What lifestyle changes have helped?

[Guest guest]

Joe, that is such a great idea ! It is so important to stay positive and count

your blessings !

-----Original Message-----

From: " Joe " <j.holmgren@...>

I shared that I quit drinking coffee and now I'm quitting smoking. It's unreal

how much the coffee was contributing to my pain. Maybe I'm unusual. I also

stay away from artificial sweeteners and additives and that helps too.

[Guest guest]

I am usually just a lurker but wanted to share what has helped me. I have both

PsA and fibromyalgia. It hasn't been easy at all, but in January I decided to

try giving up refined sugars, gluten, dairy(discovered I am allergic to it) and

(gulp) chocolate. While it is not a complete cure, I am amazed at how much

better I feel. So much better that I have no desire to go back to eating them.

It has been challenging but very do-able with a lot of research and trial and

error. I had tried what I could of the DMARDs with no success and was told I

would need to go on the new biologics. I was really hesitant since they are so

new so decided this was a last ditch effort and gave myself 6 months to see what

happens. My last appointment my sed was near normal and my crp was at

normal...which hasn't happened for several years. There has also been very

little swelling of joints. My dr. told me she was very willing to have me

coming in in another 6 months and see then. So while I'm not 100% pain free, I

feel better than I have in many years and have more good days than bad.

Sandy

[Guest guest]

This is a wonderful idea! Being in the middle of a huge flair due to not being

able to get my treatments because of insurance problems, I could use some tips

to make dealing easier.

The best tip I can share is find the humor in each and everyday. Whether it be

something to do with PsA or anything else funny that happened. Even watching a

movie or comedian that you find funny provides humorous relief. Laughter really

is a good medicine! It raises endorphins and that helps to elevate your mood,

lower blood pressure and lowers the reception of pain. And we can all use those

reliefs!

Another thing I do everyday is pray, upon waking up before I even attempt to get

out of bed and right before I go to sleep at night. Of a morning I ask for the

strength to face what the day will bring, good or bad, and ask for the ability

to find the humor in the day. At night I think of things I am grateful for in

the day. Sometimes I can only think of one thing, but that is still one thing.

And I say thank you for those things. A couple of years ago the psoriasis was so

bad in my feet I was losing toenails. There were days during that time that all

I could find to be grateful for was being able to put on my shoes and socks and

not lose another nail! It is all about finding at least one positive thing in

that day.

As for lifestyle changes, I used to be OCD about my house. It had to be spotless

and everything in its place! I have retrained myself to get over that LOL. I now

look at it and say to myself 'If no one else likes it then they can jump in and

help out by doing it themselves!' These days dishes are the worst thing. Hubby

can mess up a whole weeks worth of dishes in one day, especially if he cooks. If

I feel up to doing them fine, if not, well he knows where the soap and dishrags

are when he needs a dish! Another thing is naps. I was never a nap taker and if

I did take one I felt guilty about it. Not any more! If I get sleepy in the

middle of the day or of an evening I take a nap. I also get as much exercise as

my joints will allow. Walking, stretching or yoga. I used to go to the Y and

walk in the pool but since I moved to Oklahoma the nearest Y is 25 miles away. I

have found if I sit all day I hurt far worse than if I get out and walk around

the block or around the mile section.

I have made some changes to my diet as I can afford them. I am eating more fresh

vegies and fruits. I am working more whole grains into my diet. I haven't

succeeded in cutting out all refined sugars and wheat but I am working on it. I

drink more water or decaf tea. I did cut out caffeine but more due to

hypertension than to see if it would help with pain levels. And I am cutting way

back on red meats. Not that I ate a lot to begin with, but I do have a weakness

for ribeyes and roasts LOL. I have decided natural foods is the way to go. I did

have high cholesterol and was told to eat margarine. My bad cholesterol went up

when I ate margarine. I went back to using real butter, but sparingly, and now

my bad is down below normal and my good is back up to normal levels. So there is

something to eating natural foods as compared to eating chemically designed

foods.

Finally I have to say that finding this group is a huge help! While it is true

that it can be depressing to see others having it so bad, just knowing that

there are people who understand is a huge blessing! You would think a persons

spouse would be understanding or at least try, but not always. My hubby wants to

compare my useless wrist right now to his creaky osteo knee. I too have a creaky

osteo knee and to be honest, I never feel any pain from it anymore, the PsA

affected joints are far worse than the osteo knee ever thought about being! I

don't always post but I read the digest every single day.

For those with Fibomyalgia that aren't getting any treatment for it, I have it

too. I was afraid for a long time to take anything for it due to all the other

meds I am on (I also have diabetes, high blood pressure and high triglycerides).

My PCP here in Oklahoma finally convinced me to try Lyrica. It has been awesome!

My pain levels dropped significantly after four weeks on it. Most cases of fibro

can be managed with meds. Most days I am pain free unless the PsA flares like it

is now. Just some thing for you to think about!

Big gentle hugs!

Dalene

[Guest guest]

Thanks for sharing. I too begin and end my day with prayer. I have replaced a

lot of my meds and vitamins with natural ones. For example instead of taking

iron, I am eating molasses. I can already tell a change in my body (if you know

what I mean, LOL). And I agree...look around...there's someone else near that is

suffering so great and could use a friend. If I have gained anything from this

disease, it is a deeper sense of compassion. The bible tells us that God's

people are afflicted people. So right away, you know God is near even when you

are at your sickest moment.