Comments on: What Is “Health”?

By: Christie

Christie — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 04:58:07 +0000

Another excellent post RA Guy. Thanks! Being a newbie to all this RA stuff I’ve been thinking a lot lately about being “healthy”. Not in the context of wishing I didn’t have RA… although trust me I can most certainly get on my pity-pot concerning my circumstances (or I should say my lack of acceptance of my circumstances). Lately my thoughts about being healthy have had to do with learning to take care of myself, and I’ve realized that for me my “self” is all encompassing… body, mind, and soul. Taking care of my whole self is something I haven’t really ever consistently done before. Consequently I’m now very much in the learning process of this all encompassing care-taking of self, and to be quite honest, most days I have no idea what that entails! I feel like a fish out of water… I have a body that can no longer adapt to my surroundings, and a mind that’s reeling with panic at the inability to understand these new and unfamiliar circumstances. But with each passing day of this new RA journey I’m learning more and more about my “self” and what I need to do to be healthy… on every level.
Thanks RA Guy for all the inspiration and guidance you provide as I make my way along this new and very unfamiliar path.

By: Laurie

Laurie — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 21:28:36 +0000

Looking back, I have also made some changes for the better since I have had RA. The last 4 years I lost about 40 lbs (and found about 20 this spring thanks to my friend prednisone) just by not eating fast food, increasing my water intake..I can only drink water in the car or when out to eat, I don’t buy sugary snacks and cookies (of course it has helped that my boys have grown up and moved out), and I really find my self thinking more when I shop. I am not totally vegetarian, but moving in that direction. I have ordered an exercise bike so I can pedal and watch my dvr’d shows, and now that fall is going to be here in the next month or so I am going to start walking again. Next step is to decrease my stress…my job is in turmoil, we are on our 3rd manager in as many years. I decided I can’t do anything about that except go in to work, do my job well and go home, leaving it behind me. I used to have marathon whining sessions with my coworker/friends. It does no good. I also have my ex living in my extra bedroom. he got very ill a year ago with Guillan_Barre, and is way more disabled than me, but that has been a source of stress also. Unfortunately, he isn’t ill enogh to be in a rehab center, but can’t live alone. So we have been dealing with selling his house,etc so he can get in a small apartment with home health coming in to help him. Sadly, with the economy the way it is it has been a long process.
I’m sorry this sounds all whiney, but I did get good news this week, my oldest son proposed to his girlfriend so we have something good to look forward to! And oh, yeah, I had my last rituxan dose for this year today and still haven’t puked!

By: Seeking Solace

Seeking Solace — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:58:04 +0000

Excellent post! Like you, I was stressed, overworked, eating crap and just not taking care of myself until the RA showed up. Even in the early stages, I had a hard time letting go of some habits.

Now that I am popping pills like candy and have pain, fatigue, inflammation, stiffness, and depression/anxiety that comes with RA, I am taking better care of myself. I am mindful of getting enough sleep, eating well (I am a vegetarian) and making the most of exercise when I can.

Sure, the disease sucks, but in some ways, it is a blessing in disguise.