"In your area"

sarahpeps
sarahpeps Member Posts: 13
edited 5. Jan 2010, 09:20 in Living with Arthritis archive
Ive had a look at the in your area part of this web site to see what groups or courses I could attend. However, everything is either in Bristol or London!
Does anyone know if there are any help groups/courses elsewhere in the country?
(Im in Somerset)

Comments

  • elnafinn
    elnafinn Member Posts: 7,412
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    sarahpeps wrote:
    Ive had a look at the in your area part of this web site to see what groups or courses I could attend. However, everything is either in Bristol or London!
    Does anyone know if there are any help groups/courses elsewhere in the country?
    (Im in Somerset)

    Hi Sarah

    If there is no group in your area, you could start your own one, if you are brave enough. AC will help you - worth having a word with them, if you are interested. Some peeps on here have started their own groups.

    You could ask the helpline about courses too.

    I have sent you a PM.

    Luv
    Elna x
    The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.

    If you can lay down at night knowing in your heart that you made someone's day just a little bit better, you know you had a good day.
  • woodbon
    woodbon Member Posts: 4,969
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi, I know what you mean. Maybe we should start being a bit more brave and doing something. I admit to thinking about it, especially as are house is attached to a very poorly used Church Hall!

    I feel that I don't have the knowledge, but its a sense of fear really, stopping me!!! :oops: I have, years ago, before I even knew my husband, helped to run a youth club, with a group of others, one of whom, I was astonished to find, reading through some stuff on the internet is now a consultant rheumatologist!!! Enough said!!!

    I hope that you find something you like. Love Sue
  • jenzie06
    jenzie06 Member Posts: 708
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I went to my local AC meeting. Everyone was very very friendly and inviting but I was the youngest there by a long way (I'm 27 on tuesday!). It really wasn't my thing. I put up a notice in the Rheumy dept asking if any younger arthritis sufferers fancied meeting up and having a cuppa but got absolutely no response at all. A little disheartening.
    My nurse told me that all the teenage arthritis sufferers are looked after in paediatrics til they get old enough. How times have changed!! When I was diagnosed at 15yrs old I was in the rheumy dept and was the youngest there by a long way - no one mentioned paediatrics!!

    So if anyone fancies a cuppa (I could probably stretch to a cake too!) then let me know!
  • katekelly
    katekelly Member Posts: 975
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi All,

    I'm hoping to start up a brach of AC in the Rugby area. I was hoping to be up and running by now but what with my Godmother passing away and Christmas and numerous other 'things' happening I seem to have stalled a bit. But hopefully I'll get back into the swing of it in the New Year.

    So if any of you are from around this area please let me know and perhaps we can meet up.

    Thanks

    Kate xx
  • rosyred
    rosyred Member Posts: 150
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    hI.. wHERE IN SOMERSET ARE U?

    Im in wiltshire and have found a group in trowbridge...Havent been along yet hummmm im shy and not good at 1st time things, :oops:

    Hope u find one near u

    Alli x
  • dolittle
    dolittle Member Posts: 240
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Jenzie! Hope you have a great day.

    I also hope you're feeling better and can sleep these nights. Hope I didn't bore you the other night!

    Anyway, enjoy your day and you two look after yourselves.
    Do
  • jenzie06
    jenzie06 Member Posts: 708
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thanks, and I had the best birthday present - sleep!! Managed to only wake up once (due to baby bouncing on my bladder and not due to excessive pain) but went straight off again and this morning I don't feel like climbing the walls.

    Another day of chilling out then tomorrow I'll attempt some very tiny jobs and see the effect. Fingers crossed. GP is faxing my consultant today to tell him that grinning and bearing it for another 4months isn't do-able.
  • chrisg
    chrisg Member Posts: 1
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    jenzie06 wrote:
    I went to my local AC meeting. Everyone was very very friendly and inviting but I was the youngest there by a long way (I'm 27 on tuesday!). It really wasn't my thing. I put up a notice in the Rheumy dept asking if any younger arthritis sufferers fancied meeting up and having a cuppa but got absolutely no response at all. A little disheartening.
    My nurse told me that all the teenage arthritis sufferers are looked after in paediatrics til they get old enough. How times have changed!! When I was diagnosed at 15yrs old I was in the rheumy dept and was the youngest there by a long way - no one mentioned paediatrics!!

    So if anyone fancies a cuppa (I could probably stretch to a cake too!) then let me know!

    Hi,

    I was reading this thread and thought it might be useful to mention something that you might not be aware of - Arthritis Care Virtual Groups.

    The Virtual Group is an online group which brings together people from specific areas of the UK to talk about their condition, get involved in our Live Chats (think instant messaging with themed conversations and specialist "speakers"), share their experiences, photos, videos etc.

    We currently have a very popular Virtual Group in Scotland (http://arthritiscarevg.ning.com) which opened last January, and plan to open another for the Central England area within the next few months.

    The age-range of members of the VG is varied, from early 20's to 70+, and as the Group is online, it's a great way for shy people to gain support for their condition and get to know other people in similar circumstances. There are also opportunities to become involved with local events and gain more knowledge about coping with your condition.

    The Groups are open to anyone wanting to join, not just those that live with arthritis, so if anyone's interested in being notified when a new group goes live, please email me at chrisg@arthritiscare.org.uk.
    Also, please let me know if you'd like information about helping to run one of these new groups.

    Thanks,

    Chris

    Chris Gilbert
    Arthritis Care Membership and Supporter Services Manager