10 Ways To Live Well Even With Chronic Illness

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-11573/10-ways-to-live-well-even-with-chronic-illness.html

Too good not to share.

10 Ways To Live Well, Even With Chronic Illness
BY JOY SELAK NOVEMBER 8, 2013 5:13 AM EST
I became ill in my late 30s, more than 20 years ago. Like many chronically ill patients, I have complex, overlapping diagnoses, all involving pain and fatigue. In the early years, I just searched for what was wrong and what to do about it — hoping I would live long enough to find the answers. Then I spent some years trying to understand my illnesses, settle on treatment and accept the reality of my new life.Finally, I asked the question: could it be possible for me to live well, even if I couldn’t get well? This list is my answer to that question. These guidelines have evolved over the years, and have helped me build a positive life with illness. I would adhere to them even if I weren’t sick, as they have become my personal prescription for healthy living. Here’s a brief explanation of each.
1. Take care of yourself first.Because we’re brought up to bear the children who will start out life completely dependent on us, this is especially hard for women. I’ve learned that if I want a balanced, productive life, I need to offer care, compassion and respect to myself first. This is what allows me to care for others.
2. Never, never, never give up.Getting a diagnosis for a poorly understood chronic illness can take years. Many patients give up and settle for a life of bitterness or magical thinking about miracle cures. Disability and medical insurers play on the sick by denying legitimate claims, in the hopes that weary patients will give up their appeals. My experience has been that a determination to access comprehensive and compassionate care, and to receive the benefits to which I am entitled are causes worth fighting for.
3. Be honest about how you’re feeling.People can’t read my mind. Just because they don’t understand doesn’t mean they don’t care. I find that if I’m honest and straightforward about my condition and my limitations, without whining or complaining, people are generally very willing to be patient and accommodating toward me.
4. Enroll in the School of Whatever Works.In managing my health needs, I’ve utilized and benefited from drug therapies, surgery, dietary changes, physical therapy and exercise coaching, acupuncture, massage therapy, herbal supplements, homeopathy, enforced daily rest and more. As soon as I think I have it all figured out, my symptoms change and I have to enroll all over again in the School of Whatever Works.
5. Make friends with fatigue.I rest in bed for several hours every day. This proactive habit prevents the complete collapse that comes from wearing myself out. Instead of fighting the fatigue, I’ve learned to embrace and cherish my rest period, including that little snack and drink I loved in kindergarten.
6. Live as a child.Kids tell the truth, ask for help when they need it, freely give and receive hugs, laugh easily, fall asleep when they’re tired and cry when it hurts. I try to follow their excellent example.
7. Step out of the box.To live fully, I occasionally need to push the limits and step out of my little sick box. Whether it is through travel, volunteering, or learning something brand new, stepping out helps me feel more fully alive and learn new things about myself.
8. Search for silver linings.I believe all of life’s experiences contain value, even the ones that seem bad. Being sick has taught me to be a more kind and sympathetic person, to set reasonable boundaries, to release negative people from my life and to appreciate the beauty in the present moment. These are not small rewards for searching for those silver linings.
9. Find a way to share your gifts.I’ve come to believe that the reason we’re here on Earth is to discover, develop and give our gifts. Illness did not exempt me from that purpose and obligation. I could no longer give the gifts I had been trained to give, but I could, and did, learn some new ones.
10. Be still.I am still for a time each day because I must be.I’ve grown to love the quiet and peace that abides in the stillness. Learning to be still has improved my health, enriched my intellect and opened a spiritual center that used to be swamped by the noise of living.
This may be my very favorite of the top 10.

June 2013

 

How to Look and Feel Beautiful with an Autoimmune Disease

Thought you might get something out of this article. I know for me it as I have blogged before “It’s all about the Earrings” If I am not wearing my dangly earrings…it is “definitely not a good day”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/28/autoimmune-disease-beauty_n_1115449.html

By Angelica Catalano for YouBeauty.com

“But — you look so good!” your friend says with a confused look, after hearing that you’re sick.

One of the ironies of certain illnesses is that even when you’re feeling cruddy, you can appear just fine. But imagine that you didn’t feel your best most of the time … would you still try to look it?

For those who suffer from autoimmune diseases, looking good means masking a civil war going on inside: Your immune system attacks healthy cells in your body as if they were enemies. Over time, tissues become inflamed and cause pain in the war zone, which differs based on the affliction. In the case of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) the battle zone is your joints; your intestines with Crohn’s Disease and for Multiple Scleroris, the brain and spinal cord.

There are more than 80 types of autoimmune diseases, some of which may have genetic components. The environment can also make things worse by prolonging or exacerbating symptoms. For example, stress and infections can kick up symptoms by activating genes that trigger an autoimmune response.

While some people experience chronic, debilitating symptoms, others have the occasional flareup. It’s unpredictable, and it takes effort to maintain a strong sense of personal style and inner beauty.

“You could feel fabulous today and horrible tomorrow,” YouBeauty reader Jane says about RA. When a bad day strikes, she’ll stay in bed. But most of the time, she puts her best face forward, even if she’s swollen and in pain. “I make a point of looking my the best,” she says. “I always feel better when I put on my red lipstick.”

Integrative Health Expert Jim Nicolai, M.D. agrees — you could lift your spirits with something as small as finding a really good set of cosmetics. “If there’s something you feel really good about and it makes you feel good, I promote it as a health strategy,” Dr. Nicolai says about working with patients at the Dr. Andrew Weil Integrative Wellness Program at the Miraval Spa in Tuscon, Arizona.

Jane has been cultivating her style for years, looking polished even during the early hours of preschool drop-off. “It’s just a trick. I put sunglasses on, a pair of gold hoops and a long trenchcoat on top of my pajamas,” Jane would tell mothers who asked how she always looked so put together.

She’s stayed true to her style through her RA diagnosis, sometimes looking so good that people don’t understand she isn’t feeling well. She attributes it to her signature scarlet lips, which keep her looking like herself, even when steroids cause face bloating and other side effects.

But when you look so good that no one knows you’re not feeling it, does it help or hurt?

“There are times when someone has a chronic illness, that they relish in normal interaction with other people. If you’re not showing lots of visible signs, you have more of a chance to feel normal,” says YouBeauty Psychology Advisor Art Markman, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at The University of Texas.

This appears to be a boon for our wellbeing, though it can backfire on days where you’re with people who can’t see the disconnect between how you feel and how you look.

YouBeauty reader Maria has trouble interacting with others during a Multiple Sclerosis flare-up. “Sometimes I need support and if people think you look good, then they are not understanding. If you had a neck brace on people would know something was wrong,” Maria says. “On the other hand I don’t want sympathy either, so it’s complicated.”

Dr. Markman suggests that when you really aren’t feeling well “You have to learn to say, ‘I’m having a tough day,’ if you’re not showing it on the outside,” he says.

This is exactly what Chef Seamus Mullen does when he experiences RA symptoms. “I think it’s most important to speak openly about it.” He’s straightforward on a bad day, telling his restaurant staff at Tertulia what he can and cannot do. That way, when he’s stubbornly trying to lug something into the kitchen with achy hands, someone will lend a hand.

Even on the ugly days, there are ways to try syncing your body and mind, so you start feeling as good as you look.

Enhancing Mindfulness: Conditions can flare up in response to emotional ups and downs. One component of an integrative medicine perspective is psychoneuroimmunology — the study of the link between psychology, the nervous system and immunity, based on the idea that our bodies respond to the way we process information mentally and emotionally.

Both Jane and Maria use guided meditations, which help them reframe stressful situations and avoid exacerbating their symptoms. Maria puts aside 20 minutes to meditate with a Healing Meditation by Kelly Howell. “It gives an overall focus on the strengths of your body and how you can incorporate those strengths into feeling better,” she says. Other times, if she is experiencing a significant amount of stress, she visits a placid place to reflect.

“I go to the convent; it’s really quiet. You hear the cloister nuns chant. It’s an environment that’s really conducive to going within, and being grateful for your blessings. I feel lighter, stronger and supported. Everyone there is focusing on mindfulness,” Maria says.

Jane wishes she were more spiritual, but admits that she’s not very. She finds other ways that bolster her emotional wellbeing. Jane’s doctor recommends that she continues her hobbies as usual. “I have a homework assignment to go to my studio and paint,” Jane says of her last doctor’s appointment.  In the quiet space of her studio, she produces abstract portraits of woman in vivid colors, so alive, they appear to jump off the canvas. Painting is one of many hobbies that people get immersed in, that can greatly benefit physical and emotional health. Called “flow,” regularly getting lost in such an activity can enhance concentration, self-esteem and self-reported health.

Finding a Personal Exercise Routine: “Keep regular exercise, not just because it keeps weight down, but it makes you feel better,” Dr. Nicolai says. He adds that mild to moderate exercise is best for boosting your mood without overtaxing your body.

With arthritis or pain-related problems he recommends activities like water aerobics or Zumba. “After doing that you’re going to have a better physical response than if you sat for three to four hours at a time,” he says. “Changing the way we move can change the way we feel.”

Jane has done water aerobics. “They have a dedicated class for people with arthritis and they keep the pool at 86 degrees, so it is very nice. I did find it beneficial,” Jane says. “I find, however, if I am in really bad shape, I don’t want to go and usually don’t. Look at it this way: if you had the flu, would you go out and do anything? That’s kind of how it is,” she adds.

Feeling well enough to muster up the energy to exercise class is often the biggest hurdle.

Maria splurges on private Pilates lessons because she feels it forces her to make exercise part of her Multiple Sclerosis treatment. “It’s a private setting so I can’t blow it off, I have to commit to it,” she says. Setting small goals for yourself can give you the push you need, even on the bad days.

Not Giving “It” Power: While it’s beneficial  to talk about what’s on your mind, talking too much about the negative aspects of your disease may drag you down. “I don’t want people to be in support groups that focus on symptoms and nastiness,” Dr. Nicolai says. He encourages patients to rise above a hopeless, negative attitude, so they can still feel beautiful.

If your diagnosis isn’t definitive, Dr. Nicolai even suggests not naming your problem. “A lot of people’s autoimmune symptoms are nebulous or grey. The lab tests say you have one marker for lupus, and another test says Sjogren’s syndrome.” In this case, he suggests focusing more on treatment than naming the problem. Let’s keep it gray, see how it’s manifesting itself.

Being Beautiful, Inside and Out

“Rheumatoid Arthritis is my reality, I can’t deny it and run away from it. I have to acknowledge it,” Chef Seamus Mullens says. This mentality not only helps him, but will help many more people — his anti-inflammatory diet cookbook, “Seamus Mullen’s Hero Food,”  is set to come out this spring.

Hone in on the things you know will boost your mood and beauty. Surround yourself with people who lift your spirits and understand your situation.

Even on those days when you feel your body is complete chaos, you can maintain your personal style and inner calm.

 

November is CRPS/RSD Awareness Month

November is CRPS/RSD awareness month. Personally I guess I have never had to (thank goodness) pause to think what an awareness month has really meant for me in the past. I have not really been affected too much in the way of friends and families to fight for awareness for. A friend of mine passed from cancer and I have held a few “Biggest Morning Teas” in her honour and have always tossed coins that way. I always always scrounge for spare change for the Salvos, or any other charity if someone knocks. I have always in some way dedicated my time to helping at Food banks or knitting for the needy and I can’t really remember a time when I was an adult that I wasn’t volunteering for something or other.

Here in Australia there is no charity that collects for research for CRPS/RSD. I tell people that it is a somewhat rare disease but when you read facts such as:

RSD/CRPS is NOT a rare disorder, and may affect millions of people. It is hard to pinpoint the number of people who have RSD/CRPS, though some estimates put the number of people afflicted with this syndrome at 6-10 million and other estimates claim between 5% and 10% of the population.
That makes the RSD/CRPS population of the United States greater than that of the Combined United States Military, 2,221,502.

https://www.facebook.com/CRPSDOM

All these people and still you can feel so desperately alone. In Brisbane I feel personally that the medical profession in the public sector seems to be so backward. All the jokes that other states tell about Queensland being backward, well the lack of knowledge by one particular “so called” professional that treats more CRPS patients than any of the other doctors at the Royal Brisbane really should just read just 1 article on this disease. How can we get ANY treatment as a public patient in Brisbane? The answer is seeming to be – you don’t. After 2 years of waiting and begging for treatment I am back to square 1, trying to find a new clinic to take me on about an hour from home. Luckily though it comes with good references (Thank you Col) so it is again a waiting game.

At present I am not up for waiting games. It is Day 9 of a horrible flare that causes me to not be able to shower myself or change my clothes, basic day to day everyday kind of things. On Day 9 it also means that I have become completely tolerant to anything that may have just taken the edge away from a 19 out of 10 pain…all day long….so I now greet each day with sleep and meditation…all day long. My sense of humour fast evading me. At this point I ponder….a sympathetic nerve block….a dose of ketamine…dreams that once were about trips to America and other places. I wonder how long I will have to sit here stuck in this never ending circle before we can try something new.

If there are so many people with this disease why aren’t their more trained specialists in pain relief as there is no cure presently for CRPS. How does 1 raise awareness…is it the same as the riddle “How do you eat an elephant…one bite at a time.” How do you raise awareness for CRPS/RSD…one person at a time. If there are so many people in this excruciating pain why are they letting us suffer?  Below is the McGill Pain Index showing a scale with this disease being the highest chronic pain you can feel (it is also represented as Causalgia on the scale)

This disease ruins lives in so many ways. I couldn’t begin to convey how things have changed for Master Shazz and me. Master Shazz became my carer at 13. This disease has you clinging to any tiny weeny happiness that once you probably didn’t even see. This disease has me clinging to the fact that there are still so many people in this world worse off than me.

So on my “wee little blog” we will eat the elephant 1 reader at a time and remember the mantra on Day 9 “This too shall pass”

Christmas creations

A table full of happiness

My table full of happiness.

I can no longer fuss with pretty clothes, pretty hair, pretty handbags, pretty makeup. Now I fuss with pretty papers turning them into pretty cards and that’s how I get my dose of pretty.

Gratitude

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.

Melody Beattie