Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Oregon/Washington Support Group

I live in the Portland/Vancouver area and have met several other people with AS. So far, four of us [ all women ] have met twice and are debating whether or not we want to begin a support group. We have talked via e-mail with three men with AS who are interested in coming to our get-togethers. We are getting together again on July 18th, Thursday at 7pm at one of our homes. I have noticed several kickas'ers who live in this area too. If anybody on this site would like to come and meet others with AS, just pm me and I will send you the address and phone number. We are not sure if we want to start a formal support group or just meet once or twice a year.We will talk about the frequency of the meetings and what we want to get from them. One of us - Paula - would like to have guest speakers once in awhile and she has some great ideas on resource sharing. If you live anywhere close to us , then please think about joining us even if it is just for the one meeting.

Mickey

Hi Mickey.... I wish we had met online here before March. I just moved from that area (Longview WA) on the first of March. I am now in Spokane. I would love to come over there, and may be able to during that time. Might even be nice to set up a KickASers party, there are several I have noticed from the Pacific NW, WA, OR and SW Canada. You may want to post about this also in the party area.

Have a great day

Pam

"Just like moons and like suns, with the certainty of tides. Just like hopes springing high, Still I'll rise." Maya Angelou

I'm interested ! Let me know what shakes out. I am in grad. school and commute between here and Montana so gatherings do require some planning on my part. Count me in. Deidre

Bummer! I moved down here from Gresham two years ago... and you're meeting on my birthday! I shouldn't have moved!

Sharon

psssst..... hey Sharon..... come home for your birthday

Have a great day

Pam

"Just like moons and like suns, with the certainty of tides. Just like hopes springing high, Still I'll rise." Maya Angelou

Pam - If you can come over for the 18th , please come!!! You are right - if these meetings ever evolve into parties then I will post in the party forum for sure!!! It does look like there are more and more members from our neck of the woods, doesn't it? After going to Salt Lake for the party last year, I am convinced of the benefits for face to face meetings. Great opportunity for exchange of information.

Mickey

Diedre - I got your pm and will call you today. So glad that you think you might be able to meet with us.As I told Pam - there is nothing quite like meeting other people fighting this disease. Talk to you later.

Mickey

Sharon - too bad - come back and visit the Northwest!! Tell me - have you noticed any differences since you left the rain? I try to spend the winters down in the Anza-Borrego Desert which is near you but I can't seem to be able to tell if the warmer weather makes movement any easier. I get out and walk more when we are down south so that helps keep me limber and I don't get the "blues" so much when I am not around this continual rain. But I think the pain factor stays the same.

Mickey

Mickey,
I was reading your post to Sharon, and I find that my pain overall is about the same away from the rain. But what was worse over there was the morning stiffness. We volunteered for the month of January in 2001 at Fort Stevens state park and the cold and damp made my mornings a horrible way to wake up. Most mornings it took me almost half an hour or more to even be able to move enough to get out of bed.

Am checking my calendar and trying to make plans to come over in July. I am soo excited that I may get to meet a fellow ASkicker

Have a great day

Pam

"Just like moons and like suns, with the certainty of tides. Just like hopes springing high, Still I'll rise." Maya Angelou

Hi Mickey,

We were actually planning to be there as my Dad's side of the family is having a reunion in Battle Ground, WA on the 20th, but we had to cancel...

Pam's input is interesting... I personally can't speak to it. I was in remission when we moved down here... this flared up about eight months into our stay. I do know I am much more achy when it rains here. And actually both visits up north have left me in worse shape upon returning home, but that may have just been from traveling.

Sharon