Rheumatoid Arthritis/Lupus= No more Cake Decorating?
I've recently entered the beautiful, exciting and challenging world of cake decorating. I absolutely love it. I've also started to have trouble with my joints. These past few weeks I haven't been able to even bake a cake. I'm waiting for some bloodwork to see if we can find out what I have that is causing very crippling joint pain.*
*Found out yesterday the results RA & Lupus*
I would like to know if there is anyone else out there suffering from arthritis or some other debilitating joint disease that is still able to decorate and how they do it?
I have my son's 1st birthday coming up and I pretty depressed that I may not be able to bake and decorate his cake.
Suffering from major cake decorating withdrawal
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Stampinsher on
-
Extremely sad for you, Windy. I hope you will have some type of treatment that will allow you to function around your discomfort. All I can say is Take You Time, do it in stages, hours and days. That is what was told to me and I believe it! Life goes on so make the fun stuff count!!!
I must make it perfectly clear, I have not had then opportunity or energy as of yet to have any fun with my hobbies and other things. My problems are still under doctors care and testing. As soon as I know, I will share.
-
Permalink Reply by Theresa Happe on
-
Me!! I have arthritis, cluster headaches and spinal stenosis. I spent a few months in bed in the beginning of this year, but had radiofrequency done on my neck. You just have to break everything down into doable steps. It's a challenge.
-
Permalink Reply by Windy Jimenez on
-
It looks like lots of fondant work for me! Piping right now is out of the question. I can probably get my hubby to knead and roll out the fondant for me. I have an italian pasta roller for small works. I guess when I need to pipe, I hope the hands can grip when the time comes. I've been thinking hard on that. Right now I'm at work and both my shoulders, right arm and hand are killing me. I can type with some discomfort, but boy are my shoulders killing me! Can't wait to leave in about an hour.
-
-
Yup, piping is more difficult. I don't have the steady hand I used to have. But, I make other people knead my fondant. That's the killer.
Windy Jimenez said:It looks like lots of fondant work for me! Piping right now is out of the question. I can probably get my hubby to knead and roll out the fondant for me. I have an italian pasta roller for small works. I guess when I need to pipe, I hope the hands can grip when the time comes. I've been thinking hard on that. Right now I'm at work and both my shoulders, right arm and hand are killing me. I can type with some discomfort, but boy are my shoulders killing me! Can't wait to leave in about an hour.
-
-
Please let us know as I will do the same.
Stampinsher said:Extremely sad for you, Windy. I hope you will have some type of treatment that will allow you to function around your discomfort. All I can say is Take You Time, do it in stages, hours and days. That is what was told to me and I believe it! Life goes on so make the fun stuff count!!!
I must make it perfectly clear, I have not had then opportunity or energy as of yet to have any fun with my hobbies and other things. My problems are still under doctors care and testing. As soon as I know, I will share.
-
Permalink Reply by Kathy Kmonk on
-
I'm so sorry to hear this. I hope you ladies find a solution to your health issues. As for piping, is it just that you don't have the hand strength or that your joints hurt? I have fibromyalgia and when I worked as a cookie decorator I thought I was going to have quit my job after my first Christmas there because my hands hurt so bad. I couldn't bend my fingers in the morning. Then I found ACE compression gloves...they changed my life. I started wearing them when I decorate and they really helped.
Here is a link to Walgreen's http://www.walgreens.com/store/catalog/Braces-and-Supports/Ace-Reju...
I'm not sure if these will help you in anyway but they sure did help me. Wal Mart sells a different brand. They actually give you two in a box for less than $9. You find them where you would buy ACE bandages. I don't decorate without them. Also when my hands hurt at night, I'll wear them to bed and my hands aren't quite as sore in the morning.
-
Permalink Reply by Deah on
-
Hey Windy, I'm sorry you're having so many joint problems. My mom has advanced RA and my grandmother had lupis. One suggestion I'd like to make regarding your doctor. If you aren't already seeing a rheumatologist you need to find one. My mom's treatment changed dramatically when she switched to a specialist. Also, they have access to many studies and if you qualify for the study it can mean FREE meds and health care. My mom has been in a study for 3 years now. The meds she's taking are just now coming on the market and the cost is $1,000 per month. She's still in the study so her meds are still provided for her along with her dr's fees.
-
Permalink Reply by Denise Piantkowski on
-
That is so ironic that you posted this! I am now in the process of finding out if I do have RA. I, too, am still new to the cake decorating scene - I've only been doing this for about a year or so now. It hasn't come to the point of not being able to decorate yet - but it has slowed me down a lot. I have been doing a lot of internet research, and am going to try some new ideas I've seen. There is one thing I want to try that I've read on....Sesame Seed Oil. They say that it's been used for thousands of years, and does wonders with arthritis. It's also used for a lot of other medical problems...they use it in India right now to clear arteries, and have done experiments with certain cancers like skin cancer - and it's stopped the growth of the bad cells. Sounds like a miracle drug! They say to just rub it on your joints. I haven't tried it yet - I guess I'm still a skeptic. I'm so sorry to hear that you have this - but I promise you that I know a few people that have it - both RA and Lupus - and they are doing great, the medical treatment has come a long way. So far, they think I have Viral Arthritis, but are doing more tests on the RA part....and it does have me a little scared. My only help that I can give you about doing a cake for your son is maybe you can have another family member help you - instruct them as to what you would do and have them do it....that way, it's still done by you, too!! Best wishes to you!!
-
Permalink Reply by Edna De la Cruz on
-
I have arthritis, and Lupus and Fibromyalgia...Yes I have bad days, but never give up the fight. It can be done. I was diagnose years ago. Look in my website and see that it never stopped me..
www.designmeacake.com
I say it out loud..I have lupus...and I can do it!
Edna de la Cruz
-
-
Don't let your brain rule your body..Yes you can. Train your body to do it. You did it before you where diagnose. Movement will ony make you stronger. When you stop is worst.
When I started I had a boss that knew I had lupus. I was working 3 hours a day and I almost started crying saying I couldn't handle it. She said yes you can, you will grow stronger. And I did. I was able to do 2 days of full work in a row.
By the third I was exhausted, I must admit. But the rewards of my work made every muscle ache worth it. It was a matter now of relaxing and getting some strenght back to do my work the next week.
Fybromialgia is a very painful thing, and people don't get it. Just as RA..but you can push yourself. Your body will give you signals to when you need to stop or when you can push yourself a little bit more.
I know it hurts..believe me I know..but pain over matter...is your life..take control..
Windy Jimenez said:It looks like lots of fondant work for me! Piping right now is out of the question. I can probably get my hubby to knead and roll out the fondant for me. I have an italian pasta roller for small works. I guess when I need to pipe, I hope the hands can grip when the time comes. I've been thinking hard on that. Right now I'm at work and both my shoulders, right arm and hand are killing me. I can type with some discomfort, but boy are my shoulders killing me! Can't wait to leave in about an hour.
-
-
Thank you everyone for your words of encouragement. I'm glad I posted this question for discussion. The replies not only help me but others in our Cakes We Bake community. There are some that have posted replies that I would have never thought they had any of the illnesses mentioned. Edna, I and I bet many others would never have imagined you had chronic pain. Your work is so beautiful and simply flawless. Your work is proof that once the pain is being managed, all is possible. Thank you and all the others for coming forward and telling us your story.
Kathy-I'm going to ask my hubby to check out the prices on the compression gloves for me right away (I'm at work)!
-
-
My primary care doctor was able to schedule an urgent appointment with the specialist for this Tuesday. So, hopefully I can be able to get everything ready for my son's birthday by the 14th of this month. Most important, I can get back to caring for my family and myself.
Deah Aldridge said:Hey Windy, I'm sorry you're having so many joint problems. My mom has advanced RA and my grandmother had lupis. One suggestion I'd like to make regarding your doctor. If you aren't already seeing a rheumatologist you need to find one. My mom's treatment changed dramatically when she switched to a specialist. Also, they have access to many studies and if you qualify for the study it can mean FREE meds and health care. My mom has been in a study for 3 years now. The meds she's taking are just now coming on the market and the cost is $1,000 per month. She's still in the study so her meds are still provided for her along with her dr's fees.
Popular Cake Searches
© 2024 Created by Theresa Happe.
Powered by
