fire. Then the next morning it was off to the foot doctor to remove an ingrown toenail. I opted to skip the pain shots for, as I wrongly figured, it would not be much of an ordeal. The doctor said she could not believe I endured the procedure without the pain shots--yet I sat white-knuckled gritting my teeth the whole while. Then later that evening my wife, as directed by a doctor, put mesalt into one of my wounds. Yes--mesalt! It is literally placing salt … [Read more...]

New DVD From RM Helps Communicate Our Needs to Churches

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"I just wish there was a way I could help my pastor understand what it's like to live with a chronic illness." If you've ever felt this way, we have a new and fabulous tool we think you will love! I have been working on this since late 2010 and am excited it's all ready! … [Read more...]

Poem: The Gift of Pain

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By Cindee Snider Re The Gift of Pain Physical, emotional, chronic – Consumes, swallows, saps, Drains. Connecting, responding, Reaching out Requires more Energy, Effort, Emotion, Than the pain sometimes allows, Leaving me separated, isolated, Alone. Words lie flat on printed pages – Unclear, Obscure, Perplexing. Thoughts drift, wander, Swirl out of reach, Refusing to make sense, Take shape, Opaque, Leaving me wordless, Isolated, Alone. Pain is difficult to define, Describe, color, Number, name, A formless image, A vapor, a mist, A mirage That dissolves, dissembles, disappears As I try to capture it in words, Wanting it to be … [Read more...]

What Do Patients Really Want From Their Doctors?

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A recent study has proven what we-as patients-want, and it won't come as any surprise: more communication! 90% of patients said they want their doctors to listen to them; only 25% wanted a prescription, and 60% wanted an examination (Southampton University in UK). Previous research from the University of Connecticut has shown that the effectiveness of drugs depends largely on the relationship and amount of time doctors spend with the patient. The longer the consultation, the more effective the medications. We asked some of you what you want and the answers may leave you nodding in agreement more than surprise. That he have more time to spend with me to thoroughly answer my questions. When he's rushed I feel pressured and afraid to … [Read more...]

Illness Can Help Us Get Creative in Problem Solving

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By Rhonda Sawtelle I’ve been busy unpacking in my “new” place. I’m enjoying the remodel results. The unpacking has been moving slowly for several reasons: (1) my pain level can’t take too much at one time: (2) I’m rearranging things. I decided while packing up my apartment, that this would be the time to reevaluate what I have where and why. Throughout the years, I’ve worked on getting things which help keep my pain level lower: sleep number bed in the bedroom, a high table in the kitchen, a shelving unit putting things within my reach (my pantry), and most recently the daybed and new mattress in the living room. Yet, I didn’t think through where things were put and how they affected my pain. Until now. One … [Read more...]

Devotion: Allowing Ourselves To Be Honest And Not Always Put On a Happy Face

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“I believed, even when I said, ‘I am greatly afflicted,’” (Psalm 116:10). Many days, I’m not feeling well. I’m in pain and just worn out. When someone asks me how I’m doing, I instinctively want to lie. “Fine, thanks.” I could be honest and tactful, but deep down, sometimes I just don’t want to accept my pain. If I do, would it mean God has somehow lost control? Would it mean I’m wavering in my faith? Or both? Instinctively, I feel I must put on my happy face. I must lie. I must be strong. Recently, I learned otherwise. In Psalm 116:10, the Psalmist revealed, “I believed, even when I said, ‘I am greatly afflicted.’” He was in pain, yet he still believed. He didn’t lie or put on a happy face. … [Read more...]

Do You Have a Good Excuse…. or a Legitimate Reason That House is Dirty?

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Last week was Invisible Illness Awareness Week , sponsored by Rest Ministries. The panel discussion was very good. If you missed it you can still listen to it at Blog Talk Radio ( Monday 9/13’s program ) During the discussion, the topic turned to house cleaning. To most people, vacuuming, doing the dishes, laundry, dusting, etc. isn’t the most enjoyable job; however, it’s not a big deal. Yet, to those of us who live with chronic pain and or illness, house cleaning is a very big deal. Have you tried to vacuum while using crutches or a cane? Have you tried to empty the dish washer when you can’t bend the waist? Or tried dusting when you can’t lift your arm above shoulder level? Or tried to clean the tub/shower when … [Read more...]

What is the Best Time of Day to…

Ever stood around the pharmacy & wondered where all the people suddenly came from? As someone who lives with a chronic illness you may want to print this article out for your fridge or to stick in your Woman's Health Resource Journal to refer to when you are making plans. When should I have surgery? As early as possible in the morning. When you live with an illness I know it can be hard to get up & get there to a surgical center or hospital. But let's be realistic. . . are you really sleeping anyway? And most often you are unable to eat, drink or take your medications in the morning, so the sooner in the day you can get in, the better off you will be physically. Plus, studies have shown that patients have fewer anesthesia … [Read more...]