Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms Don't Rule My Aud Life

1. I Have no idea what Diet Really Works?

Finding out what foods trigger arthritis flare ups by doing a cleansing diet and a introduction of separate foods is a great way to start. Eliminating the foods that cause problems is easier than dealing with the pain they cause.

2. But It Tastes So Good!

Yes it does! But is it worth it later on? Food reactions and weight gain contribute to pain and joint damage!

3. We are very social and restaurants make it hard.

Being choosy about your food won’t cut into your social life. Most restaurants are more than happy and willing to adjust to your specifications; more and more are putting healthier choices items on their menus.

4. Healthy food is expensive

It’s not much more expensive than unhealthy food. The better you feel, the less you’ll mind, the less you’ll spend on pain relief and medical bills!

5. My family gives me no support

Unfortunately there will be family members who won’t share in your desire to change your eating habits, but don’t let that get you down. If you prepare the meals, prepare them to what you need, if they don’t like it, they’ll have to prepare their own food. Arthritis is a disease that affects more than the patient, your health is important to you and your family.

6. I need someone to hold me accountable

Finding an accountability partner isn’t has hard as you think. There are lots of people who would be willing to aide you in this struggle. Some suggestions are a co-worker, close friend, spouse, or other relative. There are many forums where you may be able to find an accountability partner. An important thing to make sure is that this person is dependable, honest, and has your best interest in mind.

7. I am too busy

You’re also too busy to have an arthritis flare up! Maintaining a healthy weight and diet is crucial in this battle; no one’s too busy to be healthy.

8. Dieting is too restrictive

You may find that you may only need to restrict a few foods. Eliminate the foods that cause flare ups, find new recipes, try foods you’ve never tried! Many people have new delicious, healthy favorites this way!

9. I suffer enough with the pain, do not take this away from me

Certain foods become a person’s comfort; but when they cause inflammation and damage, are they a comfort anymore? It is difficult to go through a cleansing diet process, but the results are worth it, more than the comfort foods. You’ll feel better, with more energy and less pain- and who knows, some of those old comforts may be allowed to stick around!

10. It takes too long to see results

Depends on what results you want to see. Sometimes pain and energy results are seen within 2 to 6 weeks. Each individual is different, and your progress is unique to you. Set short term and long term goals, you’ll not only physically feel better when you attain them, but you will have that added, “I am the CHAMPION!” to your credit!

So what’s your favorite excuse you want to add

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How better to get to know someone than to go through a day with them! If you would like to get to know me a bit more- you’re invited to join me in a typical day!

I’m a morning person, being the first one up at 6am is a good way to start. I’m usually awakened by my cat licking my eyelids, wanting her few ounces of milk every morning. But first things first- the coffee gets started! It takes a few minutes to make it down to the kitchen because of the stiff joints (Frankenstein’s monster comes to mind!) Lurch, groan, shuffle…

Once the cat is happy and the coffee perked, the dog and I head to the front porch and my rocking chair! I sit curled up with my steamy mug, the dog stretched out and snoring again, and watch and listen.

Unless it’s too damp and chilly, that’s where I start my day. There’s something wonderful about watching everything wake up. The birds are busy and singing their hearts out, people walking their dogs, sun peaking over the trees and the air is so fresh. Right now, there are three baby sparrows in a shrub 8 feet away from my chair!

Once I feel rejuvenated, it’s head first into the day. I bring up a cup of coffee to my husband and wake my girls for their day. And thank goodness for the first hour of quiet solitude because the next is crazy. More often than not there are a few squabbles between my two girls (they aren’t morning people). “She’s looking at me.” “It’s my turn to use the bathroom” “She was spitting on my toothbrush!” Sometimes I understand why some wild animals eat their young! But that’s usually only during the school year, right now it’s the summer holidays and they’re much more content and cheery. I still head for the vitamin D and take 1,000 IU to give me energy for the day. I’ve found that Rheumatoid Arthritis has robbed me of so much of my energy, and vitamin D has been my saving grace for a boost and aide with my bones.

After sending off my husband to his office with a kiss and his lunch, the girls and I have “school”. I’ve painted with water colors, taken sketching and graphics courses since I was 18, and I’m now teaching Gayle and Jillian how to paint. I am not a very good or patient teacher, but we’re having fun and the girls show a lot of promise and interest in their own creations! It’s very therapeutic to to be painting, even to talk about this passion seems like I’m winning a small battle in this war against Rheumatoid Arthritis.

It takes a couple hours to set up, paint and instruct and then clean up and put away, so by the time it’s all finished it’s lunch time and the girls are ready to get away from “Master Mom”. After a quick bite, they’re into the pool, weather permitting. I have found that cold water does excruciating things to my joints, especially my knees, feet and elbows, so unless it’s above 80oF, I’m the sun soaking observer. But the hot tub is another subject. What a wonderful tool to aid in pain fighting. So comforting and soothing as the heat penetrates soar joints and jets work at knotted muscles. Even through the winter, our spa gets thorough use.

I get as much done around the house and garden as my body and kids allow me to. Every Tuesday, I have a cleaning lady come in for a few hours to get the big jobs done. It’s hard to get down on my hands and knees to properly scrub bathtubs and lug the vacuum up 2 flights of stairs. Before my husband hired her, I was miserable. By 4pm, I would be tired and very sore from trying to get the house clean and in order, the kids would come home from school and explode all their stuff and have crumbs and papers everywhere, then I would explode! I was becoming a major nag and thorn in my family’s side. Now, of course my girls are a bit older and understand the concept of picking up after themselves a bit better and I’m not worn out, in pain and cranky from routinely scrubbing the house everyday!

I’m also able to get some exercise in during the day. I’ve found that 3 different types of leg stretches and muscle building routines have changed my mobility to a great level. When I was first diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis I was walking with extreme difficulty, sometimes needing a cane, now, I’m taking 2 stairs at a time! And I love taking the dog for a walk. I put my I Pod on to some heavy tunes and we’re gone for at least a half hour, if not more every day. I make sure I’m drinking 4 large glasses of water to keep me hydrated.

After all this, it’s usually time to start supper. Cooking is something I really enjoy and I think I’m a fairly good at at it. My husband says he looks forward every day to coming home to one of my meals. By the end of dinner, I’m tuckered and then it’s “dad’s” turn to entertain the girls.  Sometimes a family activity is done, walks, bike riding (if I’m up to it), playing in the backyard or watching a movie. By 9pm, I’m often ready to drop and start getting the girls prepared to head to bed.

Medications are taken and once in bed, it’s another favorite time of day! I curl under the covers with a good book, right now I’m in the middle of a Dostoyevsky novel, and most often don’t get too far before I wake up to 6am once again.

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I have a creative side to me, whether it comes to music, art, gardening or food, I like to make things that I feel are nice. (I’m going to say ‘nice’ because others may not share the opinion that it’s great!)

I thought I was going to lose the ability to accomplish some of these passions when I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Before I got things under control, it was difficult because my hands would hurt so much. I couldn’t play the piano for more than ten minutes, the guitar was out of the question, and holding certain tools were impossible, especially power tools because of the vibrations. Walking my dog, Titus, was quite the task, my knees were screaming after a quarter mile. Gardening tools were a challenge as well.

That’s turned around for me and now I use my hobbies to keep the arthritis at bay. Keeping my hands busy is keeping my hands healthy- it gives new meaning to the phrase ‘idle hands are the devil’s work’!

I play my piano for at least 20 minutes every day keeping my fingers nimble which in turn makes it easier to stretch my fingers across the guitar frets and the ability to hold a fine paint brush without shaking. Using gardening shears, the lawn mower, power drills are a cinch now because I keep my hands well exercised, although it hasn’t helped with my co-ordination (I dropped a drill and broke my right foot this past May!). Taking Titus for a 3 mile walk is making both of feel incredible and I’ve added in daily, extra legs exercises which has made my knees and feet stronger than they were before I had arthritis.

Keeping up with my passions has not only helped physical health but it has benefited my emotional health as well. Depression is a reality when faced with a disease and I’ve had my share of it. I can be an endless cycle pain leads to inactivity, inactivity leads to more pain, breaking cycle is a daunting hurdle but not impossible. I started in small doses and slowly increased, now I’m in a new cycle. Activity leads to freedom of pain and the blues and vice versa!

My muses are no longer just inspirations but keys to my health and a large part of my fight against Rheumatoid Arthritis. I’ve got to go- there are weeds to pull and songs to play!

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I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis in 2005, just one month after my 30th birthday. At first my doctor thought that my symptoms were a reaction to anesthetic from a major surgery that I had a few months prior. I ached and my energy level was low, but when the joints in my hands, feet and knees began to swell she concluded that it was Rheumatoid Arthritis and gave me the news.

My joints were ballooned, but wrapping my mind around that fact and accepting it seemed worse than the pain I was experiencing. My thoughts raced,”This can’t be right, I’m too young!” My daughters were 5 and 8 at the time- I had a household to run. “What about music?!” I’ve played the piano my whole life and had just bought a guitar. And my art. “Would I be able to hold a paint brush and continue painting?”

I had a very sympathetic and helpful doctor who gave me a lot of hope and options to choose from. She told me I had an excellent chance of overcoming the painful symptoms and leading a happy, healthy life.

I’ve come across information and discovered many things about Rheumatoid Arthritis over the past few years. It’s a continual learning process because what may work for one person may not work for another. I’ve found diet and exercise play a major role in my pain and energy management, plus a few other tricks.

I’m excited to get this started and to share my triumphs and hurdles with you as we ENJOY life -DESPITE Rheumatoid Arthritis!

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