The Life and Adventures of Cateepoo

Visualization is Key

2012-01-29T08:53:00.000-06:00

To me, visualizing yourself as HEALTHY is the number one thing you can do for yourself when dealing with a chronice disease like rheumatoid arthritis. My journey with rheumatoid arthritis has gone in many directions: medication, accupuncture, diet, supplements, physical therapy, and much more.  The one thing that has remained constant through my journey is me seeing myself as healthy.  Without that visualization, I don't believe I would be feeling as good as I do these days.

Despite the pain I have felt in the past, visualizing myself healthy doing the things I love to do kept me going each and every day. Sometimes the intensity and length of time the pain stayed with me blocked my ability to visualize myself healthy and my family needed to step in and visualize for me until I could do it alone again. I remember feeling extreme pain yet a smile growing on my face as I saw myself once again do big things bike riding and taking long walks with my border collie or smaller things like jumping out of bed in the morning without stiff joints or taking a bath again without my husband having to be home to get me out. Visualize yourself in a healthy place. Draw pictures of yourself doing it, take pictures of things you want to do, do whatever it takes to keep that picture in your mind and look at it often.   I sincerely believe that we become what we visualize.

Here are some posts I wrote while at different places on my journey related to visualization:
Visualization is Powerful
Visualization Helps During RA Panic Moment
Going in a Good Direction
Knee Cap
Epigenics and Our Health

What do you visualize your healthy self doing?

Show Us Your Hands! Establishes Founding Committee to Help Raise Awareness of Autoimmune Arthritis

2012-01-24T09:00:00.001-06:00

CHICAGO, Illinois (January 24, 2012) - Show Us Your Hands! is pleased to announce the new collaborative effort of three leading advocates from the autoimmune arthritis blogging community. Lene Andersen (The Seated View) and Cathy Kramer (The Life and Adventures of Cateepoo) have joined forces with RA Guy (Rheumatoid Arthritis Guy) to organize creative community projects and effective awareness campaigns aimed at increasing the public’s understanding of autoimmune arthritis.

Show Us Your Hands! started as a community collage project in December 2011. The interactive digital collage and commemorative poster include hundreds of photos of the hands of individuals who live with autoimmune arthritis, and represent people of all ages from around the world. This inaugural project serves not only as a symbol of the wonderfully supportive autoimmune arthritis community that continues to grow and connect online, but also acts as a reminder that people who live with these diseases should be proud of, and not ashamed of, their autoimmune arthritis hands. New photos continue to be added to this community collage on a regular basis.

Upcoming initiatives will build upon the overwhelming success of and positive community reaction to this initial project. The three members of the founding committee are currently working on establishing an organizational roadmap, and in the coming weeks will be announcing the details of the first of many upcoming projects and campaigns. “Reading through the responses to Show Us Your Hands! and viewing the photos of all the hands, I am overwhelmed by the strength of our community. Together we have built a relationship of understanding and compassion to replace what for many has been a void. As Show Us Your Hands! moves forward, I am excited to see that strength grow,” says founding member Cathy Kramer.

Autoimmune diseases occur when a body’s immune system mistakenly attack healthy tissue. In the case of autoimmune arthritis a person’s joints are frequently attacked, resulting in chronic pain and debilitating inflammation. The most common autoimmune arthritis diseases are Ankylosing Spondylitis, Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, Mixed Connective Tissue Disease, Psoriatic Arthritis, Reactive Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Scleroderma, Sjogren's Syndrome, Still's Disease, and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Show Us Your Hands! is an international awareness movement which serves to unite and inspire the autoimmune arthritis community. For more information, please visit www.showusyourhands.com. Show Us Your Hands! can also be found on Facebook and Twitter.

Preparing For Work Week

2012-01-22T13:24:00.000-06:00

Last week I returned to teaching two ESL (English as a Second, Third, Fourth and sometimes even Fifth Language) classes. One class is in the morning and the other at night. Although I LOVE my long breaks from work, it is nice to be back following a regular schedule and seeing the students I love.

Before heading back on Tuesday night, I decided to spend some time getting things in place for the week. I cleaned out my two book bags and everything is now organized, I took a pair of pants in to have the snap replaced, and I replenished my personal hygiene products.

By replenish I mean I made my own products. You may think making your own personal hygiene products is a time consuming project. It's not. The amount of time I spent making these products took less time than I have spent reading the ingredients on the back of the products. Plus, these ready made products end up costing a lot more than making them.

First I replaced my small Rubbermaid container of coconut oil that I use as a moisturizer and eye make-up remover and then I made my hairspray and deodorant. What I have found in making a few of my own personal hygiene products is that I feel nourished when making them. This may sound strange but when I am making them I feel as if I am spending a little quality time on myself and I like that feeling.

Slowing down and finding time to spend on myself has been a slow process but one that I really enjoy. Just as I have discovered over the years that cooking meals for my family is not a chore but a small gift of myself that I can give to them each day, making my own personal hygiene products is a small gift I can give to myself. Not only do I feel safe using the products I have made myself because I know what is going into the products, but I also like knowing that I am spending time on something that is just for me. I feel as if I am pampering myself.

What do you do to prepare for your work week?

Rheumatoid Arthritis: Why Don't They Understand What I Am Going Through?

2012-01-18T14:57:00.002-06:00

Rheumatoid arthritis and I have been in a relationship for eight years now. The first year was rough as we got to know each other. In fact, it kind of reminds me of the relationships I see now between the teenagers in my kid's circle of friends. There was a lot of crying, lots of ye...

Read the rest of this post.

Why I Blog

2012-01-16T09:07:00.001-06:00

It occurred to me this morning that there is a connection between my love for early morning walks and blogging. In almost all of my relationships I am the listener. This personality trait sometimes leads to a very one sided relationship, but I have acknowledged that that is who I am and I am okay with it. However, when I walk early in the morning, all is calm and quiet. I have a chance to talk to myself and get my own thoughts worked out. Then I have a chance to come home and blog before everyone else is awake. Blogging is my chance to be the one talking. I can say everything I need to say without someone interrupting me and returning to their story. I am glad I can be a listener in my relationships as I feel that is what drives many people to me, yet I love having this blog where I can release and share my stories.

Why do you blog?

Stomach Fat to the Rescue

2012-01-14T08:59:00.000-06:00

This morning I woke up and thought, "Oh poop, this extra layer of holiday stomach fat didn't disappear overnight as I hoped." Oh well, what can I expect when I continue to eat additional holiday foods after the holidays?

Rather than reflecting too long on my stomach, I headed out for my morning walk with Izzy. I was determined not to let the low temperatures of the morning stop me from walking my usual 40-45 minutes. Several times on my walk my fingers became super cold and I knew I either had to head back home fast or I had to once again use my stomach to warm up my hands. I chose my stomach. Oh boy was I glad to feel that extra layer of fat as my cold hands slipped into my shirt. Thank you stomach and all your beautiful layers of fat. You instantly warmed up my hands and I was able to enjoy another beautiful morning walk with snow flakes falling all around me!

Show Us Your Hands

2012-01-09T11:57:00.001-06:00

In January of 2004, I began having my first symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. I woke up throughout the night unable to move my fingers and in the morning they were swollen. I kept going through my days trying to figure out what I would have done to create this pain. Fast forward to mid April 2004 when I saw a rheumatologist for the first time and I had extreme pain in my feet and knees and was struggling to undress myself - all within four short months.

I was one of the lucky ones in that my diagnosis came quickly, although the management of my RA didn't magically happen right away. It took time on medications and it took spending a lot of time with my naturopath who looked at my condition from a variety of angles. What I remember the most from my first year of dealing with rheumatoid arthritis is the extreme fear I had about deformities. Every book I checked out on rheumatoid arthritis and every site I went to, even my own rheumatology office only offered photos of folks with severe deformities. Honestly, I don't know which was worse for me at the time - the photos of the deformities or the fear of not being able to get out of bed alone when I had two young children.

Eight years later I find myself looking at a collage created by RA Guy titled Show Us Your Hands. The first time I looked at this poster I cried. At first I cried with sadness because so many RA folks have the hands that I feared. Then the sadness changed and as I looked at the poster full of hands I saw strength. These hands were not just about what rheumatoid can do to our bodies. (I now refer to any physical changes in my body due to RA as "wonky" instead of deformities. I think wonky is a lot more fun to say than deformities.) These hands are like trophies that show the world that we have survived a lot of both physical and emotional pain but we are still out here living our lives. Our beautiful hands with all their wonkiness still give to us everyday. Really, they are quite amazing.

What I didn't realize in 2008 when I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis was that each of us would follow a different path. Some of us would experience a lot of physical wonkiness while others may experience little to no wonkiness. So far, my wonkiness has been fairly minor and I am thankful for that. But when I look at the changes my body has taken due to rheumatoid arthritis, especially on my right foot, I am no longer fearful. Eight years of following my own rheumatoid arthritis path and connecting with others has shown me that no matter how forceful rheumatoid arthritis decides to be in my body, I am okay. While deformities were once my worst fear, I now realize I can handle whatever rheumatoid arthritis throws at me.

If there is one thing I wish I would have had when I was first diagnosed, it would have been the knowledge that we are all different. Looking at all the hands represented, I see that we have each responded in our own individual ways to this disease. We each have our own wonkiness or lack of wonkiness. Either way we do share one common trait and that is strength. This is what I needed to see when I was diagnosed. I needed to know that yes, my body may change physically, but I also needed to know that maybe it wouldn't change all that much. This poster shows me the wide range of hands that have come together as a community to give strength to one another. Reading the comments and seeing the words of relief that we aren't alone on this journey is absolutely remarkable.

If you haven't yet checked out Show Us Your Hands, please be sure to take it look. You will be amazed.

Paleo/Primal Diet: Does it Help Rheumatoid Arthritis? - Health Central

2012-01-03T09:43:00.001-06:00

There is often controversy as to whether or not diet is helpful in treating rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases. Many folks believe there is absolutely nothing to what you consume while others believe it is what will save them. After years of trial and error with diet, I am no longer convinced it is going to save me from rheumatoid arthritis, but I definitely believe it plays a huge part in how I feel.

To read the rest of this post and other great posts on rheumatoid arthritis, please visit Health Central.

Happy 5th Birthday Izzy

2012-01-01T07:17:00.000-06:00

I grew up with dogs, but none of them were ever "my" dog. Izzy is our first dog as a family but she is really "my" dog. She folllows me from room to room, she sleeps with me, she greets me at the door no matter how long I have been gone, and she listens to my every word. She does have a mind of her own though and does what she wants with my words. She has been by my side through the worst of my rheumatoid arthritis flares and her high energy level has forced me out of bed every day, even when I thought it wasn't possible. Daily she challenges me to renew my patience as a human as she attempts to countersurf, when she gets jealous that I am hugging Steve goodbye in the morning and acts like a spoiled toddler, and as she barks at bicyclists, UPS trucks, and basically anyone and everything that passes by our house. Yet she calms me as I sit and pet her, as she runs to the bedroom when I say, "let's take a nap", and as she listens to me when I least expect her to. I love that in the morning she really wants to bark at dogs passing by our house but muffles her bark when I remind her "the kids are sleeping." I love that on weekend mornings she greets Steve in bed with a ball in her mouth. Oh, how I love watching the two of them play. I love playing ball with her in the backyard and then watching her as your energy explodes and she runs top speed in circles around the yard. If you haven't seen a border collie run at top speed, you have definitely missed out on a beautiful thing. I love Izzy for all that she brings to my life.

My sweet Izzy is a New Year's baby. Today I would like to celebrate Izzy and the joy she brings to my life.

It is amazing how small not only Izzy was when she joined our family at 16 weeks old, but also how small Alexander and Sophia were. They both now tower over their momma.

Could she be any cuter? I warned the kids when we picked her up that if she wasn't right for us we wouldn't take her home. The minute I saw her, I knew she was coming home with us.

Right away we switched Izzy from her kibble diet to a homemade raw food diet. She was paleo/primal before we were.

My hiking partner.

As much as I despise the snow, Izzy loves it. She loves sitting on the driveway letting the snow accumulate on her body.

I laughed and laughed last winter when we experienced a blizzard. Izzy ran back and forth in the back yard until she had a path made for herself. Until the snow melted, she used that path everyday. It was so funny to watch her ! Oh, and of course she still wanted to be walked, even though the streets and sidewalks were covered in snow.

Steve and Izzy on a campout. Steve is definitely in line as Izzy's second favorite since he is her main playmate.

Izzy was with me during my first week back on prednisone in March 2010. We hiked a different path every day of my Amazing Week.

She's just one of the family. She loves new adventures with us.

She loves sleeping in my spot when I am away from home.

If Izzy can do it so can I. That was my philosophy during our last hike.

Pretty Izzy keeps a watchful eye out for us.

Izzy loves to help in the kitchen. She patiently waits to see if I drop any food and then cleans it right up!

"Did I hear food?" Food comes before everything else, even "ball".

Happy birthday Izzy and happy 2012 to all of you! I appreciate you taking time to stop by and read about my adventures and I especially love when you leave comments. Thanks so much!

I Want to Get Rid of Christmas????

2011-12-30T06:42:00.000-06:00

Yesterday morning Izzy and I decided to take a longer walk than usual. The sun was strong and I couldn't bear to hurry back inside when the sun had been so gracious in being there for me. On our longer route we ran into a neighbor whom I do not know. She was taking down her outdoor Christmas decorations. I said, "Good morning." She responded, "I can't wait to get rid of Christmas. I want everything back to normal."

I remember feeling this exact same way years ago. By the 28th of December I was ready to have everything put away and back to normal. Something has changed over the years. I am not in a hurry to get rid of Christmas. I consider the whole week after Christmas to be part of the Christmas celebration, only simpler. That week after Christmas everyone is relaxed. There aren't anymore surprises or planning and everyone can relax and just be. I have found myself snuggled with Sophia several evenings this week in front of the tree talking.

Generally Christmas isn't completely put away until right before I head back to work mid January. With the colder days and nights, I enjoy the warmth the Christmas lights bring to a room. Besides that, I just find that I enjoy bringing back regular life a little slower these days. The holidays for me are a sign of slowing down and enjoying those around me. I am in no hurry to get back to a life any different than that.

From Bland to A Rainbow of Color

2011-12-29T09:06:00.000-06:00

Twenty four years ago my soon to be father-in-law met me at JCPenney, where I was employed, during my 15 minute break. He asked me to help him pick out dinnerware that he was giving as a Christmas gift to my brother-in-law and his wife. I remember thinking they didn't have a lot of color in their house and decided to go with the most bland dinnerware I could find to be on the safe side.

Well, guess what I got for Christmas that year? Yep, the bland plates. They are simple and pretty, but they have never been what I wanted for me. However, I loved the intention that my father-in-law put into the gift and went ahead and added this set to my bridal registry.

Over the years I have enjoyed the plates for a few reasons. 1) They have held up well over 24 years. 2) They have always reminded me of the loving heart my father-in-law has for me. But, each time that one of the kids or I would drop one I always said, "No worries. This just means we are one step closer to new plates."

Well, that day has finally arrived. For Christmas Steve bought me a few pieces and I added on with some money we received so that I now have lots of beautiful colors!

Blue, red, purple, orange, and green!

Aren't they beautiful? I just love all the colors. We don't have a complete set yet, but it will be fun to keep adding on and enjoying the rainbow of colors that these new plates bring to our meals.

Minimalist Shoe Experience will Continue

2011-12-26T12:00:00.000-06:00

Last year for Christmas I received my first pair of Vibram Five Fingers. When I opened them I was both excited and scared. I was excited to implement all I had read about minimalist shoes and barefoot walking but also afraid that my my rheumatoid feet wouldn't be able to handle these expensive shoes that offered no support.

As this photo shows my minimalist shoe/barefoot walking experiment was a success. In less than one year I wore a hole in my first Vibram Five Fingers KSO Treks. At first I was disappointed that they wore out so quickly, but my husband reminded me that I also put a lot of miles on them in a short time. (Yay for 2011 being a great year for my joints!)

Thanks to my generous husband Steve I received my second pair of Vibram KSO Trek's for Christmas this year. I won't be able to wear them for many months due to the cold temperatures, but my feet are looking forward to spring already.

In the meantime, here is the new pair of winter boots I bought. Thanks to Zappos I was able to order multiple pairs of boots and send them back free of shipping charges!

Each boot I returned either caused my toes to hurt or my foot to go numb. Finally I found a pair that seems to meet my unique needs: my feet and ankles don't go numb, my toes don't hurt, there is plenty of toe room, they are waterproof, and they are very warm. (Temperatures in Chicago haven't been extreme yet but hopefully they will hold up to the challenge.)

I am now the proud owner of my first pair of UGGS. Although these boots don't allow for the freedom I have in my VFFs, I felt attracted to them one day when my daughter's friend was visiting. I saw her UGGs sitting by the door after I had just returned yet another set of boots. I had a strong desire to put my foot into her boot. (Shhhh.....please don't tell.) They felt so warm and cozy I knew I had to find a pair for myself. Mine of course are more outdoorsy and not quite as stylish but they are exactly what I need for my long winter walks with Izzy.

Here's to 2012 being a year of less foot pain and lots and lots of walking outdoors!

Stay At Home Day

2011-12-23T07:33:00.001-06:00

I feel like I am constantly trying to balance the needs of my daughter who requires a lot of time outside of the house with my needs to spend a lot of time at home. I finished teaching classes last week and was looking forward to a relaxing week at home with Steve. However, the week has turned out to be a lot busier than I planned driving the kids to meet friends and running errands with them. (Not my errands, I had everything finished by Monday morning.) Today we are going to see a movie early in the day and then the rest of the day is what momma needs - a stay at home in your pjs day. I can't wait. We are planning on listening to Christmas music while we bake cookies and then eating all of them today.

Cookies recipes we used:
Flourless Fudge Chocolate Chip Cookies - these were high in sugar but tasted so yummy.
Thumbprint Cookies - these are my favorites. I could eat these all day. Oops....I did!

I'm so Smart: My Response to Raynaud's disease

2011-12-21T08:50:00.000-06:00

Winter and morning walks are not a good combination for Raynaud's disease. However, the many benefits of getting outside everyday and moving outweigh the side effects. The other morning I was out for my walk with Izzy. I was dressed in layers and had on my warm winter gloves. However, about half way through the walk I could feel the tips of my fingers getting really cold. Rather than go into a panic which sometimes happens when they get this cold, a super smart idea came to me, "use your body." I took off my gloves and placed my hands on my warm stomach. Of course my stomach wasn't too pleased at first but within a few minutes my hands were toasty again and I was able to put my gloves back on and head home without a problem. Thank you stomach for staying so warm and helping my fingers.

The Rheumatoid Arthritis Journey – A Year in Review - Health Central

2011-12-19T11:06:00.000-06:00

2011 has been a year of success for my rheumatoid arthritis and me. Shortly before the year began I came out of a more than two year whole body flare and things just seem to continue getting better.

To read the rest of this post and other great posts on rheumatoid arthritis, please visit Health Central.

The Interruptions of Life

2011-12-16T07:53:00.001-06:00

I love jumping into a bed that has been made, even if I have to make it five minutes before bedtime. When my kids when younger, making the bed was always a slow process. They would see me making the bed and jump onto the bed requesting I either wrestle with them or throw pillows on them and wrap them in a blanket as if they were a hotdog. Now, the kids will often help me make my bed but we have sweet Izzy to deal with. As soon as I start making the bed she runs up the stairs and jumps on the bed looking for a little petting. If I attempt to get her off the bed, she thinks I want to play with her and gets a little crazy.

It is times like this that I remind myself that one day our house will be quiet. Alexander and Sophia will have moved on and out of the house and Izzy will have left this world. These are the good times. The inconveniences that come with life are really the things that make life worth living. Stopping to enjoy these little interruptions are the very things that make me happy.

Show Us Your Hands

2011-12-16T06:34:00.001-06:00

RA Guy is putting together a collage of hands. Check out his post Show Us Your Hands to see how you can contribute. I will be sending mine later today. I need to clean my fingernails first. :)

I Fail as a Woman Shopper

2011-12-16T06:24:00.000-06:00

There are days I feel that I fail as a woman. Yesterday was one of those days. Alexander and Sophia wanted to go to the mall to do some shopping for their dad and friends. I HATE shopping and I especially HATE shopping at the mall. I have always been this way, but it has intensified over the years.

We left the house feeling happy and I reminded myself over and over to just relax and enjoy the moment. Sophia loves to shop and she wants me to experience it with her. How awesome is that? The first hour went well and I think we were all enjoying ourselves. I don't know what happened after that first hour but something snapped in me and I just couldn't handle being in the mall any longer. Maybe it was the bright lights or maybe it was the loud music that changed from store to store, or maybe it was that after an hour it seemed like we were walking in circles not sure where to go next. It could have even been the constant badgering by the kiosk workers to buy their products. (Alexander said, "Mom, think of them as bums in Chicago. Just look straight ahead and keep walking.") Anyhow, I felt completely worn out and claustrophobic. I hate these moments because all I want to do is get out of the mall. It doesn't help to remind myself to calm down and enjoy the moment because my need to escape becomes stronger than any other need. I am no longer any help to Sophia and she really wanted my input.

Why, oh why, can't I be a woman that loves shopping or at least a woman that can tolerate more than an hour at the mall? I want to enjoy these moments with my daughter and not turn it into a situation about myself. I say this knowing I have to return to the mall one more time this week. AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
Please let it go quickly!

A Rainy Walk

2011-12-14T07:21:00.000-06:00

This morning Weather.com said it was 41 degrees F outside at 6:00AM when I headed out for my walk. Temps like this are warm enough for my Vibram Five Fingers. However, when I looked out the window it was sprinkling. About 3/4 of a mile into my walk, the sprinkles turned into full rain. I was so glad I chose my waterproof Thinsulated Merrell boots rather than my VFF this morning. (Shhhh....don't tell my VFF I said that!)

The Future

2011-12-13T08:55:00.000-06:00

The best way to predict the future is to invent it.

Alan Kay

Warm Enough for VFF

2011-12-13T08:54:00.000-06:00

The temperature outside is up today from 10 a few days ago to 35 this morning. Sorry insulated winter boots, but today's walk was with my Vibram Five Fingers. Ah, they feel so good!

Slowing Down During the Holidays: A Gift from Rheumatoid Arthritis

2011-12-10T07:51:00.000-06:00

For me, the holidays are a time of slowing down. This is the time of the year when my classes come to stopping point and I have more time at home. The weather gets colder and I feel it is telling me to stay home where it is warm. I have no problem obeying. I figured out years...

To read the rest of this post and other great posts on rheumatoid arthritis, please visit Health Central.

Need for Positive on Blog

2011-12-09T08:30:00.000-06:00

For some reason it is always unsettling to me when the last post on my blog is one that makes me sad. The sides effects of Arava make me sad and have been weighing heavily on me lately. Each time I come to my blog I see that post and it only makes the situation more frustrating for me. My blog is a place for me to share my experiences, good and bad, but I like coming to my blog and getting encouragement from the last post. So, here are a few quotes that have inspired me lately:

Now is possibly the time to move forward with your dream so see this as a big adventure and enjoy it. All will be well. ~My Mom

Nothing is more empowering than when you become inspiring to yourself. ~ MovNat

That's funny, an RA sushi restaurant ~ Sophia, in response to a sushi restaurant we saw yesterday named RA Sushi _______(I can't remember the rest of the name). Funny that we can't look at the letters R and A together without thinking of rheumatoid arthritis.

Side Effects of Arava???

2011-12-03T06:41:00.000-06:00

Shortly after switching from Methotrexate to Arava, I had a few things happen that I haven't experienced in years. First, I developed a nasty rash on my face. From my early teen years until I went gluten free eight years ago, a rash appeared on my face every fall and stayed until spring.  Nothing seemed to help. Once I went gluten free, I never experienced the facial rash again, until a few months ago. Fortunately the rash has once again disappeared. (Perhaps there is gluten in the Arava which would also explain the pain I have had in my feet and the swelling in my wrist. Hmmm....something to check into.)

The other thing from my past that returned was a wart.  My body has always had an attraction to warts for some reason.  Sounds lovely doesn't it? Deformities, nodules, rashes, and warts - quite attractive. A friend suggested that maybe the Arava weakened my immune system and allowed these things from the past to return. Anyhow, I contacted my naturopath and she suggested putting castor oil on my wart each night and wrapping a banage around it.  It is almost completely gone! I love when home remedies work.

Arava has also brought a lot of hair shedding which I am not happy about at all. I did look back through my blog and found that when I started back on methotrexate I had a lot of hair shedding too and it eventually slowed down. I am hoping the same thing happens with Arava.

One more weird thing that has happened since switching meds is that the rash from Enbrel has returned at the injection site. Not only that, I keep getting bruises around the injection site. I know, I am sounding more and more attractive all the time. Deformities, nodules, warts, rashes, and bruises! Oh my! That's fine, my beautiful smile makes up for it, right?

Vibram Five Fingers at Work

2011-11-29T06:06:00.000-06:00

Yesterday morning I planned to wear my Vibram Five Fingers while driving to class and then change into my Dansko clogs before heading into the building. But when I got to school, I couldn't make the change. My feet have been so sore lately that I just couldn't bring myself to put on shoes that I knew were going to create more pain when I didn't really need to. So, I kept the VFFs on and made my way to my classroom.

At first it appeared that nobody noticed my brown ape like feet gloves. Then, in the middle of presenting a lesson I heard, "Teacher, I LOVE your shoes." Of course, all 20 sets of eyes moved down to my feet. I blushed. One student immediately recognized how comfortable they must feel and wanted to know where she could buy a pair for herself. Another student said, "Teacher, I thought you forgot to put your shoes on today."

I admitted that I was a little embarrassed wearing my VFF to school and shared how the pain in my feet has been pretty extreme lately and these shoes were about the only thing I could wear for a long period of time. My students were very sympathic, "Teacher, don't worry."

Now that the initial embarrassment of everyone recognizing my "weird" shoes is over, I will not hesitate to wear them to this class the rest of this semester. (Too bad I can't wear them to all my classes.) My feet are just happier in them.

*I mentioned that my right VFF has a hole in it that can't be repaired. It is getting worse, but for now I taped the inside of the shoe with duct tape and it seems to be doing the trick. Also, according to Weather.com, the last few mornings it has "felt like" 25 F outside when I head out for my walk. I have been surprised that my feet are handling the cold in these very light shoes. When I get home, my feet are about as cold as my hands with gloves, which have also improved. Not bad. My Raynaud's syndrome has definitely improved over the last few years. Perhaps this improvement comes from diet, contrast showers, or possibly from the medications. Whatever it is, I like it!!!!