Community Course offers counter-attack to arthritis by Valorie Lennox The Review Arthritis will strike one in seven Canadians; one in three families. But an arthritis attack doesn’t mean defeat. To help arthritis patients cope with the disabling effects of the disease, the Arthritis Society offers a low-cost arthritis self-management program, conducted solely by volunteers. This fall, the program is being offered at the Silver Threads Centre in Sidney under the leadership of volunteers Val King and Diane Eitles. To help others who may also be affected by arthritis, participant Norma Jubb agreed to share her experience with the six-week program. At the outset, she describes the impact of arthritis on her_life. -FACING THE CHALLENGE of arthritis, with a little support from a friend, is Norma Jubb, 56, who was diagnosed with the disease four years ago. “To me it has meant a total lifestyle change.” When Norma moved to Deep Cove with her husband Bill five years ago, she was looking forward to their joint retirement. “T bought my horses, my tennis racket and my baby grand piano.” One of her retirement projects was tO resume piano lessons, which she had last taken as a child. After the first year she wrote her Grade Five exams and received first class honors. Eager to duplicate her success with the keyboard exam, she prac- ticed for the test. “All of a sudden, one day the pain was so bad I couldn’t move my hands. “T had no idea what it was.” Using a blood test, her doctor quickly diagnosed the problem as rheumatoid arthritis. Norma then realized the pain she had been experiencing in her feet — which she had attributed to poor shoes — was also caused by arthnitis. For Norma, the joints most affected by arthritis are those in - both wrists, in one shoulder and one knee. “You can have it in one area but most people will have it in a variety of areas.” The horses, the tennis racket and the grand piano are gone — Norma found she did not have enough strength in her wrists to continue those activities. Otherwise, she is as active as possible — working in a local shop, doing volunteer work and attending water exercise classes. She adapts, trading high heels. for orthopedic sandals, carrying a smaller handbag, supporting her Women and leadership conference af Dunsmuir A fall seminar on women and leadership will be held at Duns- muir Lodge, 1515 McTavish Road, North Saanich, starting at 8 a.m. Oct. 24. Sponsored by the Women’s Ser- vices Association of B.C., the con- ference will open with a presenta- tion by former Victoria mayor and present MLA Gretchen Brewin. Guest speaker Linda Kavelin Popov will present a program on “Living from the Core: The Power to Follow Your Dreams.”’ She is the co-author of the Virtues Guide, an inter-faith book being used by parents, teachers and religious educators in over 20 countries. A program on cultural leader- ship will be presented by New Bastion Theatre associate pro- ducer and director of development Leona MacDonald Setka. Lyn Gough, author of As Wise as Serpents, will present a program on the Canadian Women’s History . month committee and there will also be a special mystery guest. Registration 1s $37.50 and includes a buffet breakfast, nutri- tion break and door prizes. The conference starts at 8 a.m. and continues until 12:45 p.m. Advance registration is required as seating is limited. To register or for more informa- tion, call 658-4074. wrists with plastic splints and sometimes wearing a neck brace. The major symptoms are pain and swelling, which Norma com- bats with painkillers and anti- inflammatory drugs. “Usually I function very well,” she says. Still, the arthritis is always pre- sent. “From first thing in the mom- ing, the first thing you feel is pain. From opening the shampoo bottle, to shampooing hair, to wringing out a dishtowel to getting the milk out of the refrigerator...it’s every- thing. Some days the arthritis is worse than others. “To a greater or lesser extent, depending on the type of day you're having, it can affect every- thing you do.” Special L-shaped knives, availa- ble through the Arthritis Society, make it easier to chop: food with- out putting stress on the wrist. Norma also uses a book rest when reading and hires a cleaning . lady to handle the cleaning she cannot do herself. “The biggest part is the frustra- tion because you want to do it yourself,” she’ says. She notes her husband is also very helpful. “It must be terribly The biggest part is the frustration because you want to do it yourself’ TheReview Wednesday, October 14,1992 — A14 hfe KUMON MATH zuUMON EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE OPEN HOUSE - EVERY THURSDAY 3-5:30 PM. St. Andrews Church-Sidney “Both for Kids who love and fear math!” FREE DIAGNOSTIC TEST Individualized Programme Contact: Ruth Barron, B.A.M.Ed. . 656-0635 _ RONS DISPOSAL WE RECYCLE Cardboard, Paper Plastic 6952-6242 difficult for people who live alone.” When she first developed arthritis, she read all she could about the disease. Taking the arthritis management course is another step in learning as much as possible about arthritis, she said. “Tm hoping to lear more about the disease and how to deal with it on a day to day basis.” Continued on Oct. 21. @smds | Funeral Chapels 656-2932 or 388-5155 Offer a complete choice of Professional Service. —TRADITIONAL —MEMORIAL —DIRECT CREMATION —FULL PRE-ARRANGEMENTS SERVICES Serices from your church or in either of our chapels at 1803 QUADRA STREET VICTORIA Or 317 GOLDSTREAM AVE. COLWOOD Your Parents... om Put $0 much energy & love into: ¢ Feeding you the -_ “Right Foods” q) ¢ Making sure you had * “Nice Friends” e Encouraging your “Independance” & “Well Being” = Show Them Your Love and Let Us Return the Favour Come Visit The Beechwood. Have Them Enjoy The Beechwood Experience - The Seniors Life Style Of The 90'S - CALL A 655-0849 CAREFREE Sores ; for more information é ge RETIREMENT oe LIVING Tae Beechwood VILLAGE SIDNEY BY THE SEA «2315 MILLS ROAD. SIDNEY. B.C. 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