Pami update

GENTLY tapping the side of the top on a bench will often help break the initial seal on a new jar with a metal lid. Never had to do it with plastic as they don't seem to seal as tight.

Right! Next time DH goes to visit his Mum, he will have that printed on a giant piece of paper as the only item on the John Lewis shopping list. *Thank you* both for the solution to my difficulty. . In message , Sally Swindells writes

Ah, now I do have access to Lakeland! . In message , Sally Swindells writes

I have one of those!!!!! I also bought one for each of my dd's, my mom and my gma. It works great for these "slowly starting to be arthritic" hands of mine.......

Laurie G. in CA

Sometimes, with a truly contrary jar lid, the John Lewis tool won't work and I'm thinking Pami might not yet have the strength to deal with it. The idea of breaking the seal with a pointed opener concerns me too. Wonder if a thin-bladed screw driver would do? If it ruined the screwdriver - whatever. She could buy a new one. Polly

Kathy is close to Sacramento. I think if we got her running thise state we would all be ahead. She is one smart woman! Taria

Sandy Ellis> Howdy!

Smart enough to know I don't want to be running this state. Or any other state. *big grin*

Or, how about one of these things-

were all the rage a couple of Christmases ago. I would think that they would be just the thing and well worth the money.Anyway- best wishes, Pami. Feel better soon!

Thanks for the update, Pami, and praying for your continued improvement. You'll continue to get stronger, for now just do what you can and to heck with the rest :) Enjoy the concerts...they sure sound like fun.

-Irene

-------------- You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.=20

--Mae West=20

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Keeping you in my thoughts Pami....

Patti in Seattle

Not a matter of pride! It's an act of charity to ask him -he needs to feel useful. And I'd never ever let him think he could be replaced by a hardware store clamp. ;-) Roberta in D

"Patti" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news: snipped-for-privacy@quik.clara.co.uk...

I use the old-fashioned beer opener, just right for lids. Or DH. Roberta in D

"Polly Esther" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news: snipped-for-privacy@corp.supernews.com...

Piggy-backing here -- I have arthritis and had trouble opening those vacuum-sealed jars - then I came across this little gadget - a "Jar-Pop" picture at:

got mine at the local commissary store for just a couple bucks, and when I went back to get a bunch more to give as gifts, they were out (and never did restock!) Did finally find some at Linen's and Things. They work GREAT!

Just my 2 cents worth ME-Judy

""Polly

Oh, what an extremely good point, Roberta! Never thought of that >gg< . In message , Roberta Zollner writes

Pami, it's still too soon to give up on opening things, your strength will return. I haven't undergone reconstruction as you have, but I had a very intensive breast surgery many years ago. A mammogram was iffy, so I had a biopsy which required a little flag on a long needle being implanted through my breast into the lump while awake, then surgery to remove the lump. When I awoke a few hours later, the doctor informed me that the surgery hadn't gone as planned, as he couldn't' find the lump. I'm large breasted and the lump was supposedly very close to my chest wall. The little flag thing was to make it easier for them to locate the lump once I was asleep. The entire underneath of my breast was cut open and my breast flipped inside out so they could find the lump shown on the mammogram, the little flag was supposed to be planted in it, but it wasn't.

Within a couple of days, my entire breast and side was black and the swelling was incredibly painful. I had to sleep with a bra and wear two bras for support during the day for weeks. It took a couple of months before I could even begin to use my right arm again. We don't realize how the muscles are connected until we need to open jars or brush our hair. It was horrible. Eventually things got better, I'm sure they will for you too, but it's going to take time and patience. Don't force things or overdo. There is a gadget, probably available at Wal-Mart or any other dept. store for opening jars electrically, I doubt it costs more than $20, that might help while you regain your strength.

You've been through so much lately that I'm sure it feels like it'll never stop hurting, but it will. You'll get your strength back. You've been an inspiration to all of us.

Never figured out where that lump went, probably just a cyst that got popped by the little flag.

Denise

QI

I've been known to use my big butcher knife - just stand there and stab it in. Also surprisingly if you roll the jar two or three times on the bench it does something to the air seal and you can open it easily. True story.

Sorry you're having such a rough time, Pami. I'm sure everything will improve in time. It always takes longer to feel better than anyone says--especially if that someone is a surgeon. (I had a much more minor procedure, and while the surgeon was excellent, he led me to believe I'd feel better much sooner than I did.) Anyway, sounds like you've found just the ticket (no pun intended!) by going out and enjoying yourself.

Thanks for checking in! Enjoy the concerts!

You go, girl!

Isn't it amazing how many muscles we don't realize we have until they hurt??

--Heidi

Plattsburgh (UPstate) NY

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