Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group when is enough enough

Good advice, ineptwill. It's important to remember that the alternatives to "this" "here" are somewhat murky.

Hi Possi, here in Canada if you qualify for a seeing/hearing or service dog, they are given to you for your use as long as you need it. It takes up to a year to train the service dog for your needs. Laws here in Canada allow you to have service dogs in restaurants, and apartments, everywhere you go. You can't buy one. They do cost lots of money to train. They even train you, to train your dog to service your needs.

I have approached the hearing society and got the paper work off the internet. I was waiting until after my celiac biopsy, when I am hopefully feeling a little better, to put the application in.

I have information from my Audiologist, one counsellor, and I am also receiving Counsellling through the Canadian Hearing Society, which I believe will help me. The dogs are trained in Bresleu, few miles outside of Kitchener, Ontario, where I presently live.

Hugs

Gerri

Great Gerri.

I think of you often. How are you? I hope the service dog works out for you. I would love to have one just to help me with picking up things I drop....like me! I love dogs but I know they are very expensive to get them trained and I may not can afford it.

Good to hear from you.
Hugs.
Possi

oak,, so sorry to hear of your problems....sigh.. sometimes it never seems to stop. I'm sending a (((big hug))) to ya. In regards to your wife... the stress of your problems and financial problems are a strain for everyone, esp when some burdens of care are put heavily on her shoulders. I'm praying for strength for the both of you to get thru this in a stronger way.

Hopefully this 'cr@p' you're going thru will be like fertilizer and will make you both grow stronger.

Congrats on your new grandson!

update.....i guess i have to except the inevitable....i fell twice on friday and i may have cracked my back, my left arm is numb painful and i cant use it very well, i got severe pain radiating from my spine and neck that goes around to the chest, only way i can get some sleep is by sitting up if i lay down severe pain the kind that takes your breath away...i see my doc on the 3rd..im goin to try and hold out til then...oak

Oak,

i'm so sorry to hear that you had an accident. I hope things get better for you.

BTW...Great to see you back on the boards.

Oak,
I am not very experienced here, but I just wanted to let you know that I'm thinking about your situation. Getting a dog could be great for you. You already have your grandkids to be inspired by too. I know my pup is so great, because she just gets me. I don't have to explain myself to her. She can sense my flares and gets extra affectionate and helpful.

I would suggest getting a dog rather than a puppy. Puppies are SO much work!! The last thing you need right now is to be cleaning up pee all the time. : ) Maybe a dog who is around 1 or 2 years old could be perfect. I have a pure breed, a Westie, but muts make great dogs. I just had to make sure mine would stay under 20 pounds for my townhouse. She's an amazing companion. All she wants is a little attention, some love, and food/water.
Look at your pound.... you and your dog can rescue each other.

Good luck with everything. I'm sorry to hear things are going rough.

Aly

First off, I am sorry to hear of your current physical challenges...I would say enough is enough! A service animal is a great idea; I have a friend who has one (she has different illness) and her service dog, Nora, is her best friend and is absolutely reliable. I think you may be very happy with a service animal and how it can help you. There are programs that can help with the costs associated with obtaining a service animal, if needed.

((((((((((((OAK))))))))))
sending you gentle hugs and blessings, Yoly

Hi Oak,
I am glad to see you posting. I keep looking for you on MySpace. Anyway, I am so sorry you are having so much problems now. I was never a believer in all of the meds I hear about. I figured the side effects would be hard to deal with. And with AS all doctors are able to do is give them to you and if one med don't work give you another one and in the end you are not getting any better. I just took high doses of asprin and that worked for me. Hope your doctor will allow you to use the wheelchair instead of continuing to keep falling and hurting yourself.

Sorry about your house. Hope your wife is not serious, and she will stand by you and take some of the stress away from you.
Congrats on the up coming birth of your new Grandson.

I will be praying for you.

Your friend
Doreen