Friday, May 10, 2013

National Arthritis Month ~ Guest Post ~ Carrie Fancett Pagels & Giveaway!




*Microsoft Images (I added the frame)
May is National Arthritis Month

By Carrie Fancett Pagels

Last month when my debut novella “Return to Shirley Plantation: A Civil War Romance” released, was national Autism awareness month.  Having a son who started out fine, moved onto the spectrum, and is making his way off it (praise God!), I did a couple of posts about disorder.  This month I want to thank you, Anne, for giving me a chance to post about arthritis.

Arthritis is one of those tricky things that in many cases develops slowly, insidiously so that the person doubts that it really is there—until it begins to linger and make more frequent visits.  Because at first that is what it seems like—an unwelcome guest.  As a child I oftentimes had backaches doing some common family activities—such as working in our large garden located behind my great-grandparents farm (same place my upcoming Snowed In: A Northwoods Christmas story for Guideposts Books is set.) Of course my siblings thought I was just whining and was fine.  Same thing when we did blueberry picking in the summer. Any activity where I had to bend very much.  However, I was a very physically active child and teen and I think that all benefited me.

When I was sixteen I began having ongoing issues with fatigue and a general feeling of being unwell.  The episodes came and went but were worse under stress—as though I had the flu or some infection yet didn’t have one.  At nineteen, my back went completely out after lifting boxes full of the college magazines that I was the keyliner for (back in the day we had to print out copy, cut it, wax it, and set it up on the galley and that was my job.)  I found out then that I had scoliosis and a shorter leg. So we addressed that. A few years later, in graduate school, I developed bone spurs in my feet and for someone slim and a runner my doctor seemed somewhat concerned because they seemed more like that associated with arthritis. 

Unfortunately, I could go on and on as to how my disease progressed.  Rheumatoid arthritis is different from osteoarthritis.  It can attack many parts of the body including the heart.  People suffering from RA can have episodes of fatigue that do feel much like having an episode of the flu.  Can you imagine having to take care of your children, your home, etc., while having a case of flu that normally would put you in bed?  And having these reoccur on a regular basis?  People with RA can range from being in remission and having few if any symptoms to being so incapacitated that they are in bed most of the time.  Three years ago I found myself in the latter case although some of my problems were from side effects of the biologic I was on that suppressed my immune system. Praise God, I am doing much better now even though I’ve had trouble walking for the past two years—I’m still much more functional than then.

Do you have a loved one with arthritis or do you have this diagnosis?  Does reading or writing help you cope with your disease and if so, how?



Abducted against his will, Matthew Scott is conscripted into the Confederate army because of his Copperhead father's political leanings. Injured at Malvern Hill, Matthew is taken by the Union army to Shirley Plantation in Virginia where he is tended by seamstress Angelina Rose, a freed slave. Given an opportunity to leave the South and start a new life for herself, Angelina remained for the sake of her sister's orphaned twins who are still enslaved. Will Matthew's return to Shirley Plantation settle a mystery concerning his father's past? And help Matthew find the family he longs for.

Thanks Carrie, for visiting with us and focusing our attention on National Arthritis Month. Readers, Carrie is offering a Kindle copy of her novella Return to Shirley Plantation: A Civil War Romance, and a dozen beautiful note cardsfrom Shirley Plantation. 

Answer Carrie's question above to be entered to win. Include your email address formatted something like this,  jo[at]place[dot]com. A winner will be drawn on May 15th.

Be sure and check back in during the week. Carrie loves connecting with readers!

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Carrie Fancett Pagels, is Owner/Administrator of Overcoming Through Time - With God's Help. Carrie writes "romantic" historical fiction, often with colonial and frontier Americans overcoming their limitations, with God's help.  She is represented by Joyce Hart, CEO of Hartline Literary Agency. 


Carrie is the Zone Director for the MidAtlantic Region of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is the founder of the Colonial American Fiction Writers Yahoo Group and owner and administrator of the Colonial Quills group blog. Carrie is a columnist for the My book Therapy E-zine.

Holding a Ph.D. in School Psychology, Carrie has over twenty-five years’ experience as a licensed psychologist. She focuses now on her writing.  On occasion she will put her "Psychologist's hat" back on for a commentary but no longer works as a psychologist. 

Carrie lives in the historical triangle of Virginia with her wonderful husband and sweet little boy. She and her husband also have an adult daughter who is an engineer like her father!

Prayer warrior is a valued title and a compliment and Carrie covets your prayers as well. 

You can connect with Carrie on the internet at:

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27 comments:

  1. CARRIE!!! Thank you so much for guest posting today. I had no idea it was Arthritis Awareness Month. I'm glad that you are able to get around better now than a couple of years ago because I hope we get to do some walking when we are in Asheville. I'll try and keep up with you ;)

    I know how much you love pink so I got this pink Rose just for you :)

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  2. ANNE, thanks so much for having me visit with you on your blog!! Can't wait to visit with you at BGR!!! LOVE the pink rose!!! Yes, I pray God will help me get around in Asheville okay!

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  3. I am ever more in awe of you, Carrie. You inspire me to push through and keep going, just as you have, and now look at you go! Two publishing credits in fiction and one in nonfiction just this spring! So proud of you, girl! Keep on being awesome. <3

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    1. Hi Kathy!!! Thanks for coming by! LOVE your novella and congrats on its release!!! God is good--He has used my confinement to help me produce in my writing! Hugs!!!

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  4. Hey Carrie and Anne, Just stopping in to say hello. Carrie, I'm still dying to know why the plantation was closed the two days we were there. ;o) Love your cover. Ashville is wonderful. Not too far from us. 2 hours maybe. Fun in the fall too. Love the Biltmore. Have a great weekend.

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    1. Haha, I still can't say!!! That cover is by Alice Walton, the Shirley Plantation photographer--isn't she talented?!!! Are you coming to BR, DL??? That would be awesome!!! Anne is gonna come. Hugs!

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    2. If I don't get thrown out ;)

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  5. This hits close to home because I know I have arthritis in several locations in my body (hands, knees and back). I know it will never get better but, somehow, knowing it can be coped with makes it easier - today.

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    1. Exactly, STEVE--one day at a time is all we get anyways so we'll just deal with it for today!

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  6. Carrie, you are such an inspiration to me. I don't have arthritis, but I do have some other health issues---and your tenacity to keep on doing "in spite of" helps me to keep on going on those days I just want to pull the covers up over my head and say forget it! I thank the Lord for your friendship that has become more precious to me as time goes on.

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    1. DIANA, on my really bad days u r always there for me! You are such a blessing! Perseverance is something u n I know well, my friend! That is all we can do is persevere until the day of His coming, Amen!!! Hugs!!!

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  7. Anne you are worrying too much, lol! Live a little dangerously!

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  8. Carrie, you are an inspiration. You manage to do so much with your own career and for others despite your challenges. Thanks for helping me understand RA better. I pray for you and all those suffering with arthritis. Bless you and thank you, Anne, for drawing attention to National Arthritis Month.

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    1. LISA!! You are such a sweetie!!! Thank you again for giving me my first endorsement for RtSP!!! I am glad this helped you know how RA can be different from OA and other forms of arthritis. Hugs!

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  9. I know I need to find out if I have something more going on than just chronic tendonitis. Some days it is so painful to walk, especially first thing in the morning. I didn't know about Arthritis Awareness Month but I will be checking out their website!

    CARRIE, I had a dear friend who had RA and in the 10 yrs I knew her she never once complained. She said it didn't any good so she was just going to serve the Lord no matter what. You remind me of her in so many ways. It is a blessing to call you friend!

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    1. Uh oh, yeah, stiffness in the morning is not a good sign. The Arthritis Foundation has an amazing magazine that I have been receiving for over twenty years. They have a great website, too. You are such a blessing too, my friend!!!

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  10. Yes I know what you mean about arthritis ,I have it too. It affects my whole body. It is no fun..Proud you are doing better right now. Thanks for the review and your giveaway. I would love to win your ebook and cards. I also collect postcards and bookmarks.
    Blessings,
    lizd225(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Some days are better than others--which I am sure you well understand with RA. Thanks so much for coming by, Liz!!!

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  11. How amazing you were able to publish even through the pain.
    I don't have arthritis but I do remember a co-worker telling her sister had juvenile arthritis. Due to her medication the doctor told her not to have any children. Being a newly wed at the time I was so sadden to hear that someone so young could have so much pain.

    Thanks for the giveaway
    arieljo12(at)hotmail(dot)com

    -Janella

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    1. JANELLA, Thanks so much for coming by. That is sad about your co-worker. It is tough to be young and have pain and not have anyone understand it. In this day and time hopefully more people have an earlier diagnosis but I am not sure. Blessings!

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  12. My mother had severe rheumatoid arthritis and took a lot of medications plus had hip and knee replacements. She is no longer living but she suffered with arthritis for years.

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    1. Ruby n Reba, A few years ago at Sunday School we heard a lot of class members talk about their moms with RA/OA and how they'd suffered but "never complained"--well I am not one of those moms. Sounds like your mom went through a lot. The medications available nowadays help stall the progression of RA in many cases. Blessings!

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  13. my friend, Kathy, has RA...and she's doing very, very well :)

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    1. PTL KAREN!!! What a blessing. You can have RA and be in remission and basically look normal or you can have it severe, unremitting, and be severely disabled, or be anywhere in between. So glad your friend is doing so well!!!

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  14. CARRIE, I'm sorry I just flaked out here over the weekend. I've been spending it with my family. It's been a time of reflection and remembering. Today marks one year that our Amy passed away so I won't be around much today either. We're all getting together after lunch.

    I wanted you to know that you are a precious gem in my life and I appreciate you so much! I'm so blessed to be getting to know you even better and I pray that you continue to have more mobility and less pain with your RA.

    {{hugs}}

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  15. Thanks for your kind words and prayers, Anne! I look forward to seeing you at BR next week! I pray you feel God's arms around you as you think of your precious Amy!

    Blessings!

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I am so delighted that you've taken time to come by and comment. Blessings for a joy-filled day!

1 Corinthians 1:3 ~ Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.