Home Community Newsletter Vol 2 Issue 52

Arthritis Insight Newsletter * Vol. 2 Issue 52 March 28, 2001

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The point is, when one door closes, another one always opens. Open that door, it ain't locked. ~Ken Akers

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Welcome to the 52nd issue of the Arthritis Insight Newsletter. All back issues will be posted at community/newsletter/
Feel free to pass this newsletter around to others who may be interested.

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The information in this newsletter should not take the place of advice and guidance from your own health-care providers. Material in this newsletter is provided for educational and informational purposes only. Be sure to check with your doctor before making any changes in your treatment plan. Information presented here is the opinion of the authors and has not necessarily been approved or endorsed by the medical advisors.

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Notes From Tina
(tina@arthritisinsight.com)
Tina Underwood aka KrissyJo

I do not want to be writing this column today. I don't want to have to type the words again. But, sadly, I must. Arthritis Insight has lost one of its best friends. Ken Akers, aka KenA, aka InsightHostKen passed away suddenly Friday morning. Ken leaves his loving wife Nancy, a daughter and granddaughter. Our thoughts are with them.

I first met Ken a long time ago when he wandered into the Arthritis Net chatroom looking for arthritis support. He found support and I found a fabulous friend. Ken had a certain magic about him. He could make anyone feel special. He would listen to a troubled friend for hours, and you'd feel so much better after. Ken did anything I ever asked of him to help with Arthritis Insight. He did HTML, he hosted chats, he shared his Remicade experiences, he was there to support and encourage me.

When I was honored with the Cecil Award from the Arthritis Foundation, Ken and his wonderful wife Nancy flew to Texas to be there with me when I accepted it.  They went out of their way to make sure that weekend was very special to me. That meant so much to me. They had never even met me, yet they chose to be there with me on that important day. I often thought that I had never seen two people so much in love after so many years of marriage. Some people live a hundred years without knowing the kind of love they shared.

Ken and I exchanged emails almost daily, whining about arthritis, telling a joke, smiling about an eBay auction, sharing family news or just saying hello. It is going to be very difficult to get through a day without one of those emails.
I have a vision of Ken in Heaven, smiling, running, laughing without pain. He joins Lori, Di, Sandy and the other Arthritis Angels watching over us.

Ken, I am going to miss you, my life will not be the same without you.

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Ron's Ramblin's
(ron@arthritisinsight.com)
Ron Griffin aka IndyRon

This has been a difficult week for all of us here at Arthritis Insight.  The unexpected death of one of our extremely active members, certainly came as a shock to us.  Ken Akers has been a friend of this online support community since long before it was known as Arthritis Insight.  He was a quite and gentle man who mostly stayed in the shadows watching what was going on.  When he did speak, you knew that it was from his heart.  He has helped more than most know in making the site what it is.  Ken was a person that anyone felt comfortable with.  He was a man who would do his best to console those in pain or direct those who were confused or new to the arthritis community.  I know of many people that Ken helped during one on one discussions.  We all are just a bit less now because of Ken's departure. 

Although I have known Ken for a long while, it was not til the San Antonio get together that I finally got to meet and get to know him and Nancy.  The two were absolutely perfect together.  Nancy, If there is anything that you need, or anything we can do, let us know.  Kens friends on the site have always considered you as part of the group and would do anything they could to make things as easy as possible.  If ever you just want or need to talk, we will be here for you, just as Ken was for many of us.

While your body may have given up, Ken, your spirit and your caring attitude will always be part of this site.  We all love you Ken, may you rest in peace with no more pain. 

And now another Angel watches over us.

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In Memory Of Ken Akers
Journey

Death is the end of a journey,
To a gateway of everlasting life.

Life is an illusion,
For tomorrow is not promised.

We know not what we may gain from death,
Only what we will lose.

But death is a journey,
To a painless everlasting life

By: Case

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Tina's Tips
Arthritis can affect your ability to do even the simplest of tasks. I've heard some people say, "Accept your limitations." I'm not sure accepting them is the way to go. I prefer to challenge those limitations, work around them, finding alternate ways of achieving the same goal. Every week I'll share some tips I've found to work around those annoying limitations and I hope all of you will send in your tips too. We may not be the next Martha Stewart, but sometimes the simplest things can help so much.

From Amanda:

I've found it very helpful to carry with me a small set of nail clippers with the attached nail file - I can't use it for my fingernails anymore, but instead keep it handy to pop-up and push-in the tabs on soda and juice cans, or anything else that has a pop-top. It's also good for peeling up the edge of a food box or anything else that says "Peel Here" but you can't bend your fingers enough to get a good grip. Just remember to always use something kind of dull, like a finger nail file, a letter opener, or a butter knife so that you won't knick those stubborn fingers that won't get out of the way in time :)

I found a neat little machine (a bit expensive though) while watching TV one day . . . it's called a "Steam Buggy". The end piece kind of reminds me of a pressure washer at those self-serve car washes, only instead of water, it emits steam. It's a small, light-weight thing, with all sorts of different end attachments to clean just about everything. I find it most useful in
the kitchen (especially the oven), floors, and bathroom though. No more using harsh chemicals and having to scrub and scrub at those tough areas. I just turn on my Steam Buggy, run the end piece over the mess, and the steam melts it away - then I just wipe over it with a towel. You can find it at "www.tvinventions.com" - and it really is well-made. I don't think I could clean my oven or bathroom without it.

Check out more tips at living/tips.html and send in yours today to Tina@arthritisinsight.com

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What's New?

There are no updates this week as we grieve the loss of a dear friend.

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Arthritis Insight Chat community/chat/

Please join us tonight at 9pm for a very special Memorial Chat in memory of Ken Akers.

The complete chat schedule can be found at community/chat/schedule.html.

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Notes and Insights: 

Wanna help?
Having surgery? Starting a new drug or treatment? Filing for disability? Keep an Arthritis Insight journal so all of our members can share and learn from your experience. If you want to keep a journal just let us know.
Write an article! We always need articles on all subjects relating to arthritis.
C'mon folks, we can't do this without you.

Donate!
Arthritis Insight is now a not for profit organization! We were never here to make a profit, but now it is official. That won't change anything, we are still working with the same mission: to use the internet to provide timely, accurate information and emotional support to the hundreds of millions of people with arthritis and their families around the world. We hope to continue to do so until there is a cure for all of the 170+ types of arthritis and our services are no longer needed. (What a wonderful day that will be!)
Arthritis Insight will always be free for anyone to use, we will never charge any fees. We try very hard to keep our operating costs as low as possible, but running a website as large as Arthritis Insight can be expensive. To date we've relied on our few sponsors for support and have paid for many of the expenses out of our own pockets. No one on our staff currently receives a paycheck for their hard work and dedication. Although you are not obligated in any way, if you are financially able to help support Arthritis Insight, it would be greatly appreciated. In exchange for your donation you'll receive some thank you gifts, a tax deduction and the satisfaction of knowing you are partly responsible for the entire Arthritis Insight Community.
See about/donate.html for more information.

Gimpfest 2001-Chicago here we come!
Gimps from all over will invade Chicago in May! There will be fun, food and a whole lot of laughing going on! It's a chance to meet your online support pals in person, a chance to get some real hugs from your chat room pals. A good time will be had by all! The website was updated March 6.
http://fadedjeans.com/chicago

Thank You!
A great big thank you to our "Diamond Level" Corporate Benefactor, allaboutarthritis.com. Please stop by their site and say hello! http://allaboutarthritis.com

Special Offers for Arthritis Insight Members

Whenever possible we will try get to our sponsors to agree to discounts and the like for our members. Here are our current special offers:

Sore No More gel (http://www.sorenomore.com/) will send a free sample of the pain relieving gel to any Arthritis Insight Community Member who emails them at dma@glogerm.com.

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The AI Help Desk
Linda Peck

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME:  At long last, we add some daylight to our evenings.  To ensure that your p.c. will adjust for this time change, do the following (Windows 98):

Click start, settings and control panel.  Next select Date/Time.  Within this window are 2 tabs - Date & Time and Time Zone.  Ensure that the current time is correct on the Date & Time tab.  Next, click the Time Zone tab and ensure that you have properly selected your region and also have checked "Automatically adjust clock for daylight saving changes."  Click OK and close the control panel window.  Going forward, your p.c. should always have the correct time.

FEATURED WEBSITE:  http://www.pcworld.com/
I make this a "must visit" every day.  You will find current p.c. news and information, free downloads and reviews.  Be sure to sign up for their free newsletters, "Daily Product Review" and "Daily Best Buy."  I continue to learn about my computer at this site and have found many free downloads that have either enhanced my existing programs or have opened up new doors.

TIP OF THE WEEK:  Remember that discussion groups, messaging services, bulletin boards, and other such popular internet features are not private, and are usually archived (meaning the information on them is stored somewhere). You should avoid sending sensitive information to these sources. In fact, unless you are notified that you are on a secure connection, it's a good idea to avoid sending any personal or sensitive information at all. Both Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator will show a small, closed padlock icon on the bottom of the window if you have a secure connection.

linda@arthritisinsight.com
(All p.c. questions welcome!)
Help Desk Archives: living/help/index.html
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Weekly News Summary
Karen Sears

STRESSED OUT PATIENTS MAY BE DEPRESSED
Patients who tell their doctor they're feeling stressed out and have a long list of health complaints may be suffering from depression, anxiety or other emotional problems, researchers report.
Reuters Health, Mar 27
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010327/hl/stress_2.html

AMERICANS' WORK ETHIC CAUSES SLEEP HABITS TO SUFFER
Working more and sleeping less? If so, you're not alone, according to a survey released Tuesday.
Reuters Health, Mar 27
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010327/hl/sleep_3.html

FRIENDS AND HORMONES INTERACT TO DECREASE STRESS
It may not be news that having a friend with you in a stressful situation helps reduce anxiety, but a new study reports that a friend's supportive presence may work with anti-stress hormones in the body to keep us cool under pressure.
Reuters Health, Mar 26
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010326/hl/hormones_1.html

NEW ROLE FOR FOLIC ACID
Folic acid is most commonly known for its role in preventing neural tube formation in fetuses. Now, British researchers say it has another role, helping to prevent heart disease.
Ivanhoe Newswire, Mar 26
http://www.ivanhoe.com/docs/newsflash/newroleforfolicacid.html

UK HEALTH SERVICE IN CRISIS, NEEDS REFORM: REPORT
Britain's National Health Service is no longer the envy of the world and will remain in financial crisis without a big increase in private spending on healthcare, the freemarket Adam Smith Institute warned in a report released Thursday.
Reuters Health, Mar 23
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010323/hl/britain_1.html

INTERLEUKIN-18 INVOLVED IN SOME CYTOKINE RESPONSES TO RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
Interleukin-18 bioactivity in the joints of rheumatoid arthritis patients, relative to oesteoarthritic patients, supports the hypothesis that this cytokine has a role in perpetuating the IFNg-dominant T-cell cytokine response in rheumatoid arthritis.
Doctor's Guide, Mar 23 (free registration required)
http://www.docguide.com/news/content.nsf/news/F577C2979E22254285256A0D00517F0E?OpenDocument&id=961CDD58B2967A7C852569E40007966F&c=Rheumatoid%20Arthritis&count=10

HORMONE THERAPY MAY PROTECT JOINTS, STUDY SHOWS
Hormone replacement therapy after menopause is known to help prevent and treat the bone-thinning disease osteoporosis. Now new research suggests it also prevents the loss of cartilage that cushions the knee joint, possibly
warding off arthritis.
Reuters Health, Mar 22
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010322/hl/hormone_1.html

HIP ARTHROPLASTY SHOULD NOT BE DELAYED UNTIL RADIOGRAPHIC CHANGES ARE SEVERE
The preoperative radiographic stage of osteoarthritis (OA) is not correlated with patient outcome 1 year after total hip replacement, according to a report in the March issue of the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases.
Reuters Health, Mar 22 (free registration required)
http://rheumatology.medscape.com/reuters/prof/2001/03/03.23/20010322clin019.html

FDA APPROVES TREXALL (METHOTREXATE) FOR NEOPLASTIC DISEASE, PSORIASIS AND RA
POMONA, NY -- March 22, 2001 -- Barr Laboratories, Inc. announced that the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the Company's proprietary Methotrexate Tablets USP, 5, 7.5, 10 and 15 mg.
Doctor's Guide, Mar 22 (free registration required)
http://www.docguide.com/news/content.nsf/news/9DA900F6ACCA69A185256A1700603F11?OpenDocument&id=961CDD58B2967A7C852569E40007966F&c=Rheumatoid%20Arthritis&count=10

PANEL: STRESS NOT A CAUSE OF CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME
Stress by itself does not appear to cause chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), according to a consensus panel convened Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS) Association of America.
Reuters Health, Mar 21
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010321/hl/fatigue_1.html

BUSH WON'T SIGN CURRENT PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS
President George W. Bush told attendees of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) meeting here that he does not support and will not sign any version of the Patients' Bill of Rights that is currently before Congress.
Reuters Health, Mar 21
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010321/hl/patients_2.html

SCIENTISTS REVEAL NEW PATHWAY OF PAIN
Physical pain is thought to originate in one area and travel to other parts of the body via nerve impulses. But according to scientists, pain may also be in the brain.
Reuters Health, Mar 21
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010321/hl/pain_1.html

STEM CELL TRANSPLANTATION WITHOUT MYELOABLATION FEASIBLE FOR CHRONIC
GRANULOMATOUS DISEASE
Patients with chronic granulomatous disease may be successfully treated with nonmyeloablative conditioning followed by a T-cell depleted hematopoietic stem-cell allograft from an HLA-identical donor, according to a report in the March 22nd issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. Reuters Health, Mar 21 (free registration required)
http://rheumatology.medscape.com/reuters/prof/2001/03/03.22/20010321clin015.html

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY VIOXX (ROFECOXIB) MAY RAISE BLOOD PRESSURE, NO SUCH
INCREASE SEEN WITH CELEBREX (CELECOXIB)
Study results presented at the American College of Cardiology's (ACC) annual meeting showed that elderly hypertensive osteoarthritis (OA) patients taking Vioxx® (rofecoxib) experienced a statistically significant increase (approximately 3 mm Hg) in mean systolic blood pressure compared with those taking Celebrex® (celecoxib capsules). In comparison, Celebrex patients showed no increase in mean systolic blood pressure.
Doctor's Guide, Mar 20 (free registration required)
http://www.docguide.com/news/content.nsf/news/A547B80A379B539285256A15004F0674?OpenDocument&id=961CDD58B2967A7C852569E40007966F&c=Osteoarthritis&count=10

ANTIDEPRESSANTS MAY HELP FIBROMYALGIA PATIENTS
Antidepressant drugs can help some people with fibromyalgia, an analysis of recent studies has found, but it remains impossible to tell whether this effect is due to relief of depression alone or if the drugs help treat fibromyalgia itself.
Reuters Health, Mar 19
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010319/hl/depression_2.html

GOT A COLD? DOCTOR MAY PRESCRIBE GARGLING
Although some people may demand antibiotics at the first sign of a sniffle, a physician's group says most upper-respiratory infections do not require antibiotics and are better treated with over-the-counter cold remedies and old-fashioned salt water gargles.
Reuters Health, Mar 19
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010319/hl/cold_1.html

SUPPLEMENT GUIDELINES STUCK IN RED TAPE
Dietary supplement makers awaiting manufacturing regulations were told on Monday by a Food and Drug Administration official that the rules are finished but are being held up by the Bush Administration' s Office of Management and Budget.
Reuters Health, Mar 19
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010319/hl/supplements_1.html

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Contribute
Have you written something you think our subscribers would like to read? Send it to Tina@arthritisinsight.com and maybe we'll use it in our newsletter.

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A Closing Thought

Hold fast to your memories,
to all of the cherished moments
of the past,
to the blessings and the laughter,
the joys and the celebrations,
the sorrow and the tears.
They all add up to a treasure
of fond yesterdays
that you shared and spent together,
and they keep the one you loved
close to you in spirit and thought.

The special moments
and memories in your life
will never change.
They will always be in your heart,
today and forevermore.
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Arthritis Insight Newsletter Copyright 2001