Wellness Category
Tuesday, January 26th, 2010
Lately I have been one day up, one day down. One day I am experiencing very little stiffness and pain and the next day I am feeling dreadful.
I have been taking a close look at my diet and how it is effecting how I feel. I know that there are certain foods that without a doubt have a direct relationship to the amount of inflammation that I am experiencing. Within an hour or so of eating chocolate I start to swell. The same holds true for dairy products. Sugar seems to be an issue for me as well. I don’t know if I need to avoid all sugar altogether or if there is a certain threshold that once I go over that level there is a problem. I don’t know if it is just refined sugar or if natural sugars will give me the same trouble. I know that things that have a high sugar content cause me trouble. The good news is that since I have stopped taking the methotrexate, it is easier for me to tell which foods are causing the inflammation. It was as if the medication was masking the effects that food had on my inflammation. It has been a game of hit or miss on what my body will tolerate and what it won’t. I imagine that this will take some time to find every food that is causing me trouble.
It is hard to plan my life right now because I really don’t know from day to day how I am going to feel. I am keeping a food journal and each day I write down everything that goes into my body and how I am feeling physically. It is helping to make it easier to pinpoint what food is effecting me so that I can avoid it in the future. I have done a lot of reading on the subject and I am very hopeful that once I get a handle on the foods that trigger inflammation for me I will be able to manage the disease much better.
Tags: arthritis, chocolate, dairy, diet, disease, Food, food journal, inflammation, RA, rheumatoid, rheumatoid arthritis, sugar
Posted in Autoimmue Disease, Coping, Decisions, Diet/Nutrition, Rheumatoid Arthritis RA, Solutions, Wellness | 12 Comments »
Thursday, January 21st, 2010
The past 6 months have been somewhat like a bad dream. I never could never have imagined being sick for this long with so many different ailments. I can’t help but wonder if all the years on methotrexate had such an effect on my immune system that everything kind of shut down for a while. With all this down time I have had the opportunity to learn somethings about myself. I thought I would share some of what all this sickness has taught me.
- Trust your instincts. When two of my doctors had conflicting opinions on whether or not I had a second or continuing Lyme infection I should have trusted my instincts. I could have saved myself valuable time and pain and not have subjected myself to way too many diagnostic tests had I just trusted my gut. I know my body better than anyone else and I knew that I still had Lyme Disease. I shouldn’t have allowed my rheumatologist to talk me into more tests to prove that her opinion was right when I knew deep down inside all I really needed was another treatment of antibiotics. When I finally got the antibiotics was when the symptoms went away and I started to feel better. Lesson learned. Again. I hope this time it sticks.
- Lyme Disease is something to take very seriously. I have had Lyme Disease in the past. I thought that I knew and understood what this disease could do. I could not have been more wrong. I have never in my entire life felt more physically ill than I did with Lyme Disease. I can’t say whether or not the Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) had an effect on the severity of the Lyme Disease but I know that the treatments for the RA had an effect on how well my body was able to handle Lyme Disease.
- I need to nourish my body and my soul. I have always been the one who puts everyone’s needs before mine. It wasn’t a conscience decision, but none the less other things took priority in my life. Now every day I am slowing down and taking time to do things that nourish my soul. Things that bring me joy nourish my self. I find that I have more patience and energy for other things after making my self a priority. Before I put anything into my body I am asking myself will it nourish me or fill me. They are two very different ideas. I have tried to eat responsibly in the past, but I haven’t always looked at what I am putting into my body as nourishment as opposed to something that will fill me up.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Being an independent person and a bit of a control freak I frequently would rather do something myself than ask for help. Part of me just didn’t want RA to get the best of me. I felt like it was a bit of a battle of wills. I wasn’t going to let RA take over my life completely, I could do most things myself and I hated to ask anyone for help. Being as sick as I have been, I have had no choice but to ask for help. There were days when getting out of bed to go to the bathroom was an ordeal. An extremely painful ordeal. It was simply impossible not to ask for help with some of the most basic of needs. I discovered that the world did not end and it was okay if things were not done “my way”.
- A clean is nice but really not all that important. I used to care very much about how clean my house was. I felt that how my house looked was a reflection on me and how I cared for my family. I know that sounds a little nutty but that is how I felt. I really felt like I could not physically do a great many things anymore but I could take care of my family and a clean house was part of that. Of course now looking back I can see how crazy that whole idea sounds. My house currently is picked up. No one is going to trip over anything in my house, but it is a far cry from clean and I really don’t care. I could spend the next few hours cleaning, or I could spend the next few hours playing with Kevin or reading a good book. Now I choose something that will fill me up instead of depleting my resources.
- Connecting with other people that know and understand what it’s like to have RA is important. Knowing that I am not alone in the day to day challenges that this disease brings has helped me in so many ways. There is comfort in knowing that there are people out there that completely understand what I am going through. I am very grateful to all the new friends that I have found here and for their kindness and support.
Tags: ailments, antibiotics, arthritis, body, diagnostic test, disease, infection, lyme, lyme disease, methotrexate, nourish, RA, rheumatoid, rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatologist, sick, soul
Posted in Autoimmue Disease, Coping, Decisions, Lesson Learned, Rheumatoid Arthritis RA, Solutions, Spirit, Wellness | 10 Comments »
Friday, January 15th, 2010
Walnuts are a tasty way to add crunch to your favorite yogurt or salad.
They also have the added benefit of being loaded with omega-3 fatty acids which are great for fighting inflammation. Only 1/4 cup of walnuts provides you with almost 91% of you daily value of omega-3 fatty acids. Walnuts also have an antioxidant compound called ellegic acid which supports the immune system. Walnuts are rich in manganese and copper as well. Walnuts are a good source of plant protein. They are rich in fiber, B vitamins and vitamin E. I love to just snack on just a handful. It keeps me feeling full and helps with inflammation; the perfect combination in the afternoon.
Tags: arthritis, immune system, inflammation, omega-3 fatty acid, RA, rheumatoid, Rheumatoid Arthritis RA, walnuts
Posted in Autoimmue Disease, Diet/Nutrition, Health/Fitness, Rheumatoid Arthritis RA, Solutions, Wellness | 5 Comments »
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009
As the end of this year approaches I can’t help but look back and reflect on all that has happened. I have experienced some highs and quite a few health related lows this year. I would much rather focus on the good things that 2009 brought.
This was the year that LivingRheum.com was born in earnest.
LivingRheum.com has enriched my life in ways that I never could have expected. I am still in awe that anyone found my blog to read it in the first place. The fact that so many people have come here and read my words and shared their experiences has been such a blessing. I am so grateful to have met so many amazing people.
Just knowing that there are so many good people in this world who completely understand how it really feels to have rheumatoid arthritis and the challenges that I face with this disease, has made me feel so less alone in this challenging journey. I hope that in some way I have been able to give back all that I have gained.
I want to wish everyone a happy, healthy new year filled with much happiness and mobility. I am looking forward to what the new year will bring. I plan to use my energy to focus on the joy. I find the more I focus on the joy, the less I focus on the joints.
Tags: 2010, arthritis, blessing, disease, Happy New Year, health, joints, LivingRheum.com, mobility, RA, rheumatoid, rheumatoid arthritis, Wellness
Posted in Autoimmue Disease, Coping, Decisions, Good News!, News, Rheumatoid Arthritis RA, Spirit, Wellness | 4 Comments »
Monday, December 28th, 2009
As of December 18, 2009 all lots of Tylenol Arthritis Pain Caplets 100 count bottles with the red EZ Open Cap have been recalled. This recall has been expanded from an earlier recall of 5 lots of Tylenol Arthritis Pain Caplets in November, 2009. The caplets were recalled after consumer complaints that there was an unusual moldy, musty or mildew-like odor that was associated with nausea, vomiting, stomach pain and diarrhea. As a precautionary measure, all lots of Tylenol Arthritis Pain Caplets 100 with the red EZ OpenCap have been recalled.
Per the press release from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and McNeil Consumer Healthcare:
The recall is being expanded, as a precaution, to include all TYLENOL® Arthritis Pain Caplet 100 count bottles with the distinctive red EZ-OPEN CAP.
The uncharacteristic smell is caused by the presence of trace amounts of a chemical called 2,4,6-tribromoanisole. The source of 2,4,6-tribromoanisole is believed to be the breakdown of a chemical used to treat wooden pallets that transport and store packaging materials.The health effects of this compound have not been well studied, and to date all of the observed events reported to McNeil were temporary and non-serious. Consumers who purchased TYLENOL® Arthritis Pain Caplet 100 count bottles with the distinctive red EZ-OPEN CAP from the lots included in this recall should stop using the product and contact McNeil for instructions on a refund or replacement. For these instructions or information regarding how to return or dispose of the product, consumers should call 1-888-222-6036 1-888-222-6036 1-888-222-6036 (Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time, and Saturday-Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time) or log on to the internet at www.tylenol.com. Consumers who have medical concerns or questions should contact their healthcare provider. Any adverse reactions may also be reported to the FDA’s MedWatch Program by fax at 1-800-FDA-0178, by mail at MedWatch, FDA, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787, or on the MedWatch website at www.fda.gov/medwatch.
For a complete list of all lots of Tylenol Arthritis Pain Caplets 100 recalled click HERE
Tags: 100, Administration, arthritis, caplet, drug, FDA, Food, Food and Drug Administration, McNeil Consumer Healthcare, pain, RA, recall, rheumatoid, rheumatoid arthritis, tylenol, tylenol.com
Posted in Autoimmue Disease, Coping, Decisions, Diet/Nutrition, News, Rheumatoid Arthritis RA, Solutions, Wellness | 2 Comments »
Thursday, October 29th, 2009
There are some studies that show that undenatured chicken collegen may help relieve symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. So can chicken soup help RA? I’ll leave that to the scientists. I know that I always feel better after a bowl of soup! I love soup! Expecially when the weather is cold and damp. This is my chicken soup recipe. It is loaded with nutrients, antioxidants and has anti-inflammatories also. I have purposefully left the size of the cut up vegetables up to you because I know how hard it can be to get small cuts when your hands are hurting and it really does not matter what size they are because they will simmer for long enough to fully cook anyway. I hope you try it!
If I have the time I prefer to make the stock myself. If not commercial stock is fine but make sure that it is low fat and sodium.
Chicken Stock:
1 Chicken Roaster carcass (It is more economical to use the leftover roaster, but you can use fresh chicken (with the bones) as well)
1 small Onion quartered with the skin
2 unpeeled Carrot cut up
2 Celery stalk cut up
16 cups purified cold Water.
Put chicken, onion, carrot and celery in large stock pot. Add water. Heat to boil. Reduce heat to simmer. Simmer 2 hours. Place colander in 2nd stock pot strain chicken and vegetables. Remove colander from pot so that stock remains. Put chicken and vegetables to the side to cool. Once cooled discard vegetables and chicken bones.
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
1 Medium Onion chopped
1 Tablespoon Fresh Ginger Root peeled & minced (or if it is easier you can use a grater and just grate it)
2 Clove Garlic crushed or minced ( you can grate the garlic as well)
2 Ribs Celery with leaves diced( or cut to whatever size is manageable)
10 cups Chicken Stock
1 Large New Potato chopped with skin
2 Carrots (peeled) chopped
1 cup frozen kernel Corn
1 Bay Leaf
1 Tablespoon Parsley
1/2 cup Brown Rice
1 Whole Boneless Chicken Breast ( optional based on how you get your stock ) diced
Salt ( I prefer sea salt ) to taste
Pepper ( I like fresh ground ) to taste
In the original pot heat 1 Tbs olive oil. Add onion, garlic, ginger and celery. Saute over medium heat until the onion begins to wilt and the celery begins to brighten. From the cooled colander remove chicken from the bone and cut into bite size pieces if necessary.
Note: If you are using a commercial stock, saute the chicken breast with the onion and celery before adding the stock
Add chicken stock, carrot, potato, corn, bay leaf, parsley and chicken. Heat to boil and add brown rice. Reduce heat to medium, cook for 20 minutes reduce to simmer.
Serve with garnish of fresh chopped scallion or chives.
Salt & Pepper to taste.
Tags: anti-inflammatories, antioxidants, chicken soup, nutients, RA, Recipe
Posted in Autoimmue Disease, Coping, Diet/Nutrition, Health/Fitness, Recipe, Rheumatoid Arthritis RA, Solutions, Wellness | 7 Comments »
Wednesday, October 21st, 2009
Do you feel really comfortable with your current rheumatologist? Are you able to discuss all of your questions and concerns with your rheumatologist? If the answer to these questions is no; you are not alone. A surprising number of patients report that they fell rushed when they visit the doctor’s office and often leave without understanding what was discussed during the visit. It is important to be able to communicate with your physician at your visit. Your health is at stake.
It is a good idea to make sure that before your next visit you are prepared. If you have blood work that is due near the time of the appointment make sure it is done and the doctor has had the opportunity to look at the results before your appointment so that you can discuss the results while you are there. Make a list of questions/concerns for the doctor. Prioritize the list so that you cover the most important questions first. If you do not completely understand the doctor’s response to your question, let them know. Don’t be afraid to ask them to clarify something for you. If the doctor wants follow up testing or changes in medication, make sure you understand any side effects and/or necessary information you may need ( ie. time of day to take meds or have test done, fasting, non fasting, etc…) before you leave the office. If you feel as though you did not have all your questions answered at the visit; don’t be afraid to call the office and ask for the doctor to call you back when he/she is free to answer your questions.
If you have done all this and still do not have your questions answered, your concerns addressed, or if you feel you are not being heard, and are rushed, it may be time to find a new doctor! My first rheumatologist was an extremely intelligent doctor, and a professor at an Ivy League University but we did not communicate well with each other. After interviewing several other doctors I found a rheumatologist that is the right fit for me. I am comfortable discussing all my issues with my physician and I always feel like her focus is on my wellness at all times. My questions are always answered, I never feel rushed and I always feel that my health is of paramount importance to her. It may take some time to find the right rheumatologist, but it is well worth the effort.
Tags: annual routine, arthritis, arthritis pain, health, inflammation, joint pain, RA, rheumatoid, rheumatoid arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis RA
Posted in Autoimmue Disease, Coping, Decisions, Lesson Learned, Rheumatoid Arthritis RA, Solutions, Wellness | 2 Comments »
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