**Differently Abled Artists II** - Page 5

artyczar · #61 11-18-2010, 03:02 AM

I know a colorblind artist named Mark Malmgren. here is a link to an interview with him: http://internetviewmagazine.com/2006...kMalmgren.html

Check him out, he is simple, but makes beautiful, self-taught/folk art work.

AddiesArt · #62 11-20-2010, 10:43 AM

for each of you. I have MS which brings me good days and bad days. But the last few months I've had other problems which don't seem at all related to MS so I've been going through those dreaded TESTS.

I hate med tests of any kind and I hate not knowing whats happening. Ahhhhh. Thanks for reading my little rant.

I've read along for some time but don't usually know what to say so thanks for reading and here's another hug

artyczar · #63 11-20-2010, 11:58 AM

Hi Addies!

Welcome. What sort of tests are you having. I too have MS and have other stuff going on, but I figured listing it off would just be too unbelievable and I seem to always be doing one test or another. Feel free to share and/or rant. It gives me free reign to do the same. LOL! Big hugs back at cha!

wistah · #64 01-02-2011, 08:55 PM

I'm new to this forum, but I figure I should weigh in here too. Like the original poster, I also have AS. I was diagnosed about six years ago. It has slowed me down quite a bit, but I have learned much, and found new ways to have fun.

BluZebra5510 · #65 01-03-2011, 11:23 AM

Hello all, and happy New Year.

I am starting off the year on a mission to achieve clarity and focus. If I don't do this, the day, the month, the year will whiz by and my artistic goals will never come to fruition.

I have already taken on several art challenges: The Creative Every Day Challenge, The Sketchbook Challenge, and an art journal workshop. All these are to broaden my horizons and get me to focus on art every day.

My intention as always, is to focus on my art and not my disability. I love communicating with other artists with disabilities to discuss problems and possibilities pertaining to working and getting shows, etc. I will continue to do that with all my artsy friends in person, on the phone and online.

Wishing you all a great, prosperous and abundant New Year.

windsong1944 · #66 01-05-2011, 10:35 AM

I spent 12 years and a lot of money trying to find out what was the matter with me. During this time I was diagnosed with everything from sleep apnea to RLS. Most neurologists just threw up their hands and said that they had no idea what was wrong. The last one told me to quit wasting doctors time and let one of them treat the symptoms. I asked each one to be tested for MS but all of them said I was to old for it. I'm 66 now. Finally a doctor listened and four months ago I was diagnosed with MS. During this time I had my own gallery and read this thread every day. I thank all of you who counseled never give up. Some days I get angry and wonder if my health would be better now if I had had treatment sooner. But that is the past and I can't change it. I just am thankful for all of my good days and the support of a wonderful family.

paint18 · #67 02-05-2011, 01:15 PM

Well, I got my wisdom teeth pulled last week and it wasn't bad at all. I hope it is a sign of how my hip replacements will go. I am having that done in less than two months

artyczar · #68 02-05-2011, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by windsong1944

I spent 12 years and a lot of money trying to find out what was the matter with me. During this time I was diagnosed with everything from sleep apnea to RLS. Most neurologists just threw up their hands and said that they had no idea what was wrong. The last one told me to quit wasting doctors time and let one of them treat the symptoms. I asked each one to be tested for MS but all of them said I was to old for it. I'm 66 now. Finally a doctor listened and four months ago I was diagnosed with MS. During this time I had my own gallery and read this thread every day. I thank all of you who counseled never give up. Some days I get angry and wonder if my health would be better now if I had had treatment sooner. But that is the past and I can't change it. I just am thankful for all of my good days and the support of a wonderful family.

Hi Windsong. Welcome!

I have to tell you that I completely empathize with you about how long and hard your journey was in getting your dx. MS has come to be a very difficult thing to diagnose in the last decade. It is because they changed the criteria on it some time ago, so if you don't fit all of the criteria, you won't get the dx. In some cases, where people have optic neuritis and show MS clinically, they pretty much get a dx. But then there are others who have either a clear MRI, or little scarring, or scarring in the "wrong" places, but still present clinically and won't get a dx anymore.

There was a time, before the invention of the MRI machine in the 1980s, where if you were presenting all the symptoms of MS and they put you into a warm bath, and you came out with your legs feeling like noodles, you'd get the diagnosis! It was pretty straight forward.

I'm sure by now you know enough about MS, and even before you finally got a dx that you KNEW you had it and the doctors just made you feel like it was in your head. I went through a number of years like this myself. It took a spinal tap for me to close the case and get the official stamp of MS, but that doesn't mean I didn't live with it for many many years before they said I had it.

I just wanted you to know I understand what you probably went through. I also have Lupus, which complicated things even further because they said I couldn't have both, but I did.

Anyway, welcome and I look forward to seeing you around.

RoadLessTaken · #69 02-06-2011, 09:25 AM

I "may" be getting a new diagnosis this week to add to the other myriad.... except this one, if it is as I suspect, is fatal.
It's been such a long road for this RoadLessTaken. I can't say I regret much of it though. Just keep me in your thoughts and hope I am wrong! I'm really getting tired of having my body blindside me just when I feel like life is improving.
Sheila

paint18 · #70 02-12-2011, 12:49 PM

Sheila,

I am so sorry to hear that and I do hope you are wrong. Everything in life happens for a reason, but sometimes it just isn't fair. I wish for you all the health in the world. If you ever need to talk I am good at listening.

Becca

paint18 · #71 02-12-2011, 02:08 PM

Well, there are less than two months until my first hip replacement surgery. It is getting difficult to think about. I was just wondering how do you deal with an upcoming surgery? How do you prepare mentally for it?

sarastar · #72 02-16-2011, 07:14 PM

Drawing and painting about my surgeries has helped me.

windsong1944 · #73 02-17-2011, 06:32 AM

thank you for the kind understanding Artyczar. Yes, I did know what I had before the doctors would test me. That was what was so frustrating. I have cousins on both sides of my family with MS and as I watched them decline I could see that our symptoms were similiar.
I've had four surgeries in the last seventeen months and I am tired in body and spirit. I know that MS is hard to diagnose, But I gave it to them on a silver platter.Ive got lesions on my brain, spinal cord and optic nerve. I'm scared to death I"ll go blind.
Paint 18 to prepare mentally, have a surgeon you like and trust. This will take some of the stress away.
I don't mean to be morbid but get you affairs in order. Have your living will and your medical power of attorney drawn up if you haven't already.Make sure your will is current. If it's important to you arrange for a visit while your in the hospital for you priest or pastor.
Go into the surgery with a positive att. Knee replacements are very common now and you will do fine.If there is a very nice rehab hospital near you, arrange to stay in it. You will do far more exercise there then at home.
I can't think of anything else to tell you.....just keep busy. Now is the time to eat right and exercise as best you can/

paint18 · #74 02-19-2011, 12:40 PM

sarastar,

Thank you.

windsong,

Thank you. I do have a surgeon that I like and trust. I am so thankful I do have such a good surgeon.

Elaine13 · #75 03-01-2011, 05:45 PM

I came across this website two days ago, joined yesterday and am exploring the site today. You all sound so wonderful. I have osteo-arthritis in most joints, and spinal stenosis, had a knee replaced fifteen years ago, but still gives trouble. When my hands are truly aching I stick them into very warm wax and find the heat really helps for a while. My body definitely is a hostage to the weather.
Elaine

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