Tag Archives: Musculoskeletal Disorders

Goodnight Sunday..Hello Monday!

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It is 11:57p.m. Sunday night is ending…and Monday is beginning. I woke up today finally feeling better….although I will for sure be taking Clariten tomorrow (and for a few weeks)

Have a great Monday, as it is 11:58 p.m. I hope that we focus our minds into thinking of some positives for tomorrow. Like hopefully tomorrow my nose won’t be stuffy. Hopefully tomorrow my Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, and Fibromylagia will be in check and I won’t hurt so bad!

It is 11:59p.m. now think about things that you want to work on to make YOUR LIFE BETTER! I want to  be a bit more patient, I want to be more thoughtful of others, and I want to smile a lot more!

As Sunday winds down to a close, I hope this week is amazing.

Hi 12:00:00a.m. HAPPY MONDAY!!!

 

First Day of SPRING BREAK!!

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First day of Spring Break!! YAY! Of course my first day had to be one when I was sick to my stomach all day and curled up on the couch from pain! Really?? Well not that day I would have wanted but at least I got to stay at home and catch up on some shows…including Dallas (just hit Netflix!!). SCORE! So I have a whole schedule of homework planed! Although today was my ONE day to do ZERO homework! It feels great!

Tomorrow I have some reading to do, a powerpoint to work on, and then a paper to edit. My IRB‘s were approved so that means after Spring Break I can start working on my project! YAY! I’m excited…nervous..scared..but thrilled to be getting to this point in my research. I also will be presenting a chapter to the class on the 27th! WOW! Another ahhh moment but again working on my confidence and of course making sure I’m ready.

I have realized how Rheumatoid Arthritis impacts my eyes….my eyes are soo dry (officially Chronic Dry Eye —-I think Sjogrens). I wake up every morning and my eyes feel like sandpaper. I’m walking around with drops all the time and I have noticed that my vision is changing :( . Isn’t that sad! It is just another note to people who go “oh that is just arthritis.” Rheumatoid Arthritis is NOT just ARTHRITIS! It is so so so so much more!

My Fibromylagia decided to not be my friend today either! Don’t you love waking up in the morning and your hands/feet/legs have such pain!! Ahhh oh pain please leave! I think somedays that is my thought from the moment I wake up until the moment I go to bed!

But you know it is encouraging that despite pain ….people are accomplishing so much. I have met such inspirational people….people whose stories are so incredible. Maybe one day I can start sharing their stories….I will say those of us with RA/Fibro/and ever other invisible disease….we have strength! We fight hard!

 

 

Oh Time you fly by me

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Time just flies….at least that is how it feels to me! I’m working on so many different projects and for some reason I am sitting here just thinking…wow time flies! But you know one of the best thing someone ever told me was that time is going to fly by regardless of what you are doing….so why not let time fly by and you complete a doctorate degree in the process. It sounded….so cool at the time…now I’m realizing yes it is cool but it is also…..very tiring!

I was up until 2a.m. this morning…waiting for sleep to come…and partially because I took a late late nap. For some reason yesterday I got home and my stomach hurt so bad (nausea ..thanks Arava) and I just needed sleep. I got about 3 hours or so and then I managed to get up and work on some papers. I am sooo happy that today I am off work!! YAY!! It was a surprising day off…and one I am taking full advantage of! I slept in until about 8:00a.m., took a shower, got ready for the day and now I’m working on editing my homework. But yet time seems to still be going by me soo fast!

While I was getting ready this morning I could not help but think about how slow I go now with my  Rheumatoid Arthritis. My hands do not work as well as they used to and I just do not have the same energy level. I was thinking back to when I was a kid and I could run around and do things. I would pay major money to wake up with energy. Most days I wake up and I feel as empty on my energy level as when I went to bed! Ugh…thanks RA and Fibromylagia! Ya’ll are soooo not fun!

So if time feels like it is running by you…know you are not alone! :) I hope that this week…despite how fast it seems like time is flying by …that we stop and appreciate the good things. The good people that encourage us….the friends that stop and check on us…and the encouragement we receive by the many on our social media sites! I know I’m thankful for the people that check on me…that encourage me…and that stay connected to me.

 

 

 

 

Planner

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How many of you are planners??? I am an OCD planner…living with multiple calenders/date books/online gadgets etc. Yes I love to plan…but this week I lacked in planning. I did not adequately plan rest into my day, and so today (since yesterday) my body has struggled to function. It is amazing what your body feels like when the pain soars because of lack of rest! I know this…I have experienced this before BUT yet I still often forget how little rest brings great pain! Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia bring havoc to our poor bodies, and when we get little sleep….the torture escalates.

So now I”m planning rest into my weekend!!! I want to get ahead in classes and I hope to do that one short assignment at a time! :) Time management…it is amazing how well our minds know what needs done but how sometimes (at least for me) the last thing I want to do is manage what I am doing. I want to be superwoman, I want to go go go….and yet I cannot physically go go go! I have to rest! Maybe after yet another experience of little rest…maybe I’ll get it :)

Rest!

 

Barbara Jackson Memory

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I was sad to learn that Dr. Jackson died on Thursday afternoon, we were her last cohort selected during her life. Such an honor to carry on her legacy through the generations to come. I learned A LOT at this conference, and  I am still learning! I am learning how tough this life is going to be with RA/Lupus/Fibro….I was amazed at how much energy a conference takes!!! Seriously so much pain and now sickness!

This choice of career is rewarding, amazing, but wow gosh….someone said they would rather do a residency (MD) that go for the PhD/EdD! While I do not know how true that is (and I doubt we can compare) I was shocked!

It is so tough living with an invisible disease, from the side effects of the drugs, to the fatigue, exhaustion, pain and frustration of limitations…it is like WOW! We have  a different life! Our new normal…is tough but I am THANKFUL that for today…I can still do what I love.

Honestly, I have more than many I know! I can still walk, and go to work! I can still go to class and work in my research. I treasure those blessings because one day I might not be able to do that, and so I def. treasure these days!

I am THANKFUL for what I do have despite my RA/Lupus and Fibro! Thankful for the Affordable Care Act that is giving me hope of insurance (cards should be here any day!). I cannot wait for 12/01! Making appointments SOON! :)

 

Here is a link to learn more about Dr. Jackson (http://www.ucea.org/home/2012/11/19/honoring-the-memory-of-barbara-l-jackson.html)

Love!