Portland-Vancouver Ladies

[lori jo]

I don't know if I'm allowed to do this (I guess I'll find out if not) I wanted to private message each of you but that function is disabled. Anyway I really want to get us Portland area girls together. So far I have found MakinIT in Vancouver, tealover in Wilsonville, tea-dee in Forest Grove, and me in Oregon City. If we can find others we will invite them too. Lets try to get something planned! I was thinking that we could all meet at Washington Square Red Lobster (kinda in the middle of us all) maybe on a Sun afternoon. Since there are no support groups that meet more than twice a year here, we could have an unofficial group. I think that it would be really helpful for us to have this kind of special friend group. But I must state here that we have to keep it positive and supportive and fun!! No ***** fest. What do you all think? Who's in? :blink:

[lori jo]

(I got this idea from Katrina's post trying to get people togrther in WI.)

You can e-mail me at: lorijh@comcast.net or just reply here. Thanks, and I am looking forward to hearing from you all.

[MakinIT]

I think it would be fun...trying to figure out how you can get ahold of folks in the area unless they find this message might be a pain...might have to just find them somewhere on the board and reply publicly..tell them to check down here...anyway...that's a decent spot. Sunday traffic not bad, I hate driving there during the week. I am very sleepy in the afternoon so the earlier in the afternoon or late morning (brunch somewhere, even?) would be better me.

Thanks

Tracey

[lori jo]

O.K. I'm gonna go ahead and set a date. How about Sunday April 4th at 11am at the Washington Square Red Lobster?? So far it would be just the 4 of us. Unless someone else stumbles across this before then and wants to join us. The invitation is open! Anyone who is in our area and wants to meet with us, please do!! Oh, and spouses are welcome to come too. Somebody said something about her husband doing the drivng. I know that my hubby for sure won't want to go, and to be honest, I need to get away from him sometimes and do certain things on my own. So anyway, let's all put it on our calendars. I promise to be there, even if it's one of my feeling like crap days. Who is going to join me?

[MelanieJean]

I need to put something like that together for us Seattle girls, and guys! I'd love to go, but I can't drive the 5 hours to Portland. :) Besides, I get lost and people flip me off... hehe ~mel~

[MakinIT]

Oh come on now, Mel...we Portlanders love you Seattle folks...specially if you are huskie fans... BLEAH (From a rabid duck fan) There'd be no middle fingers in your venture. (Actually the trip from Seattle down I-5 by Wa Square is a piece of cake to get to, it's just the drive time.) You know we portlanders just have a little Seattle envy (ha, ha)

Anyway..sounds like fun...Especially since it's morning, It'll be easier to get to.
I can get there on my own.


Tracey...See ya


WaSquare Red Lobster, eh?

[tea-dee]

See you at Red Lobster on the 4th. It might be good if we could get a general head count, so we know what size of table to get. As for the Seattle people, come if you can. Maybe we can take a road trip sometime and meet you half way. With plenty of bathroom breaks, ha ha.... I heard we are getting some more of the gorgeous sunny weather tomorrow. I can't wait! Have a great weekend everyone!

[MakinIT]

Ummm..how will we know each other..should we like meet in the can at 11:00, or wear little pictures of toilets on our shirts?;) Just kidding...but seriously...I have no idea what y'all look like or how to tell the hostess who I'm looking for. (I just sort of fester on these awkward moments!)

And hey---I just re read the original post..no *****fest...my goodness...just what shall we do? (I'm kidding)

Tracey

[tea-dee]

There aren't many people there at 11:00 am on Sundays. We could meet inside to the right of the front door. There is an area to sit there. And it is near the bathrooms...! ;)

[MakinIT]

sounds good!Is the Red lobster on the South or North side of Wa SQ? I can't remember. I used to live over there but I can't keep those memories straight.

Tracey

[lori jo]

Meeting in the can! Oh my goodness Tracey you just crack me up, I can't wait to meet you. Red Lob is on the south side, take the first exit at Greenburg Rd. You'll see it on the right. So far it looks like we have 3 (or 4) of us in our little group. Me (Lori), Tracey, & Doreen. Tea-lover (I don't know her name) hasn't responded yet but I know that she is interested, so hopefully she'll get the message. Not being able to PM is really bugging me. grrrrrr. As for recognizing each other, I'm an easy one, I'm a short lady with very long red hair. To identify us we could come up with a cute name for our group. The "IC group" is so boring. Any ideas Tracey? I'm really starting to look forward to this. Having friends is such an important part of life, and having friends who can relate on this level is priceless.

[MakinIT]

I dunno...if there are only 3 of us, we could be the "3-pees"...:)


Looking forward to the day..I'm pretty casual, brown hair, sometimes very wild (sticking up all over) if the weather is bad, 5'4 and late 30's. ( I hope you aren't surprised when this old looking lady wanders up....this disease....it ages you...and not the stupid symptoms, it's the beauracracy.

Tracey

[lori jo]

ooooo, how bout......the pee-nuts? tee-hee

[MakinIT]

Hmm..I dunno....this is mainly a female disease and Pee nuts makes my mind wander to the other sex. (Prob just that me sexual encounters number in the less than l per year this last year....poor hubby) the equipment may be sore, but I still have the drive dammit. It'd almost be easier to just kill off that desire, but I know that's not healthy either.

Tracey

[tea-dee]

BBs-bathroom buddies.

SIPs-Sisters in pain.

Maybe put something with NW or Oregon in the name.

NWPP

NW pee pals....

We could have a motto.

"Could you tell us where your bathroom is?"

"Exploring the NW-one bathroom at a time..."

"Toliet Paper Quality Control Team"

[MakinIT]

I like them all...:) :) :)

If you were to look at my profile, one of my hobbies I listed was toilet seat texture apprasier (or something like that)

NW PP's very good...


Tracey

[tea-dee]

I saw my doctor today and told her about the support group. I told her that if she thought of any IC patient who might be interested in coming to have them call me or check out the IC boards for the NW. So we might get a few more members in the future. My doctor thought it was a great idea.

[MakinIT]

Good idea there Tea-dea...BTW your dancing bear and the dancing tigger on this thread are pretty wild. Wish I could contort like that!

[lori jo]

I finally was able to PM Barb (aka tea-lover) from Wilsonville. She says she'll be there too, so now we have 4! I like that we are starting out small and then we can find more as we go along. I am getting kinda nervous about meeting you all. Well, the good excited kind of nervous. We are meeting right there at the front door seating area right?

[MakinIT]

As far as I know that's where we are meeting. I'll just look for squirming women, or ones who have difficulty deciding how to sit. Or racing for the can.:dogrun:

I'm excited too. I have some social phobias but gotta get over them....(like meeting people I don't know...) It will be fun, and healthy to swap stories, and whatever else we need to do, advice, whatever.

:party: I"m sure it'll be wild and crazy time. Gee, I wonder if there is an alchoholic drink that won't cause my bladder to hyperventiliate for three days...Just kidding...can't do it anyway cause of the drugs I'm on.

I'm all for a mad shopping spree at WA SQ after too, eh? HEH, HEH..we deserve right? (I'm kidding, I"m broke...but it would be nice.)

Have a nice day, all....

[tea-dee]

It will be fun to meet everyone! As far as the dancing tiger, I didn't pick that one. But I thought the panda was cute. I have been having a difficult IC week. I have been in bed most of the week. I did see my doctor yesterday though. So I am not able to dance and move much this week like the panda. I am not sure I was ever that flexible! I am seeing another doctor on Friday. My hormones are out of control and it is causing me a lot of IC pain. But I will find a way to be there Sunday. I mostly avoid telling my friends and family when it gets this bad, but several of them happened to call Monday and I couldn't even pretend everything was okay. :yikes: I need to go lie down. My bladder is unhappy with me again. I will have to pick your brains on Sunday and see how I can improve this situation. (I couldn't find a brain picking smilie...Ha Ha). :idea:

[MakinIT]

Well tea dee...I sure hope I can help. I'm sorry you are hurting. I wound up cancelling an appointment to see the gyno who did my surgery a year ago. I had this horrible unusual pain in my left pelvis and couldn't get it to go away until today. (prob from trying to do a backbend for my daughter a few days ago...there are things those who are approaching 40 shouldn't attempt....but I did it.:dance: :bonk:

see ya soon, eh...Ihope you feel better.

Tracey

[tea-dee]

Thanks, Tracey. I turned 40 in December. I haven't done anything too rough lately. I did work in the yard last week, but I was only a little sore from that. This beautiful weather was too good to waste indoors. Sometimes my nieces (I have 7 of them!) talk me into doing something that I regret later. But they are a blast. The problem is that I am having multiple periods lately even though I am on the pill. The first days of my period are the worst on my IC. And it takes a lot out of me. Some of my friends say I may be experiencing that peri-menopause (spelling?). So I will check with the doctor on Friday. Before they knew I had IC, they thought it was something else and gave me shots to put me into menopause. It didn't stop the IC pain, but it really helped to not have to deal with the extra period time pain. So I will try just about anything at this point. I better get to bed. One of my nieces is in a play at school tomorrow. I will need to take a pain pill to sit that long. And it is for 5th and 6th graders, so the pain pill might help in other ways too...Ha Ha. Just teasing! :biglaugh:
Doreen aka teadee

[MakinIT]

Yup..I've got a play for my 8 year old to see tonight. Think I'll bring my special pillow (you can order from the IC store) and get ready to watch the 1st and 2nd grade spring performance. For me, I haven't done anything except the PT recommendations, guided meditations:pray: and drugs. the Yoga part has been amazing because I feel so much more flexible; and has helped with PFD.:toosh: (only cause that smilie was distracting me and thought it appropriate when I said PFD......:) I'm not mooning you...) I love these new smilies and all the stuff on the board...I loved finding Hobbes...he used to be my favorite cartoon character.

As far as peri menopause, wish I could help. I've been period free since 35 when I had a hysterectomy...Now I"m on an artificial hormone so my hormone flucuations are zilch. I know, all the stuff in the news about how bad they are for you, but I take estrogen and it is known to cause uterine cancer...I don't have a uterus so Ikeep getting reassured it's fine totake. When I did try to go off it last month, my joints and muscles hurt even more than usual. My chiropractor, of all people, (and a man) asked if was still taking the synthetic hormone and I said no, he told me to try to start taking them again and see if my pain eased up. And most of it has, I'm back to usual levels of achiness. I don't know the connection, he tried to explain it, but I was too tired and hurt too much that day to really hear him. (Once in a while, it's good to get a wholistic view of your body.) I see him 2x a month and an accupuncturist 2x /month.

"sigh" still looking forward to Sunday. I hope I'm not too obnoxious for you all, or that I get my wierd social phobia and clam up. I've been known to do both...for any obnoxious behavior, let me apologize ahead of time. I'm ADHD, although these meds have tamed that alot. I still blurt stuff out and am hard to shut up once I get going on something.:ignore: (as you can all prob tell from my short stories I like to post.)

Ta Ta for now-Tracey

[tea-dee]

What is the use of a support group if you can't be yourself? I think we should try to support each other and offer suggestions, but we all know what works for one person may not work for another. I used to go to a massage therapist and chiropractor. (Before I knew I had IC). But I couldn't even handle being touched by them at all when my pain got worse. I just bought a Pilates DVD and mat. I used to do Pilates, but quit after the pain got bad. I am hoping to start again. I think it would help my IC. Right now, I can't even think about it. I hope you don't clam up! Hey this is your shot to talk to other IC people in person. Just be you-laugh, cry, do whatever you feel comfortable with! :welcome:
We all have stories to tell. Meeting other IC people will make me feel like less of a freak...Ha Ha. Sunday should be fun. Doreen:woohoo:

[MakinIT]

Hi guys...it's early Sunday AM...I will be there today even though I PM'd tea dee that I might not be able to make it. My kids actually told my husband I needed to get out and have new friends and someone to talk to about the disease. So, Roger decided to delay the trip by a day. I thought that was very giving of the kids considering they are only 14 and 8...and the 8 year old can't wait to go to the beach. Soooo...I've skipped my AM valium so I can drive, and have taken my other pain meds...(I believe its the valium that really makes me loopy when I drive, that and the atatarax and I only took 1/2 dose last night.

So I'll see you soon!!!

[MakinIT]

Hi guys...any thoughts on a date next month? I know people go to church...would Saturday AM's be good? I just like to have a chance to talk and all this stuff that has come up for me with the interstim is very scary to me and I need to just commiserate with you all. I've talked to everyone in my family and friends and they all think it sounds horrific. So, I need other IC perspectives...I am SCARED!

thanks much, Tracey

[tea-dee]

Sundays after 11 am or Saturdays are okay with me. May is pretty open right now. I have been thinking about you-is the treatment working at all? Hope you are able to get some rest. It takes me about 5 minutes to get comfortable every night. I love my long body pillow! It really helps. Of course, I am up at least 3 to 5 times a night anyway! :bonk:

[lori jo]

May is pretty open for me too. Sundays are better if you are talking mornings. I couldn't make it til after noon on Saturdays.....So yeah it does sound horrific when you are doing things near your spine, but so does being in constant pain. What do YOU think and feel about it? Does the chance for some relief out weigh the risks? I would be confused and scared too!!!! :confused: I hope that we can help you sort it all out. When do you have to make a decision?

[MakinIT]

The more I read, the more my intellectual side says..."ok, give this one week thing a trial and see"....my animal instinct side says "get the "f....ing" claws out and start doing some scratching someone's eys" I have to decide by next week as to a (tentative) procedure day but my psychologist has to ok me doing first..My pain doc has said he won't do it until my shrink says it's ok. (Prob because when they did the other procedure, the spinal block, it took half their staff to hold me down, even sedated!!!!:lmao: I'll see my uro on Monday...I'll definately discuss with her, though I know what she'll me...(She wants me to do a DMSO treatment but I am fundamentally opposed to those...)

anyway...thanks for yer support..


How about meeting saturday May 15? I will decide before then but at least can commiserate...and its a week after Mother's Day...Or we can meet at end of this month like April 24th or 25th....(I think those are the days of the last weekend of April.)

Thanks Much-T

[Alexa]

:hi: from Vancouver North!

Have fun at your get-together!

Alexa

[MakinIT]

Ah yes..the reason I always I have to say Vancouver, USA when I go through the border to visit family in Chase BC.

Too bad you live so far away...you could come and be a part of our little group. Hmmmm... A NW get together..could be fun.

Thanks, enjoy your even wetter weather in your gorgeous city.

Tracey

[MakinIT]

So ladies...I have an interstim surgery coming up soon:dogrun: (That's me getting the hell outta there) I'm not sure when they are scheduling it. They have to get pre approval from my insurance. Guess it's like $30,000 surgery (the WHOLE thing) (Good for me, they can only charge up to $600 per year in co pays and I'm almost there now!!!)

Anyway, I'd like to get together. I know somewhere I posted some possibile dates, but I don't know where. I think we should consider a Saturday AM to circumvent the ol' church dilema and Maybe TGIF's around the same area? Just let me know a possible good day and maybe we can get together,eh? I would like to chat actually before this stupid surgery, but if it has to wait it can. My shrink wants to do some desensitazation with me first, and make sure the pain doc knows I need more "good stuff" (sedatives) to make me less upset during the procedures. :dizzy: :bonk:

I am available all the Saturdays coming up soon. (I have no life.):rolleyes:

bye'

[tea-dee]

I am available for May 8th. Or we could do an evening? TGIF's is fine with me.