Ten green bottles, hanging.....no, no, no - sorry!

Hi Kathryn (and hi to everyone else as I haven't posted before)

I just wanted to say I understand your worries about getting another dog. I am 48, I was diagnosed with RA in 1996 & it came on hard & fast. I had a 4 &6 year old & 2 dogs at the time. I had to think long & hard when it came to getting another dog around 5 years ago. In the end, not having a dog was not an option for me. We all end up having to give up things with RA, but I was not prepared for a dog to be one of them. We got a rescue border collie. My boys by that stage were old enough to help with the walking. I decided to go to dog training classes, the theory being I would then have a highly trained dog which would make life easier. I learnt a lot & border collies are easy to train, but he is a dog with issues!

My youngest went to university this year & it was always the plan at this point to get a scooter - haven't got around to it yet. For me it is not only walking, but also pulling on the lead hurts my arms. I have been scouring the internet for years for a good-looking scooter (I'm sorry, but I'm vain!), the best I can come up with are TGA - or course they also seem to be the most expensive. They also are the only ones I can find that have the option of a foot pedal - unless anyone else knows differently??

I don't regret getting another dog, & always hope to have one in the future. If you are worried have a look at applying for a guide dog for the blind that has failed to make the grade.

With regards to scooters, have you seen rentascoota.com? It gives you a chance to try before you buy. I tried to do this but the agent for my area seems to have gone awol & head office are not efficient about returning calls.

I also have to say that I too spend half my life in a bed. I felt guilty about it for years, but not any more. It's the only place I can get all my joints comfortable, I also have a mini internet research job, so I try to look upon the bed as my office!. I find that if I am able to factor in some rest time into the day, it makes everything else more manageable. Fatigue has always been a big issue for me, especially for 1/2 days after taking mxt (although don't take it any more). I was on Entanercept for 5/6 years & this for me was the drug which helped with fatigue the most, so like everyone else, I would recommend the anti-tnfs if you get the option.

Best wishes to one and all
Liz

Hi Liz

It sounds as if we have much in common!

I can well imagine that the pulling on your arm as being a painful part of dog walking. Our old dog was a heft labrador and it was only when he was on his last legs that he stopped pulling! Funnily enough, we were offered a border collie puppy last week and as I've always wanted one, it was very tempting. However I went to the Border Collie Rescue website and having read up about them, I was too scared! I'm a bit worried about getting a dog that's more intelligent than I am. The only people I know who have BCs are the most active family I've ever come across and that is definitely not how I'd describe myself right now.

I did look into adopting a retired guide dog (they're few and far between) but I didn't think of finding out about the failed ones. Something worth researching, I think. I'm glad you've got a job which allows you to lie on the bed. Sounds ideal. I write a lot (creatively) but it's never going to earn me a living, even if I do enjoy it. It also has the bonus that no one can really tell if you're busy in thought or just being lazy!

Those TGA scooters are much cooler looking than the ordinary ones, aren't they? I used to have a motorbike in my youth so maybe that's why they appeal to me so much. Rather expensive though. I think that when we book our holiday this year (probably Cornwall, I should think), I'll arrange to hire a scooter so that I can see what it's like. Perhaps I could hire a dog too?!

Thanks for all the dog and the scooter advice!

Kathryn
x

I had a canine partner for a time.

anyone with a disabiling condition can apply

http://www.caninepartners.co.uk/

when I first looked I thought I wasnt disabled enough as could walk then etc. then when I got into it I thought I was too disabled!

they are not pets having said that.

they are working dogs so much more than that,

Jenni xx

Hi Jenni

Canninepartners looks very intersting. When you say they are not pets, were you told to treat the dog in a certain way? How helpful did you find it?

Thanks
Liz.

Hi Jenni

I followed your link to Canine Partners and it looks great! I really don't think I'm in as much need as the other people shown on the website but that's exactly what they say in their information about applying, that you never know until you ask. So I have! Thank you so much for that as I would never considered it in a million years.

Kathryn
x

Hi Kathryn, Border Collies are fabulously intelligent dogs but the reason i didn't get one was because of their never ending energy supply and i knew i wouldn't be able to keep up with him!

The dog we lost before Xmas was a retired ex racing greyhound. These dogs are ready trained to walk absolutely beautifully on a lead, are well used to being handled by trainers etc. and are big soft gentle elegant couch potatoes. they only enjoy a couple of short walks although if you have an enclosed area they do enjoy a run now and then. (Their recall is sometimes not wonderful, especially if they spy a small furry object which they have been trained to chase after!}

You have to choose carefully however as some are very strong and could easily pull you over. However we got a small greyhound called Little Bud and he was a delight-loved babies, children adults in fact everyone he met. His favourite things were eating and sleeping.
However if anyone was to consider one of these dogs I would STRONGLY advise you to choose one who is dog friendly, Bud wasn't and walks were NOT fun.


This is where we got Bud anyway- you might like to have a look.


TIA GREYHOUND & LURCHER RESCUE is an independent charity based in Sowerby, Halifax, West Yorkshire UK - dedicated to rehoming retired greyhounds since 1997.
www.tiagreyhounds.org.uk

The dog we have now (Jack in my avatar)we found in the Oldies Club-just Google it-he loves to snooze, sit on our laps for a stroke, eat, and go for a short walk. Perfect as he is older as we are!

Hi Kathryn

Good luck with the guide dog/caninepartners. I am glad you haven't given up on the idea. I find my pets very theraputic. I will be interested to hear how you get on as it is something I will probably look at myself next time around. Border collies pick up words very quickly, so are not hard to train, but I doubt I would be able to manage one next time unless it came fully trained first.

I am very impressed that you've had work published! I have only ever submitted twice, both pre-children & pre-RA & both to Mills & Boon, simply because they are always actively looking for unsolicited manuscripts and at the time it seemed like the easiest place to start - although of course it wasn't at all. But as I already have the start to a couple of M&B stories hidden away, my plan this year is to send off 3 chapters to them & to enter their competition in the autumn as it seems quite good for getting feedback, if only from other entrants. My ultimate goal would be to write a complex thriller, but I don't think I'm ready for that yet.

How well controlled is your RA? I am on rutiximab. I've just had the treatment for the 2nd time. It took 3/4 months to work last year, but they say it can be quicker 2nd time around.

Hi Liz

Keep submitting, that's what writers are supposed to do, apparently! I read a quote somewhere recently that said 'If you're not getting rejections, then you're not a writer'. Some comfort!

My RA is poorly controlled at the moment. I've been on MTX at 25mg for over 2 years, tried Sulphasalazine and then Leflunomide with it but had to stop each of those so I'm just left with the MTX. Having been seeing the rheumatologist privately up until now, I'm now waiting for an NHS appointment so that I can move over to MTX injections to see if this helps. I got the appointment in the post today and it's for May so looks like a lot more moaning coming my family's way!

Kathryn
x