My Favorite Things

 

Feeling like I need an Oprah moment to share with you my favorite things that help manage the effects of living with spondylitis.  When I don’t feel well, I obsessively look online for items that will help relieve the pain and swelling in my joints.  My list below is some of my favorite tools to ease the pain. 

 ***Disclaimer:  The following items help me but you should talk with your doctor first about any treatment or item I am sharing.  I included links to these products but I am not a paid endorser…. just a gal who wants to share with the chronic illness community what I like best.

Sunbeam Heating Pad for Shoulder and Neck Relief:  I cannot live without this heating pad!  I use it every day.  It provides great relief to your aching neck and shoulders.  I also use this heating pad on my back every morning before I get out of bed.  This is one product I take with me when I travel because I don’t ever want to be without it.

I saw this item featured on QVC a few years ago.  I ended up buying it on Amazon for a lower price.  So, shop around!

https://www.sunbeam.com/pain-relief/heating-wraps/sunbeam-renue-neck-wrap-grey/700-825.html

Imak Compression Gloves and Socks:  When your hands and feet are swollen and painful, these arthritis gloves and socks are great.  They are like a gentle hug for your joints.  If they could make a bodysuit of their compression material, that would be great!   I’ve tried other brands but the level of compression can be too much for me.  Imak knows how to make just the right amount of compression without feeling too tight.

https://www.imakproducts.com/

Medterra CBD:  Shout out to Shawn for sharing this product line with me.  Medterra has a line of CBD products that I use when painful flares have got me down.  CBD Cooling Cream 250mg helps relieve my back and neck pain when it seems like nothing else will work.  When I have a flare that hits my whole body, I use their CBD tincture, 1000 mg.  What I like about the tincture is they include a dropper with measurements clearly printed on it.  I like to know exactly how much I’m taking.  Note:  Please talk to your doctor before trying CBD.  I discussed this with my Rheumatologist and had her review any interactions it may have with my medications.

https://medterracbd.com/

Dr. Teal’s Epsom Salts:  Dr. Teal, whoever you are, I love you!  Pour these Epsom salts into a hot bathtub and soak away.  These Epsom salts are infused with various essential oils.  They help soothe away your aches and pains.  They also leave your skin feeling very soft.  I usually buy this product at Target or Walmart.  Give them a try! 

https://www.drteals.com/products/

Heated Seats in my Suburu:  I never knew how much I would love my heated seats in my Suburu.  My husband and I like to take driving vacations, so we spend a lot of time in a car.  When I needed a new car, I wanted seats that would be comfortable for me.  Suburu seats felt good to me but included were heated seats.  When my back starts hurting during a day’s drive, I switch on the heated seat for some relief.  If you’re not in the market for a car and your seat is uncomfortable, search google for car seat cushions.  I’ve used them in the past and they provide quality support.   

Adagio Teas:  When I feel miserable, I am comforted by a good cup of tea.  Thank you to Katie for my Mother’s Day gift several years ago.  Adagio has a great selection of regular, decaf and herbal teas.  I have never been disappointed in the quality of their products.  Last year, my daughters Katie and Amanda bought me Adagio’s Advent Tea tree.  Each day in December was a new tea to try.  It was a delicious and thoughtful gift.

Dr. Pat's Hot Toddy:  And speaking of teas, there’s one more hack I’d like to share.  When all these treatments don’t seem to help or the arthritis flare seems to never get better, I retreat to the couch with a Hot Toddy. Be mindful of mixing alcohol with your medications.  It’s a nice drink especially on a winter’s night.

https://www.food.com/recipe/dr-pats-hot-toddy-cold-remedy-234344

My final tip:  If you are an Amazon shopper, www.smile.amazon.com is the place to go. A portion of your purchases is donated to your favorite charity.  I have mine set up to support my favorite organization, Spondylitis Association of America.

I hope you will find some of these hacks helpful.  What are your favorite things to relieve chronic pain?

 

 

From AS to PsA

 

 Credit:  http://hannahsinflammatorycomments.blogspot.com/2013/05/world-as-day.html

I’m still in denial about this…About a year ago, my rheumatologist changed my diagnosis from Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) to Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA).  This was due to unexplained rashes and dactylitis in addition to my symptoms of joint pain, joint swelling, muscle pain, and fatigue.  Dactylitis is also known as “sausage toe.”  Doesn’t that sound attractive?

My Identity

With this change in diagnosis, I feel like I’ve lost my identity.  I used to be “AS” and now I’m “PsA.”  To me, it’s like saying my name is no longer Theresa; now it’s Trixie.  But wait a minute!  I liked Theresa!

Psoriatic Arthritis is an inflammatory arthritis that can develop along with skin psoriasis.  Psoriasis is a rash of red patches on the skin with white, flaky scales.  Most patients develop psoriasis first, then are later diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis.  However, this wasn’t the case with me.  I was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis in February 2012.  I remember about a year later, I had two red patches on the front of my legs, above the ankles.  This rash also had an area of white, flake scales.  I didn’t put the connection together.  About a year after that, I had an unexplained rash on both of my legs but didn’t have the white patches.  My rheumatologist sent me to a dermatologist for treatment.  The doctor gave me a prescription that eventually cleared up the rash.

A Family of Diseases

Ankylosing spondylitis and Psoriatic Arthritis belong to a family of inflammatory diseases called Spondyloarthritis (SpA).  SpA diseases include:

Axial Spondylitis: where the main symptom is back pain. 

Peripheral Spondyloarthritis:  inflammation in the joints and tendons outside of the spine.

Reactive Arthritis: joint pain and swelling triggered by an infection in another part of your body.

Enteropathic arthritis/spondylitis:  an inflammatory arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), notably ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.

Embrace my inner “Trixie”

I will say goodbye to Ankylosing Spondylitis and say hello to Psoriatic Arthritis.  It’s all essentially the same disease, just with a variation of symptoms.  Spondyloarthritis is the over-arching term for a family of associated diseases. Therefore, I still fit under the umbrella of spondyloarthritis.

This change in diagnosis makes me reflect on the fact that my disease is my identity.  Is this a good thing or a bad thing?  It’s good because it is a platform for me to advocate for arthritis.  Speaking out about this disease, advocating for legislative change, and writing a blog have been my proactive approach in learning how to manage and accept this disease.  I can’t help but wonder do I solely identify with a chronic illness?  Am I letting this take control of me instead of controlling it?

Here’s the reality.  Yes, I am controlled by this disease because each day I am faced with pain.  This disease is front and center in my life.  The tricky nature of inflammatory disease is some days you feel better than others.  It’s difficult to plan your life because you never know how you will feel each day.  This disease has also forced me to obtain disability benefits because I able to work only a few hours a week. So, sadly, the answer is yes. 

While that may sound depressing, I know in my heart I have a lot to be thankful for.  I have a wonderful family that supports and encourages me.  I work a few hours a week at a community college working with first generation students, which is a highly rewarding experience.  I enjoy staying physically active and I’m interested in health and wellness.  I am grateful for all these things and so much more.  While PsA is a defining part of my life, it’s not my whole life.

 

Contact Tracing Has Me Thinking!

 

The latest buzz phrase in this COVID-19 world is contact tracing.  According to Time.com “Contact tracing is a little like detective work: Trained staff interview people who have been diagnosed with a contagious disease to figure out who they may have recently been in contact with. Then, they go tell those people they may have been exposed, sometimes encouraging them to quarantine themselves to prevent spreading the disease any further.”  (https://time.com/5825140/what-is-contact-tracing-coronavirus/ 

My father was ahead of his time.  He was the ultimate contact tracer.  If he were alive today, he would have applied for the job.  Whenever my father got sick with a cold or some sort of virus, he would meticulously trace back to where he picked up his dreadful viral infection, not resting until he could find the cause of his misery.  When this whole pandemic came about, my brothers, sister, and I all had a good laugh about how my dad would want to trace this current contagion.

Contact tracing has me thinking: How did I get ankylosing spondylitis in the first place?  Where did this come from?  Why do I have it and no one else in my family has it?  Like father; like daughter.

I was taking a walk at my local park one day listening to the podcast “No End in Sight”.  In this podcast, Brianne Benness was interviewing Tema Smith, a woman with ankylosing spondylitis.  Brianne was asking her questions about if she was sick when she was a young girl.  Tema shared many strange medical issues as she was growing up but nothing so severe that it led to any investigation as a young girl. I was so engrossed with this interview because I connected to so much of what Tema was talking about. 

As a little girl, I was always sick with some sort of infection or virus.  I remember getting an infection, with a high fever, multiple doctor’s office visits, multiple lab tests, and rounds of antibiotics.  It would take me a good 10 days or more to start feeling better from whatever was making me sick.  If I recall, it also seemed to happen around the same time each year…maybe mid-winter.

I remember a consistent lack of energy.  Sometimes I was called lazy. It was just how I felt.  I didn’t have a lot of energy to do things.  I remember taking some disgusting liquid supplement that was supposed to boost my energy.  It was probably an iron supplement of some kind.  Also, I had aches in my joints at times.  My family shrugged it off as “growing pains.”  I have read and heard others with inflammatory arthritis say there is no such thing as growing pains.  Even the Mayo Clinic indicates “there is no evidence that growth hurts.” (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/growing-pains/symptoms-causes/syc-20354349)

I just read a wonderful quote from Joyce Meyer that sums things up for me.  “We live life forward, but we understand it backward.”  This speaks to me in all areas of my life.  In terms of my chronic illness, it is interesting to reflect on my childhood illnesses and discover if there is a link to my present condition today.  But, it’s just a momentary thought.  I have a chronic inflammatory illness and I manage it the best way I can.  But still, the daughter of a doctor who was ahead of his time in terms of contact tracing, can’t help but look back and notice there must be some connection to being ill as a child and having ankylosing spondylitis as an adult.

Deciding to Continue My Biologic Therapy in a COVID19 World

How have you been staying well during this pandemic?  Have you had to make difficult decisions about keeping doctor’s appointments, treatments, and testing?  This new world has made even the simplest activities complex.

I was due for my Cimzia injection in April.  I was uncertain if I should keep my appointment or delay my treatment.  Being that I have been following my state’s stay at home order, it feels odd keeping appointments.  There is no clear answer how treatments for spondyloarthritis and other immune disorders react to COVID19.  So, there is much trepidation for me going out in public because I’ve stayed home to avoid this virus.  Another reason I felt nervous about going to the doctors’ office for my Cimzia injection because the doctor’s office is adjacent to a large University medical center.  I didn’t want to be anywhere near COVID19.

As I debated whether to get my Cimzia injection, I noticed on social media, immunocompromised patients posting pictures and blogs about getting their treatments, such as infusions.  Most felt safe receiving treatments and discussed the important protocols that were put in place for their safety.  Still, I was feeling apprehensive.  My husband felt I should delay treatment, if I was feeling well.  My daughter, a physician assistant, felt I shouldn’t wait too long because I could get a bad flare, which would be difficult to get out of.

In the meantime, I was feeling like I was getting a sore throat.  I was concerned that this could be the beginning of COVID19.   I managed to stay calm, treating my sore throat with Tylenol, drinking hot tea with honey, and taking Zinc.  The guidelines for taking biologics are you should be feeling in good health when you get the treatment.  If you were to take a treatment, and had an underlying infection, you could get very sick.  With that in mind, I called the doctor’s office to cancel my appointment for my Cimzia injection.

The sore throat passed.  I believe it was seasonal allergy related.  I continue to put off this injection because I didn’t think it was a good idea to be up in the area of the medical center where COVID19 patients are being treated.  I was feeling well and thought I would delay my treatment for a few weeks once the peak of infections had hit and things would be on the decline.

My body had other plans for me.  I woke up over the weekend with the beginnings of a flare.  I knew I couldn’t delay this appointment any longer.  I took care of myself as best as I could and called the doctor Monday morning to schedule my shot.

I felt nervous entering the office building where my doctor is located.  My husband drove me to my appointment, dropped me off at the curb, and I entered the building.  I had my mask on and hand sanitizer nearby.  There was a security guard that was screening every patient entering the building.  I went up to the 6^th floor of the building, checked in, got my shot, and left.  I did it!

My thoughts about whether to delay your treatment is to first contact your doctor to speak to him/her about your specific medication and illness.  Our doctors can help guide us when making these decisions.  This disease is not a one size fits all type of illness and treatment plans vary greatly from patient to patient.  But I keep thinking of the advice I get from my doctor about my medicines.  For me, if I feel well, I’ll continue my treatment plan.  If I don’t feel well, I’ll delay my treatment until I feel better.  That’s how I’m going to roll with this moving forward without fear or anxiety.

Keep Calm and Stay Home

https://unsplash.com/photos/LMwW0ARHc4o

These days were all doing the same thing:  shelter in place, self-quarantine, stay at home.  Whatever you choose to call it, we’re home.  All day, every day until this pandemic subsides.  How are you doing at home?

For me sheltering in place is my reality.  When you live with a chronic illness, like spondyloarthritis, there can be stretches of time when I am staying at home.  This is usually when I’m having an arthritis flare…an increase in my usual symptoms of back pain, joint pain, and fatigue.  In these times when I’m home, I’ve learned to stay content for the most part.  If my flare is severe, then I’m in bed, usually sleeping throughout the day.  With a moderate flare, I’m still in bed, but I can enjoy reading books, watching tv, surfing the web.  If I’m having a mild flare, then I can take a short walk around my neighborhood or practice some gentle yoga stretches.

When Governor Murphy put into place a stay at home order for New Jersey, I thought to myself…”I’ve got this!”  I’m used to staying home; how bad can this be?  Here are my strategies for staying sane while staying at home:

Have a purpose:  One thing I think about before I go to bed is what would I like to accomplish the next day.  By having a plan for each day, there is a reason and a purpose for me to get up and get going.  It could be cleaning an area of my house, organizing photographs, organizing important documents or any tasks that I have put off doing. By planning ahead, I have motivation to get out of bed each day.  

Have a regular routine: For me, one of the strategies that helps me cope with this is to have a regular routine.  I try to go to bed at the same time each night and wake up the same time each morning.  Even though, I have nowhere to go, I have a morning routine that includes breakfast, clean up the kitchen, read from my bible or devotional, get showered and dressed, and then work on whatever goal I’ve set for the day. 

Stick to my Yoga practice : I attend yoga classes two days a week at the YMCA.  Now that it is closed, the “Y” has posted my yoga classes on Youtube.  It is really assuring and soothing to hear and see my yoga teacher.  During these times, I had moments where I feel anxious.  I acknowledge the moment, let it pass, and get back to what I was doing.    Practicing yoga and meditation has taught me this concept of acknowledging a thought and then let it go.

It’s Spring!  Get Outside!:    One positive aspect of staying home is the beautiful spring weather we’ve been enjoying.  It’s lovely to go outside in the sunshine, take a walk around my neighborhood, and begin preparing our gardens and planting beds.  Open the windows in your home and let the fresh air in.

I have never had an episode of illness where I was home for three weeks and counting. Even this, is something that I must adjust to with all my experience being home.  I stay connected to my family through phone calls and Facetime.  I have weekly video meetings with my coworkers.  I stay connected to the students I advise and tutor.  Still, it’s not the same as meeting face-to-face.  However, this will have to do for now. 

Stay Healthy!  Stay Safe!

Coronavirus...This Too Shall Pass

The coronavirus.  The current topic that dominates our news cycle.  I have been inundated with emails from many health organizations updating me on the coronavirus (COVID-19).  Multiple emails, several times a day, informing me of the latest recommendations from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) is starting to make me feel anxious. 

Why am I anxious?  Because having spondyloarthritis means I take two immunosuppressant medications to control my overactive immune system.  Since these medications weaken my immune system, this leaves me at a greater risk to contract communicable illnesses.  When I receive my Cimzia injection at the doctor’s office, I need to be in good health in order to receive it.  If I were to receive my medication when I wasn’t feeling well, there is an increased chance of becoming very sick.

 

Being on immunosuppressants, along with this latest outbreak, has made me become more proactive in keeping myself healthy.  I am washing my hands more frequently than usual.  In my church where we receive holy communion, I have decided not to receive for now due to the unknown nature of this virus.  While it makes me sad to not fully participate in the liturgy, I need to be proactive with my health.

If you live with a chronic illness, are you feeling anxious about the coronavirus?  Here are some steps I am taking to stay calm:

• ·      Limit Watching the News:  The news is our source of information about the spread of this virus.  However, the 24/7 nature of our news is feeding my anxiety.  I now turn on the news in the morning and in the evening for a few minutes to see the latest headlines.

• ·   Watch a calming show:  With the stock market tumbling fueled by this outbreak, my husband and I are both anxious.  We started watching When Calls the Heart on Netflix.  It’s a series on the Hallmark Channel.  It’s a quiet, peaceful presence in our chaotic world.  We watched several seasons over the past few days which helped take my mind off the news of the day.

• ·       Stock up on medication:  I receive emails from several health organizations with the latest updates from the CDC.  One tip was to review medications and to keep a supply on hand at home.  I looked through all my meds and discovered there were some that were expired that needed my doctor’s approval to refill.  Those meds are being reviewed and filled.

• ·      Stock up on food and water:  This tip first made me question if I have enough food on hand in case I can’t get out.  However, I have plenty on hand because living near the shore, I am stocked up on emergency supplies in the event of bad weather.

• ·     Pray, exercise, meditate:  These are all good actions to calm fears and live in peace no matter what the storm.

• ·     Communicate:  I have been talking about my fears with my family.  It helps to share my feelings and hear their feedback.  They also have their own concerns about this outbreak.  Being able to share our feelings as a family makes us all feel a little bit better.

• ·    Limit Social Media:  I have been reading the book, Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport.  It’s an interesting read on our dependence on social media and the benefits of taking a break from these digital platforms.  I already started to reduce my use of social media but considering the latest news, I’m really reducing my usage.  Social media has fueled my anxiety regarding COVID-19.  There is a lot of misleading information about COVID-19 on social media.  The World Health Organization (WHO) has termed this misinformation an “infodemic.”  Instead, I’ve been reading books which always makes me feel content.

Yesterday was a delightful, spring-like day.  I went to the small village of Island Heights, NJ.  I sat by the river and read my book.  As a beautiful, warm breeze was blowing, I heard the gentle sounds of wind chimes from a nearby home.  People of all ages were walking the small boardwalk without a care in the world.   It was a wonderful escape from listening to the news.

How are you managing your chronic illness and the news of the COVID-19 outbreak?  I wish you peace, good health, and strength during this time.  As the saying goes, “This too shall pass.”

And to welcome me into 2020…AN ARTHRTIS FLARE!

https://twitter.com/CreakyJoints/status/1223094589315260416?s=20

I started the new year feeling motivated with some goals set, ready for a new decade to begin with positivity and optimism.  And then I got hit with an arthritis flare.  When the flare initially hit, I managed to stay positive.  However, as the days progress, I feel less and less positive and depression sets in.  This post shares my thoughts and feelings in a flare.

Wednesday:

 I woke up with back and hip pain and felt very groggy.  I had a hard time waking up.  Even after several cups of coffee.  I knew what this was…the dreaded flare.  A flare is when disease activity kicks it up a notch resulting in more pain, swelling, and fatigue.  It’s a feeling of a generalized flu-like, sick feeling.  Time to start taking prednisone.  Although I felt awful, I went to the grocery store to pick up some food.  My husband always offers to pick up prepared food to bring home, but when I’m in a flare, I just want to eat whole foods, no junk.  Fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins etc.  I did the shopping I needed to do as quickly as possible just wishing to get home asap.  I stayed home, in bed for the rest of the day.

Thursday: 

Still not feeling any better.  Stayed in bed most of the day.  My mindset was positive.  I watched some of my favorite shows, read my book and a few magazines on my iPad. 

Friday:

 I thought I was feeling better.  I had to get up early and get dressed for my appointment at the rheumatologist’s office for my Cimzia injection.  I drove to the doctor’s office but while I was sitting and waiting to get called in, I started feeling bad…tired, groggy, icky.  I got my injections, stopped for some coffee and then walked around an outdoor mall near the doctor’s office.  I thought it might be nice to get some exercise and window shop but as my time went on, I felt ill and I had a 30-minute drive home ahead of me.  I got home, landed on the couch.  My husband was home and he thought this was the reaction to my injection.  But, no, it was me overdoing it.  I ended up going to bed and staying there for the rest of the day.

Saturday: 

I feel mildly better but still with pain and fatigue.  Now, I’m questioning, “How did this flare even happen?” (As if I’m in control of my body and my immune system.)  I guess I’m now starting to lose my patience with myself.  I was feeling well before this flare began, meaning, I had some pain, but I felt like I was navigating through the days before my flare in a healthy way.  I noticed I wasn’t taking my usual afternoon nap, so I thought I was good.  So how did this flare come about?  Well, then I was reflecting on the few days before my flare.  I remember on Tuesday as I was walking to my mailbox, the driveway was a little damp and I slipped and fell.  When I slip and fall, it’s not so much painful but it feels like a vibration goes throughout my entire body, shaking up my muscles and joints.  So, now I understand why I woke up on Wednesday with a flare. I don’t like it… but I get it.

Still Waiting…

As the days progress, the flare is still with me.  I’m waiting for the steroids to kick in to calm down my immune system.  But I’m still feeling like I have the flu, wanting to stay in bed and not move.  I become progressively sadder and sadder, wondering if I’ll ever feel better.  This is where depression can set in.  It’s difficult to have a positive attitude when I feel worse than usual and there doesn’t seem to be any end in sight.

Fighting my way through the darkness: 

It can be difficult to keep a positive outlook when day after day I feel so ill.  As I expressed to my husband during this flare, it is exhausting to push through each day when you don’t feel well.  Every day feels like a struggle. But then I had a turn around in my attitude.  It was helpful to express my feelings to my husband.  I felt a weight was lifted.

Practicing Self-Care:

• Hot baths!  It is especially comforting and soothing to soak in a hot bathtub with Epsom salts.  It provides momentarily relief from the pain and discomfort.

• Ice cream!  We had unusually warm weather a few weeks ago.  I was craving an ice cream cone.  Soft serve vanilla on a cone with chocolate sprinkles. I bought an ice cream at our local shop and ate it all up happily.  While eating ice cream may not be the healthiest choice, it was something that made me feel happy.

• Books/Magazines!  I am so grateful for my public library.  I enjoy visiting the library to find new books.  But I especially love that when I don’t feel well enough to go to the library, it is always available to me.  I borrow books, magazines, and music through my iPad.    That gives me joy!

On the Mend:

It’s been about 3 weeks and I’m finally feeling like I’m coming out of this flare.  I’m slowly tapering off the steroids, so my flare doesn’t come back.  I also hit a point when I thought I must stop feeling sorry for myself and act.  This past week, I made sure I did some form of activity each day.  I went to my local YMCA two days this week, I walked around the mall one day, and walked around a local park on a lovely, mild day.  Movement helps ease symptoms; however, during a flare, it can make things worse.  I have to go easy with this.

Throughout all of this, as bad as I felt both physically and mentally, I always have hope.  Hope that things will get better.  Hope that a new day brings a new beginning.  Hope that no matter how bad I feel, there is meaning and purpose in everything I do.  And hope is what gives me the courage to manage this disease.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! 

As the new year was approaching, I started to hear talk of a new decade.  I didn’t even realize this fact (that a new decade was approaching) being preoccupied with holiday plans.  It made me reflect on the touchpoints of my life in the past decade.  While scrolling social media, I noticed the hashtag, “DecadeinReview” ... I guess I’m not the only one reviewing the past 10 years.

The past 10 years have been a rollercoaster ride of highs and lows for me.  As I reflect, I realize that going through the good times and the bad, I have become stronger and more resilient than I ever thought I could be.

 

Here are my major events of the past decade:

• Both of my daughters graduated college; started their careers
• One daughter was married
• Diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis in 2012
• Back surgery, microdiscectomy in 2013
• Resigned from my teaching position
• Moved to New Jersey
• Both of my parents deceased
• Worked at a public library
• Taught a college class as an adjunct professor; currently tutoring/advising
• Started a blog about living with a chronic disease
• Advocated my state representatives about arthritis related issues
• Applied and approved for disability
• Became an empty-nester
• Traveled on a Mediterranean cruise
• Started practicing yoga
• Completed 2 rounds of Whole 30

I’m sure there are more highlights than this, but this is what came to mind for me.  I think the most dramatic change for me was my health.  It forced me to give up my career as an elementary teacher, made me realize I can’t even work 20 hours at a library, and changed the way I navigate my life.  But it has been empowering to write about my illness, advocate for arthritis, and connect with others living with chronic illness through social media.

Goals

Instead of making New Year’s resolutions that last half a day, I like to focus on setting goals for the new year.  For me, writing down 3 goals for the new year helps me start the year with a purpose.  I also like setting goals that are specific.  That way they have more meaning for me and something to achieve.  Here are my goals for 2020:

1.  My blog:  I have become a little lazy with writing this blog, especially in the past few months.  The “busyness” of the holiday season has distracted me.  I also felt like I had nothing new to write about.  However, I will continue to post to my blog at least twice a month.

2.  Advocacy:  I have enjoyed advocating for arthritis through Voter Voice.  However, I would like to step things up a bit this year.  I’m thinking about applying to be a patient advocate through the American College of Rheumatology or creating a patient poster for the ACR’s annual conference.  I want to be on the lookout for any advocacy opportunities and push myself out of my comfort zone in the area of advocacy.

3. Crafting: I would like to learn a new craft such as knitting, crocheting, needlework… something peaceful to work on during the evenings.  I also would like to find an art class in sketching or painting.  I took an art class years ago and I really enjoyed the creativity and the serenity of creating art.

What are your goals for 2020?  I hope your new year and new decade brings you many blessings.  Wishing you peace, health, and happiness!