Sheryl Aronson

Symptom Sleuthing

noreply@blogger.com (Sheryl Aronson) — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 20:58:00 +0000

Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune syndrome that affects the moisture producing glands, and can affect any system in the body. Add to that Fibromyalgia, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, lactose and gluten intolerance, and you get (or I should say, I get) endless sources of symptoms. I like puzzles, so symptom sleuthing is right up my alley. Warning: this blog post mentions bodily functions.
The gluten intolerance I discovered a couple of years ago when I tried a gluten free diet to see if it would help my Sjogren's symptoms. I had read that people with autoimmune issues often do better on gluten free diets. It did nothing for my pain or fatigue (darn it!), but my out-of-control acid reflux disappeared.
The lactose intolerance I discovered years ago when I started having really stinky gas, but only on weekdays. I figured out it was the milk I was putting on my cereal for breakfast. On weekends, I tended to have bagels or toast, with no milk. I started using a lactase pill that I took each time I ate dairy products. That solved the problem.
Later I found a capsule from a company called Digestive Advantage that I could take once a day, and eat dairy any time I wanted. Digestive Advantage has several products, for lactose defense, for intensive bowel support, for constipation and for gas defense. These products all have a natural probiotic and enzymes or other natural ingredients. They also have probiotic products. These are good products when used properly (read below). Give one a try.
A few weeks back, I looked at the ingredients of the different products, and thought that I read the same ingredients of the lactose defense version on the gas defense version, plus other ingredients. Why not get the extra benefits? I thought. I started using the gas defense version 3 weeks ago. Last week, I started having that stinky gas again, despite using the Digestive Advantage capsule daily. I figured my body was getting more sensitive to dairy.
I started to use the lactase pills again each time I ate dairy, and started looking for dairy substitutes. I tried almond milk yogurt, and coconut milk yogurt, despite having issues with coconut in the past. The almond milk was fine. The coconut milk caused, shall we say, worse problems than the regular milk. So I'm thinking I will use the lactase pills to finish off the dairy products I already bought, then go dairy free.
Kapow! My Symptom Sleuthing Mechanism kicks in. Hey! Didn't I switch from the lactose defense formula to the gas defense formula right before this started? I went on line to the Digestive Advantage website, and checked the ingredients of the two products. Aha! Only the Lactose defense one contains lactase enzyme, which is what helps digest dairy! It was not a problem with my digestive system, it was a problem with my eyes, and reading the boxes properly. Good thing I am a symptom sleuth, and was able to figure this out, or I might have given up dairy for the rest of my life for no good reason.
As you can see, symptom sleuthing is not just about what you ate, but about many other factors. In doing your own sleuthing when a new symptom arises, you might want to start keeping a journal of when, what, how, where, etc. the symptom occurs. Anything you ate in the day or so prior, any changes in anything in your life in the past week(s): deodorant, shampoo, laundry detergent, any new food, any new place you went, new clothing, carpet. Even a different brand of generic medication can set off an allergic reaction if you are sensitive to one of its ingredients.

Helpouts by Google Helps Out

noreply@blogger.com (Sheryl Aronson) — Fri, 15 Nov 2013 22:19:00 +0000

Need help? Try Helpouts by Google, started early November, 2013. This site hooks up people who need help with virtually anything with people who can give that help by video. It doesn't actually send the person to your house to move your furniture, but it can hook you up with someone who has suggestions of how you can move the furniture more easily.
The way it works is this: providers (individuals or companies) sign up with a title of what they are offering, for instance, guitar lessons. They give a paragraph with a more detailed description, when they are available, and the price. It can be a set price, such as $50 for an hour session or it can be priced by the minute. The prices people have set range from free up to $150 for 45 minutes for the offers I viewed. There is no contact information visible, that likely appears when you click to sign up for something. People who want to learn a skill, or need help with a problem, can look it up and find someone who is offering the service they need. Or, you can just browse and see if something strikes your fancy. For some of the Helpouts, you schedule your session ahead of time, for others, you can do it right away, depending on how the provider has set it up.
Categories include Fitness and Nutrition, Health, Art and Music, Cooking, Computers and Electronics, Fashion and Beauty, Education and Careers, and Home and Garden (at this time). Within those categories are hundreds of topics, which, over time, I am sure will become thousands. Perhaps your roof has a leak, or your souffle always falls, or you want to learn to play the piano.Your computer has a virus, your dog has fleas or you want to lose 6 1/2 pounds. You get the idea.
Helpout sessions are done by video connection, so the two people involved can see each other. (I won't go into how this is done, you can learn about it on the Helpouts website if you are interested.) If the session is about something that needs to be fixed, the camera can be aimed at that object so that the person at the other end can see it. At the end of the session, there is the ever-present five star rating system and you can leave feedback. And, there is a 100% money back guarantee.
As their home page states, Real help from real people in real time. I think this is gonna be big.

Healthline

noreply@blogger.com (Sheryl Aronson) — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 18:50:00 +0000

I got an email the other day from a marketer asking me if I would include their site on rheumatoid arthritis on my blog as a resource for my readers. I looked over the site, and found it full of good information, not only on RA, but on many other diseases as well. The link for the page the marketer sent to me is http://www.healthline.com/health/rheumatoid-arthritis.I would rather tell you about the whole site, not just the RA part.
If you go to their homepage, http://www.healthline.com, the top half of the page is very sparse, but it is the gateway to much of the info. You can click on 4 tabs, Symptom Search, Treatment Search, Drug Search, and Pill Identifier. Along the top of the page are two more tabs, Health Topics and Health Tools. Health Topics takes you to an alphabetical search of diseases. Health Tools has eight tools, including Body Map, Doctor Search and Symptom Checker.The bottom half of the page is full of fresh articles, blogs, videos, etc.
Every disease I thought of was there. I read the main entry for Sjogren's Syndrome, just to see what a random (or not so random) entry was like. It was a good, general coverage of the topic. I would recommend it for someone who is newly diagnosed, someone who is not yet diagnosed, but trying to figure out what they have, or someone who has a friend or family member diagnosed with the disease. It is also good for someone who wants to know about what they have, but does not want to be overwhelmed with every detail.
Someone with Sjogren's who likes to keep up on the latest research would not be satisfied with this site (Though there is some research elsewhere). Nor would someone who wants to know all there is to know about their disease. For example, the discussion on symptoms of Sjogren's was fairly general, and the article did not mention any of the medications we use by name.The RA page was more in-depth, and I will hazard a guess that other more common diseases are as well. The RA page also includes a video overview of RA.
Whether you have rheumatoid arthritis or some other malady, click on the link above. Look up your disease, or someone elses. Learn about symptoms or drug interactions or find a doctor near you. Explore the videos and blogs. Whether you refresh your memory or learn something new, you will likely find it worth your while.

Helping Others

noreply@blogger.com (Sheryl Aronson) — Tue, 15 Oct 2013 00:12:00 +0000

I was at the grocery store last week. The woman in the checkout line behind me was using one of those electric scooters that many stores provide, with a big basket on the front of it full of groceries. I asked if she needed assistance putting the groceries up on the conveyor belt, and she was very much relieved. Both she and the cashier repeatedly thanked me. It made me very pleased that I was able to help, that I had offered, and that I helped her. At the same time, it made me sad. Why? Because they both felt the need to thank me so profusely.

It should be human nature to offer help whenever we see it may be needed, and we can provide it. It shouldn't be seen as such an extraordinary deed. No one religion has a monopoly on helping other people, including strangers. It is not unique to any one culture. Rather, it is a human thing to do. It is a part of living in a community.

Whenever I see someone struggling to get in or out of a car, to reach something in a grocery store, etc, I ask if they need any assistance. If they say “No”, I say, “Good for you”. If they say “Yes”, I will either jump in or ask what they want me to do, depending on how obvious it is what needs to be done. People are often too embarrassed to ask for help, but relieved when it is offered. I am sure there are some people who are annoyed or insulted that I would ask, I hope that my praiseful response appeases that.

The person needing help could be any one of us, depending on the circumstances. If you don't need help today, maybe you did last week, or will next week, or next decade. The person offering help should be every one of us who can, in whatever ways we can. I know that many of my readers are in pain, and/or have varying levels of fatigue and functional abilities. Even so, there may be areas where you can offer your help: holding a door open, feeding a baby, reading to a child or person undergoing chemo, etc. Remember: if you are the one receiving assistance, you are providing an opportunity for another person to be helpful, thus making them feel good about themselves.

Priorities: Live Your Life

noreply@blogger.com (Sheryl Aronson) — Wed, 25 Sep 2013 20:53:00 +0000

Setting priorities can sometimes be a difficult task. Other times, the priorities set themselves. I am in one of those situations right now. With the new school year started, my work is picking up rapidly. I am an occupational therapist. I started a new job last spring with a company that provides therapy for children who attend several virtual school systems here in Ohio. They do their classes via the internet, but I see them face to face in their homes, the farthest is 40 miles away. (Luckily, I get paid for therapy time plus milage.)
I had 2 kids I saw very briefly the end of the last school year. Now I am up to 6 kids I see, half of whom I see 240 minutes a month or more. An hour or an hour and a half a week per child doesn't seem like that much time.If you add in prep time, note writing time, and driving time, it begins to add up.Especially since I have not worked with kids in years, so I am having to relearn what I forgot, and catch up with all the new stuff that has come along.
I started feeling stressed, trying to work out a system to keep all my paperwork straight for these kids, learn what I need to know to treat each one for their particular issues, and keep up with my blog and other writings. It wasn't happening. One day it occurred to me: I am my own boss. I am doing the OT as an independent contractor, so I can set my own hours (with the families I see, of course), I can decide how many kids I see, etc. Same thing with the writing. Ideally, I would blog daily, and write a little on my book daily, but life isn't ideal. I had been blogging about once a week. Lately, it has been about twice a month. I think that is where it will stay for the time being.
This has been a hard decision to make, even though it eased my stress as soon as I decided to cut back on how often I try to post. I feel like I am losing a part of myself, like one era has ended, and another, unfamiliar, unknown one has begun. I guess that is true. I am starting a new adventure as an OT for children. I am losing the freedom I have had since I was laid off last February. I guess that is my lesson for today: don't be afraid of starting a new adventure, recognizing that if you do, you may need to cut back or drop some current activities. That is life. Live it your way, and to the fullest. I will be here writing a new post twice a month.

Document, Document, Part 2- Keeping Track

noreply@blogger.com (Sheryl Aronson) — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 23:40:00 +0000

I last posted on the importance of documentation when filing for disability. Another situation where documenting is important is keeping track of something that you don't use often, such as where you put it. You may be sure it is obvious, or that you will remember, but, what if...? Two weekends ago we were at our cabin. Our main water supply comes from a big tank buried up the hill near the road. The water comes down the hill through a pipe, powered by gravity, assisted by a small pump. When the tank was buried several years ago, there was a 24" diameter neck of the tank sticking up a few inches above the ground, topped by a green domed lid. Surrounding the tank is natural, wild growth: tall grasses, wildflowers, and blackberry brambles.
My husband decided to put some chlorine in the water tank to get rid of anything growing there. He went up the road, chlorine bottle in hand, to treat the water. He came back half an hour later. Mission accomplished? Nope. As nothing can grow on the lid itself, and it is raised up from the surrounding ground, one would think that the lid would be obvious. If one thought that, one would be wrong. He came back to get me to help him search for the lid to the water tank.
The entire area is totally overgrown, the ground uneven with rocks. The weight of rain knocked the grasses down and laid them out, covering much of the ground. We searched the area with feet, hands, sticks, shovels. We sweated, we got bit by mosquitoes, but we did not find the lid to the water tank.
If only we had written down somewhere '3 feet to the left of the telephone pole and 6 feet back', If only we had a photo that showed the angle of the water tank in comparison with the cabin. If only we had, in some way, documented where the tank was located...
Voila! We got home, my husband looked on the computer, and found some pictures he had taken when the tank was put in. We were back at our cabin this past weekend. He found the tank in 3 minutes, thanks to his documentation. We had been looking in the wrong place before. Note: Keep your documentation where it will be handy when needed.
This idea applies to all kinds of things.Perhaps you have a key to an old trunk or drawer. Or something you are saving to give your daughter when she turns twelve. Or where you buried the time capsule in the back yard. Of course, you don't want to advertise where you put your valuables. Your documentation can be in shorthand only you would understand, or can be kept in your underwear drawer, if it would expose valuables
.I have a tendency to write myself notes on scraps of paper, then lose the paper. Not only should you document where you put whatever it is you want to remember, but you should also keep the documentation someplace where you will remember it. Oy. It gets so complicated. We laugh at my husband sometimes because he puts all kinds of information in his phone that no one else thinks to write down. We stop laughing and know who to go to when we need that information.
How about a recipe that you tweaked, and really liked the results? Of course you will (not) remember what you did different when you next go to use that recipe. Document it, in this case, right there on the recipe. If you can't bear to write directly in the book, or over grandma's lovely handwriting, use a sticky-note.
If you are like me, and have a laundry list of maladies, it can be hard to keep track of everything. For example, I have tried many different kinds of eye-drops, with varying results. Some burn, others itch, some don't help much, and a few actually work for me. It helps to keep a list, in case I am ever tempted by a sale or recommendation to try something I don't normally use.
Our lives are so complex, most of us have too much going on to keep track of everything. That's what calendars and address books (or contacts) are for, and any other form of documentation you choose to use.

Document, Document, Part 1- Disability

noreply@blogger.com (Sheryl Aronson) — Wed, 28 Aug 2013 17:38:00 +0000

I read recently on an occupational therapy (OT) forum about an OT clinic where they say that if it isn't documented, it didn't happen. In other words, write complete and accurate notes of all therapy sessions, phone calls, etc. Documentation is so important in so many aspects of our lives.In my opinion, I think we overdo it sometimes, with people taking pictures and videos with their phones of absolutely anything and everything. On the other hand, sometimes we don't document when we should. I have a couple of specifics in mind.
Many of us with chronic illness and pain may at some point want to or need to file for disability. If so, having documentation is critical. We have no control over the documentation of our various doctors.We can tell our docs how we are functioning each time we see them, and ask that this info be included in our medical record. Hopefully, they are keeping good records, but this isn't always the case. We can ask for copies of our medical records. You have a right to see them, though some places charge a 'processing' fee.
More important than medical records are your own records. Keep a journal, documenting sleep, medications, pain levels, how your pain and/or illness affect your functioning, what it prevents you from doing, what you can and cannot do. Keep track of all your doctors' appointments, all the meds you try, and how they work for you. If you are still working, document any difficulties at work, accommodations you need, number of hours you are able to work, how you feel/ how you function at the end of a day of work. Document how your social life is affected, and anything else that you think is relevant to your functioning ability.
Also, don't be a hero. Don't tell family and friends you are fine when you aren't. I know a lot of people don't like talking about their issues, but if you believe you should get on disability, there has to be evidence that you are disabled. Don't be a complainer, but let people know when you are hurting, when/what things are difficult for you. Ask for help when needed.
Having good documentation and clear evidence that you are disabled does not guarantee that you will get approved for disability on your first application, but t makes it much more likely.
My next post will be about another situation where documentation is very helpful.

Bee Venom and Gluten Cutter:Updates

noreply@blogger.com (Sheryl Aronson) — Mon, 19 Aug 2013 16:57:00 +0000

A few weeks ago, I got stung six times by yellowjackets. The rest of that day it felt like they continued to sting me. The next day was less painful, but then the itching began. It was like five mosquito's intensity, in patches from about one inch to about two inches in diameter. The itching took most of a week before it began to subside, and though they no longer itch, the patches are still visible.
The week it happened, I wrote about the use of bee venom as a therapy for inflammation, pain, and other issues. At the time, my 30-ish year old hip bursitis and long-standing pain along my IT band in my left leg were gone. On the seventh day, God rested (oh, wait, wrong story). On the seventh day, there were twinges in my bursa, and by the twelfth day, my leg was back to its usual self.
That was wonderful week without one of my main sources of ongoing pain. On the other hand, The itching caused its own form of discomfort. I am still unsure if I would be willing to get bee venom therapy, but I am now thinking of looking into it, whether it is available near home, how much it costs, does insurance cover it, etc. I would not get it on my arms, where the itching was the worst, maybe on my back, where it wasn't as bad. Maybe. Just maybe.
On another topic, I discovered a new product a month ago, Gluten Cutter. I tried it, and it worked, so I used it to pigged out on gluten on a vacation. (Wrote about it here.) Since being home, I eat less gluten, so I am using it less. Sometimes now, I get a stomach ache/acid reflux either that day or the next, symptoms I used to get from gluten. I have been experimenting with taking two Gluten Cutter capsules, and also with trying other products on the market. I am also limiting myself to 1-2 gluten items per week. Apparently, I can eat some gluten, if I am careful, I just haven't found the magic threshold yet. If you do try Gluten Cutter or another product, leave a comment. I'd like to know how it works for you.

Bee Venom Therapy

noreply@blogger.com (Sheryl Aronson) — Thu, 08 Aug 2013 17:39:00 +0000

Last Sunday, my husband and I were hiking out near our cabin, and had a once in a lifetime (I certainly hope) adventure. I was talking about something, when I suddenly interrupted myself with "I just got stung by something! There's another one!" My husband replied "I got stung too! Run!!!" We descended the mountain the fastest we ever have, slipping and sliding on the leaves, I fell on my butt a couple of times. All the way down I whapped the side of my head with a large feather I had found a few minutes earlier. I kept hearing the angry buzz of a bee, apparently caught in my hair. Alternating with this, I flapped my shirt, being unsure if the stinging sensations I felt in my back were new stings, or just the ongoing zinging of the stings I already had. When I got to the bottom, I thrashed my head and back with the branch of a tree to remove any cling-on bees.
Once inside the cabin, we both removed our shirts to assess the damage. My husband had four stings, one on his hand, three on his side. I had six, one on one forearm, one on the other upper arm, and two on each side of my upper back. The rest of that day and night, they stings stung and hurt. Starting the next morning, they itched, swelled up (1-2 inches across), and were pink and warm to the touch. Just yesterday (Wednesday) they began to subside a little. I am very relieved. The constant itching was wearing me down..
This experience reminded me of an article I had read a couple of years ago about bee stings as a potential therapy for pain and inflammation. I thought it interesting to write about. Also known as 'apitherapy', bee venom therapy is used more in Eastern Europe, Asia and South America than in the US. There is evidence that it was used thousands of years ago in ancient Greece and Egypt. More recently, its benefits came to light by way of beekeepers who discovered that their arthritis pain disappeared when they got stung.
Scientific studies have been inconclusive about whether it works, but there is anecdotal evidence that it does. Among the many components of bee venom are strong anti-inflammatory and pain blocking substances.It may also help with blood circulation and reduce swelling.The condtions that may have potential for treament with bee venom include osteo- and rheumatoid arthritis, bursitis, chronic fatigue, Multiple Sclerosis, and asthma, among others.
I seem to have improvement in my chronic hip bursitis, and the IT band (outer thigh, hip to knee), that usually hurts, doesn't. I am not convinced that the hip/thigh improvement is worth the pain and itching of the stings for me. It depends partially on how long the improvement lasts. Also, from what I read, treatment is done in multiple sessions. That I would not do. One session, a few days of discomfort, I could handle, but not ongoing.itching. Some people have milder reactions, some stronger. You might tolerate it better than me. My husband says he did not get any benefits from his stings, and would not want to get apitherapy.
If this piques your interest, you can get more info at: Bee Venom Therapy or Apitherapy Wiki. A note of caution: if you are considering this- get tested for allergy to bee venom before starting the treatment. An allergic reaction could be deadly. Also, I recommend looking for a trained apitherapist. Doing it the way we did it, it is very hard to control the dosage.

Track and React the Impact of Arthritis

noreply@blogger.com (Sheryl Aronson) — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 20:44:00 +0000

I get Arthritis Today, the magazine published by the Arthritis Foundation, and I generally read it cover to cover. The July/August 2013 issue has several things I plan to share here. The first is an online tool called 'Track and React'. As the magazine says, "Track which daily activities impact your arthritis with the push of a button". When you register to begin using the tool, it asks if you have arthritis, then gives you a long list from which you choose the one type that affects you the most (tough decision for those of us with multiple issues).
In the 'Profile' section, besides basic identification, this is the place to enter all your meds, so you can keep track of taking them. There are fill-in-the-blank fitness goals, and a space for other goals.
The 'Track' section is the the meat of the tool. There are six pages, for nutrition, fitness, sleep, meds, your day, and symptoms. On each page are several questions, with slider bars to give your responses from low to high. Each page also has a space for your own input. There are also links you can click on for more information about each topic.
The 'Results' page creates graphs, showing the relationships between what you do, and how you feel. You can choose a graph based on nutrition, fitness, meds, your day, or all of these combined. You can also choose a single day, or a span of any number of days to be calculated into a graph. The graph is fairly basic, with just a bar representing how well you are caring for yourself, and a line indicating your symptom level. Over time, you may notice trends in how the bar and line fall. The 'Track and React' tool can't tell you how a specific food or activity is affecting you, but it can indicate if things are going smoothly or if you might need to change your diet or exercise routine, or see your doctor.
I think this is a useful tool for keeping tabs on how you are doing. When I first read about it in the magazine, I thought the graphs would be really informative, and the reason I would use this tool. Now I think the real benefit of this tool is the 'Track' section. It is a quick and easy way to check in with yourself in multiple areas on a daily basis, the graphs are an added bonus.
Give 'Track and React' a try at www.arthritis.org/trackandreact. It is also available as an app, so it can go with you anywhere. When you are done with that, explore the rest of the Arthritis Foundation website.They have so much useful information, and so many useful tools, it can keep you occupied for hours.

Gluten Capsules Work for Me

noreply@blogger.com (Sheryl Aronson) — Tue, 23 Jul 2013 18:01:00 +0000

I walked into my local drug store last week and found not one, but TWO brands of capsules to help people with celiac or gluten intolerance digest gluten.They are Gluten Cutter, from Healthy Digestives, and, surprisingly, Glutenaid, which is the store brand (CVS). They were both the same price, $12.99 for 30 pills, to be taken 1-2 as needed when eating gluten. I am not going to get involved with the science of gluten digestion. Basically, gluten is a protein, people with celiac or gluten intolerance are missing or have deficient enzymes needed to digest it. These capsules provide the needed enzymes. These two products have slightly different active ingredients, but are very similar.Gluten Cutter also contains lactase, the enzyme needed to digest dairy products.
I asked the pharmacist what she thought or the two pruducts. She looked at the ingredients, and said, "They both have the enzymes needed to digest gluten, they should both work. Its the same idea as the lactase pills people take to help them digest milk products." I had been skeptical before, but I have been a fan of those lactase pills for years. This put the gluten capsules in a new light for me. Since they were both the same price, I decided to try the brand name, Gluten Cutter.
I don't have celiac, but I generally get a bad stomach ache about an hour after eating gluten.I left the next day for a wedding in California. On the plane, I popped a capsule, and ate a bag of Cheese Nips. NO STOMACH ACHE! During the vacation, I kind of went hog wild (how's that for a description of a good Jewish girl?) I had a hamburger on a bun, bread, and on one day, I had pasta for lunch and pizza for dinner. No stomach ache the whole time!
Now that I am home, I plan to be more sensible. I will go back to eating mostly gluten 'lite' (I eat foods made with regular soy sauce, which has some wheat in it, etc, but I otherwise avoid gluten.) I know I can have some gluten on occasion, without getting sick, as long as I take the capsule with it. Part of me wants to just go back to eating anything, and take the capsules whenever I eat gluten, but I am hesitant. I know that for people with celiac, gluten actually causes damage in their small intestine. I have gluten intolerance, I don't know if gluten causes any damage for me or not, and if it does, I don't know if the capsule stops the damage.Also, a gluten-free diet is supposed to be good for people with auto-immunity. I don't know if these capsules affect that or not.
Most of the reviews I read for these two products, and for a third product,GlutenEase, by Enzymedica, are positive. A few people said the product they tried did not work for them, but it did work for the majority. My suggestion is to give it a try if you are gluten intolerant. Talk to your doctor first if you think that would be the wise thing to do in your situation, especially if you have celiac. I don't know if these capsules control the aspect of gluten that is damaging in celiac.
For those of us who are helped by these capsules,just knowing we can have gluten sometimes makes being gluten free easier. Do a search online of recent research, and print some out to show your doctor, if you think it would help. Start small, just a snack. Good luck and good eating.

What if's

noreply@blogger.com (Sheryl Aronson) — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 20:28:00 +0000

I had a recent health scare, which, thankfully, has resolved. I went to my rheumatologist last week, and he took some blood for routine lab-work.Only this time, it was not so routine. My kidney labs were off. I had to stop taking my NSAID's, the category of pain meds I take. (This is the category of meds that includes aspirin, Advil, Ibuprofen, Aleve, as well as a number of prescription strength meds).I had to get my blood retested. I was only off the meds and waiting for the test results ix days, but it seemed longer, as such episodes tend to do. A big part of the issue here is that without the pain meds, I am in more pain. My whole body felt ornery and irritable, and both hips were downright cranky.
I sometimes found myself falling into the trap of "what-if's" What if my kidneys were permanently damaged? What if I could never take that kind of pain meds again? What if we never got my pain under control again? What if I'm in pain like this when we go on our trip to California? What if...? What if...? What if...?
"What if" thinking has no outlet, and no direction other than down. There is no definite answer (at least, not at the time of the question), so all it does is stir up worry. One possible option on how to handle "what if" thinking is to take the next step, and ask "Then what?" What if my kidneys were permanently damaged? Then I would discuss with my doctor what the options are, do my own research online, as I always do, explore what meds I can safely take that won't compromise my kidneys further, etc. Once you think it through rationally, it usually isn't as scary, even if it is bad news.
I prefer to take it one step at a time. When I catch myself what-iffing, I politely ask these thoughts to leave, and I find something that will fully occupy my mind, so they can't slip back in.Puzzles or tasks that require following directions are good for this, or anything else that requires focus. I think everyone "What if"s from time to time. When you catch yourself doing it, try to either use it to motivate you to seek solutions, or get involved with anything that requires your full attention to get the "What if's" off your mind.

Health Monitor

noreply@blogger.com (Sheryl Aronson) — Sun, 07 Jul 2013 19:50:00 +0000

I found an unfamiliar magazine in the waiting room at my Rheumatologist the other day: The title is Arthritis Monitor, and when you flip the magazine over, starting from the back of that magazine is another one titled: Health Monitor. I was intrigued by this set-up. My doctor was doing some tests both before and after seeing me, so I had time to peruse the entire magazine, from both covers in. The focus of the Arthritis section is Rheumatoid Arthritis, while the focus of the Health section is Diabetes.
The magazine was well designed, with a variety of coping tips, personal anecdotes, short news and research related articles, and other items related to the topics. the RA section was much longer than the Diabetes section. On the cover was a notation that this was a take-home copy, which I did not do, since I had already read it all (though I did enjoy reading it), and also to visit their website, www.healthmonitor.com , which I did when I got home.
At the website, I found a much greater resource, on many more topics than just RA and Diabetes. I looked up 3 topics of specific interest to me, and these are the results I found: for Sjogren's Syndrome, there were 2 articles, for Fibromyalgia, 87 articles, and Gluten free, 27 articles. RA and Diabetes are their 'Super centers', the areas with most in depth info and resources, there are 9 'featured centers' and info on many more topics. Besides the articles, the website has patient stories, celebrity stories, recipes, motivation, and much more.
You can get a free 2 year subscription of the magazine delivered to your door, but you need not only your own name, address,etc., but your doctor's as well. (The Monitor is supposed to be from your doctor.) You can also sign up for newsletters on health, diabetes and/or RA
Check out the Health Monitor website. Poke around a bit. Do searches on whatever topics interest you. I think it is highly likely that you will find something that you can learn or use.

Strawberries Anyone?

noreply@blogger.com (Sheryl Aronson) — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 20:08:00 +0000

It is strawberry season around here, and I love it. We can get strawberries all year round now, but it isn't the same. Most of the berries we get are large, have white centers, and often yellow areas on them, because they were picked too soon and are not ripe. They have a mild strawberry flavor.It is a pleasant taste, but not too interesting.
For about 3 weeks early each summer, my local produce store gets Amish-grown strawberries. They are more expensive, but so worth it. They are small, generally 3/4 to 1 1/4 inches in diameter, so they are also more work to prepare. This is where I have some issues. These strawberries are so, so good, red all the way through, with a real intense strawberry flavor. (I'm getting hungry, anyone else?)
I was told this is the last week they would be available this year, so I wanted to hoard the strawberries, to get extra so they would last. So instead of buying one quart, I bought two, telling myself I would make strawberry jam. Three days later, I haven't made any jam, and I have a feeling I won't. The idea of hulling that many strawberries overwhelms me. I can easily do 10-12 berries at a time for breakfast or a salad, but 150, or whatever number it would be? My body aches just thinking about it.
On the other hand, I will need to hull them to do anything with them, even to freeze them for later. Oh, what to do, what to do. As my mom used to say, "May that be the worst of your worries." to quote a Yiddish saying, "From her mouth to God's ears." Amen

Sensory Defensiveness Ideas

noreply@blogger.com (Sheryl Aronson) — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 19:40:00 +0000

It can be very uncomfortable to be sensory defensive, to be overwhelmed by the sensations that the world throws at you.Sensations that most people dismiss as background sounds or sights may seem harsh and irritating, making it hard to focus on work, lessons or conversations. The easy answer is just to avoid whatever causes these bothersome sensations. In real life, avoiding them isn't very easy.Here, in this third of three blog posts on Autism and Fibromyalgia both sharing issues with sensory defensiveness, are some ideas for coping better.(Check out the 1st post, Sensory Defensiveness here, and the 2nd one, Sensory Processing and Pain here.)
For auditory issues: earplugs, listening to, or better yet, making music, white noise machines, nature sounds, water fountains. For visual: turn down lights, wear sunglasses, wear hat with a brim to shield from light source
I have had problems off and on with tactile defensiveness. I need to take the tags out of all my clothes, because they scratch and claw at me. I have sections of my skin on my arms and legs that are so hypersensitive that I am constantly aware of the sensation of my skin. Sometimes it is a slight burning feeling, other times it is a little more intense, not quite painful, but constantly in my awareness.Some ideas for tactile defensiveness, besides taking tags out of clothes- make sure fabrics of clothes are acceptable, buy used clothing that is already broken in, use fabric softener, wearing skin-hugging clothing like spandex, massage, rub skin with lotion, warm bath, bean bag chair, hammock. In addition, any kind of activity that requires muscle work- exercise, gardening, pushing, pulling, carrying, etc, seems to calm the signals down a bit.
As with anything, everyone is different. Experiment, try different things, try variations on what I suggest, find what works for you.

.

Sensory Processing and Pain

noreply@blogger.com (Sheryl Aronson) — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 20:48:00 +0000

In my post last week, I did some comparing and contrasting of sensory defensiveness in people with Fibromyalgia and people on the Autism spectrum.To sum it up, the main similarities are the tendency toward over-sensitivity to light, sound, and touch. The main difference is that those of us with Fibromyalgia acquired it after our neural pathways matured, and our sensory systems had time to organize. We learned how to respond to things, based on experience and social norms, so when we got Fibro, we were able to adapt to it with varying degrees of success..People on the Autism spectrum, on the other hand, grow up with their disorder, and must learn to live in a society that does not share or comprehend their over-sensitivities.They may not be able to communicate their discomfort, or they may not realize that others experience the world differently.
Keep in mind that this is very much an over-simplification of the situation. Everyone is different, not all people on the Autism spectrum have sensory defensiveness, and not all people with sensory defensiveness have Autism. In fact, there is a distinct disorder known as 'sensory processing disorder'.
One of the areas of sensory study that I find most fascinating is 'habituation'. It is related to the word 'habit'. When something is a habit, it is automatic, we don't even think about it. Habituation is similar. When our body is bombarded by the same sensory input over and over, our body stops responding to it, and just ignores it.This is why you don't constantly feel your clothes, or why people who live near the train tracks don't hear the train after awhile.
Imagine what life would be like if we did not have this shut-off valve in our system? We would be constantly bombarded from all directions with sounds, smells, sights, we would feel out clothing, the air, etc. It would be overwhelming. It is believed that this is what life is like for some people with Autism.They are so overwhelmed that they shut down, and don't respond, because they don't know what, of all the input, to respond to.
People with chronic pain can have a version of this, where the pain signals continue bombarding, and the habituation mechanism fails to kick in to shut off awareness. This may be due to the intensity of the pain signal, or in the case of Fibro, the pain signal mechanism itself is faulty.
Stay tuned: my next post will be on some things you can do when your pain signal won't shut off.

Sensory Defensiveness

noreply@blogger.com (Sheryl Aronson) — Tue, 28 May 2013 18:07:00 +0000

We experience and interact with our world through our senses. When the system is working properly, your body responds to sensations effectively and efficiently, without conscious effort.You automatically make adjustments to your position if you are in a rocking boat. You can tell how much pressure to use when buttering bread. For some people, this doesn't happen so smoothly. Some people are under responsive to sensory stimuli, others are overly responsive. Most people on the Autism spectrum have sensory processing problems, either under or over, and often a combination. I want to focus on sensory defensiveness, the over sensitivity and over reaction to sensations, which is not just in people with Autism.
I have a new job (I am an occupational therapist) with children in a school. Even though it is the end of the school year, I do have one child I am going to see for the last couple of weeks of the school year. He has some sensory defensiveness, and I have been reading up on it, to refresh my memory. I have made some interesting observations, and had some Aha moments.
As I sat here reading, my legs were bothering me. Besides the muscle tenderness and tendinitis issues, my skin was feeling irritated. As I was reading about sensory defensiveness, MY sensory defensiveness was reminding me that it was there. In Fibromyalgia, pain signals, which normally function to let us know something is wrong, get greatly magnified, as well as triggered for no apparent reason. People with Fibromyalgia have pain where there is no trauma; even the caress of a loved one may cause pain. My cat, sleeping against my leg sometimes causes pain. My small netbook computer hurts my legs when it sits in my lap without a pillow under it. Certain fabrics irritate, tags in clothing hurt.Wrinkles in the bed sheets, both under me and on top of me, cause discomfort.
Besides tactile issues, people with Fibro tend to be overly sensitive to other sensations: bright lights, loud noises, smells. I never thought about this similarity before between the sensitivities that people with Fibromyalgia have, and people on the Autism spectrum.I found the reading fascinating, as I related it to my experiences, comparing and contrasting. One big difference is that our bodies had a chance to learn to process and integrate the sensory signals in a "normal" way before the malfunction occurred. People who were born with or were very young when their sensory issues started have never known anything different, and may not even know that others function differently.
More on this at a later time.

Sjogren's Syndrome is Common?

noreply@blogger.com (Sheryl Aronson) — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:11:00 +0000

I sometimes mention Sjogren's syndrome, the main autoimmune syndrome I have. Sjogren's affects the moisture producing glands in the body, the classic symptoms are dry eyes and dry mouth. For some people, that is all they have, others may have a variety of other symptoms, but not have dry eyes or mouth at all. Some people are able to continue on with all their roles in life, others become completely disabled. There have been estimates that between 1-3% of the population of the US is affected by Sjogren's. That means that this disease, which so few people have heard of, and until recently was thought to be rare, is actually pretty common.

That means that there are many, many, MANY people out there who have Sjogren's syndrome, and don't know it. For some, it is because their symptoms are mild, or they blend in with something else they have, or they figure what they feel is just a normal part of aging. Then there are all the others. The ones who know there is something wrong, and are searching for a diagnosis. On average, it takes 5-7 years for people with Sjogren's to get an accurate diagnosis. People are often told they have lupus, or rheumatoid arthritis, both of which have some overlaps with Sjogren's. There is a blood test, but not everyone with Sjogren's tests positive. I could go on and on, but you get the idea.

Unfortunately, treatment can be haphazard, or even inappropriate if you don't have an accurate diagnosis.Also, having a diagnosis is beneficial psychologically, in that you feel 'vindicated', that you didn't imagine the symptoms, they weren't all in your head.

On June 1st, our Northeast Ohio Sjogren's Syndrome Support Group is having a Walkabout- a short walk, since many of us, (including me, these days) are limited in how much we can walk.We are collecting money for the Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation, which will go to sponsor research grants for researchers studying Sjogren's syndrome, looking to understand it better, and for better ways to diagnose and treat it. The funding will also go to educating the public as well as the medical community about Sjogren's, so people will be diagnosed more quickly in the future.

Please go to my Firstgiving page and make a donation to help us with our mission. My tear ducts and salivary glands thank you, as does the rest of me, and all the other people affected by Sjogren's.

Gardening Makes Scents

noreply@blogger.com (Sheryl Aronson) — Fri, 10 May 2013 21:44:00 +0000

May is gardening season here in Northeast Ohio. I always start out very enthusiastic, but get a bit less enthralled on hot August days when I need to water my plants so they don't dry up (then they would know what it feels like to have Sjogren's Syndrome :~) I have two raised garden areas, about 3' X 18' each. One is perennial flowering plants, the other is veggies and herbs. I decided that this year I wanted to reorganize the veggie/herb garden, and let the flower garden fend for itself (for the most part).
Yesterday I went to my favorite garden center, and browsed, and explored, and came home with 10 plants, twice the number I had planned to buy, but not unexpected. I have written in the past about how I like to drink water with herbs and/or fruit in it, so I was looking for plants that would give me tasty things to put in my water. My all-time favorite, which I buy every year, is lemon verbena. When you crush the leaves, they give off an aroma of lemon peel.(Now does my use of the word 'scents' in the title of this post make 'sense'?)
I planned to buy sweet basil, because I use it a lot in cooking, and I love its almost licorice-y scent. I did buy some, but I also bought cinnamon basil. How could I pass that up, when I love cinnamon so much?
There were so many varieties of mint, it was hard for me to choose: orange mint, chocolate mint, lime candy mint, spearmint, ginger mint (which I already have) and mojito mint, which is the one I ultimately bought. I chose it because I wanted a minty flavor, but mild, the leaves are a pretty crinkly bright green and because I like mojitos. Imagine taking a leaf or two from each of these plants and crushing them in your fingers. Mmmm... That would smell heavenly.
I bought some bee balm on a whim. I like the name, and the picture of the flowers on the label caught my eye. I'm not so sure I will like its tea-like flavor, but we will see. The other plants I bought were two tomato and three strawberry. To round out the garden, I already planted radish and beet seeds, which have sprouted mightily, and asparagus, horseradish, thyme and lavender, all survivors from last year. The horseradish is related to mustard, and is in bloom right now, with one-inch wide bouquets of tiny white sweet smelling flowers. Not what one would expect from such a pungent root. Two opposite scents form one plant.
My garden has lots of things going on in it, like my art. I don't have a lot of any one thing, because I don't need very much of each thing. This way, I get lots of entertainment for my eyes, nose and mouth. My ears will be entertained by hearing the bees sip on the nectar of the bee balm, and of my cat as she sits on her window perch (inside) and purrs as she watches them. My hands are already getting entertained by the feel of the soil, and the tender leaves of spring.
If you don't have time/room/energy/physical ability to have a garden, have a mini one indoors. You can get hanging pots, or pots that sit on your counter. You can get flowering plants, herbs, I've even seen strawberries and tomatoes in small containers. Many plants only need watering once a week or so. Cacti and other succulents may get by with only occasional watering There is a plant out there to match every lifestyle. Having plants really livens up a room, and a soul. Have you had your green today?

Think Outside the Box

noreply@blogger.com (Sheryl Aronson) — Thu, 02 May 2013 18:57:00 +0000

This is your chance to think outside the box and have some fun. This activity/exercise is good for getting your creative juices flowing, or a good procrastination activity, but it is also good as a distraction from pain. It is a simple idea, and can be done in infinite variations.
Take a piece of paper (or two or three...) Draw on it four or six or eight squares. It doesn't matter how many or what size. After you do it a time or two, you can decide what feels right to you. I like six squares, in two rows of three (or three rows of two, depending on how you orient your paper). Now- Put on your thinking cap, and think outside the box, literally. What is the box, and what would you find outside it? Draw whatever comes to mind around the first box. Now go on to the second. Try not to be critical of either your ideas or your drawing skills. Any idea is a good one, even if it doesn't seem like it..Imagine looking down at it, straight at it, or up at it.Imagine it different sizes, different colors. Different ideas come to mind.
So, what are some ideas to get you started? It is a house, and there are bushes and flowers around it, maybe a swing-set, (Don't get caught up in the fact that this is an overhead view.) You can even add what you would see on the surface of the box, in this case, the roof, maybe a chimney. It is a shoe box, with a pair of mismatched shoes. It is a toy-box with the toys all over the place...You could also see the squares as buildings in a city, and connect them with streets, sidewalks, cars, people, dogs, etc. Let your imagination wander. Have fun.
Some variations on this are thinking about what would be inside the box instead of outside (this is actually easier, so if you are having trouble thinking outside the box, think inside instead). This could be a toy-box, shoe box, or house, or a deck of cards (draw any one you want), a book, a painting, a candy bar, etc. You could do the same thing with circles, or ovals, or rectangles or triangles, or heptagons.
That brings to mind a game we used to do as kids, a similar idea to this. One person makes a scribble on a piece of paper, the next person has to look at the scribble and find a part that resembles something, and using more crayons, makes it more recognizable. You could also do this by yourself.
Get absorbed in activities such as these, and for many people, their pain fades.The more detailed and absorbed you get, the more the pain will fade. Give it a few tries. It may feel awkward and difficult at first, but it should get easier.

Spring Swinging

noreply@blogger.com (Sheryl Aronson) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 18:19:00 +0000

I had an urge this morning to run outside and swing on the swing-set next door. I love this time of year when each day something else pops into bloom. Never mind that last weekend we had 80 degrees F on Friday, and snow flurries Saturday. We expect that around here, though we are always surprised when it happens.
So back to the swinging. Many people, myself included, want to be outside when the weather starts to warm up.and there are so many things to do outside. I have been playing in my garden, getting it cleaned up, planting seeds, and transplanting some plants. I am done with that for now, and looking for other things to do.
I just got a job working with kids in a virtual school system (I am an occupational therapist). Since I haven't worked with school kids for several years, I have been reading up on therapy with kids to refresh my memory. Kids (and adults) with ADHD and related disorders tend to focus better when they get sensory input throughout their body first- things like running, jumping, climbing, pushing, pulling, rolling on the ground, etc. So my brain has been swirling with active kid-friendly activities, and I thought "swinging!" That used to be a favorite when I was a child, and I have done it off and on as an adult as well.
Swinging is actually a pretty good exercise, if you think about it. You lean back, extending your arms, supporting your upper body suspended from your arms, while your legs stretch out, putting your whole body in one long line. Then you quickly come to a sitting position, using your abdominal and arm muscles, and swing your lower legs back under you. Repeat over and over, flying high up into the sky. Feel the sun on your face, the wind in your hair, you are young once again.
Swinging is not as easy for me as it once was. I have bursitis in my hip.and swings these days seem to all be of the sling style, which press on my hip.I enjoy them anyway, in small doses. Other outdoor children's games and equipment that lend themselves to adult exercise include:running, skipping, jump rope (excellent cardio exercise), hula hoop and a variety of ball games. Bars and rings can be used, depending on height and positioning, and monkey bars are fun to climb (though the last time I tried, I found out that I had developed a fear due to my bifocals distorting distances. When was the last time you heard about someone with bifocals climbing on monkey bars?
Remember what your mother used to tell you, "Go outside and play". Go to a park. Take your children, or grand children, or dog or friend, or by yourself, just go. Play. Have some fun, and get some exercise while you are at it. Keep in mind you haven't done any of this stuff in a long time, so go slow, Choose activities that you think you will enjoy. and that you think you can safely do, considering how your body is doing that day. Push it a little, but only a little.If you push just a little, you will recover quickly, and want to go back. If you push too much, you will take longer to recover and not want to do it again.
Swing (or hula hoop) into spring!

A Prayer for Any One, Any Day

noreply@blogger.com (Sheryl Aronson) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 19:04:00 +0000

I want to share with you my favorite prayer. Even if you normally don't pray, keep reading. This prayer is non-denominational, and doesn't mention anything relating to G0d or religion until the last line, and you can leave that off if you want. I found this prayer in the Reform Jewish prayer book, Mishkan T'filah.It is normally read on Shabbat (Sabbath), but other than the last line, can be read any day. It was written by Rami Shapiro, and originally was published by the Reconstructionist Press in Kol Haneshama.

May these hours of rest and renewal
open our hearts to joy and our minds to truth.
May all who struggle find rest on this day.
May all who suffer find solace.
May all who hurt find healing on this day.
May all who despair find purpose.
May all who hunger find fulfillment on this day.
And may this day fulfill its promise.
Baruch atah Adonai, m'kadeish HaShabbat.
(Praise to You, Adonai our G0d, who sanctifies the Sabbath.)

I often can feel my attention and intention increase while reading this prayer, as compared to other prayers we read during the typical Shabbat service. I think that is because all too often, I can fit myself into one or more of these categories, and I am seeking healing.
For myself and for everyone, I pray for rest, solace, healing, purpose and fulfillment, today and every day.
Amen

From One Sheryl to Another

noreply@blogger.com (Sheryl Aronson) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 19:16:00 +0000

I got an email yesterday from someone asking for my help to raise money to pay for medical expenses for his partner. I don't normally post things like this here, but I had to post this. Her name is Cheryl (okay, so she spells her name wrong), she has Sjogren's Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, thyroid issues and a sister named Maria (my sister is Marcy-close enough). Here is his letter, along with the link to the youcaring.com page where you can read more about Cheryl and her ordeals, and donate as well, even if your name isn't S(C)heryl. Youcaring is a site where individuals and causes can set up a fund-raising page to raise money fee free.

Hi,

Sorry to write at this address. I ran across your blog and was wanted to know if you could help me. My partner Cheryl has been diagnosed with sjogren's syndrome, IgA deficiency, fibromyalgia, and secondary adrenal insufficiency. She also has had to have her thyroid ablated. The history of how we came to these diagnoses is long and complicated. The short story is that she hasn't had much success with traditional doctors, but about a year ago she started seeing a alternative medical care doctor who specializes in classical Chinese medicine. His treatment as well as some dietary changes (eliminating wheat gluten for one) have helped her tremendously. Prior to this treatment she was bed-ridden because of the pain all over her body and was loosing weight.

The reason I am writing is that these treatments are not covered by insurance forcing us to pay out of pocket. Because we cannot afford these treatments I have started a fund-raiser to help pay for the treatment. We have already reached out to friends and family and have used Facebook to raise funds, but I have found that I need to reach out further. My request of you, if you can, is to post a link to our fundraiser on your blog to try to help spread the word. I don't have a Facebook page myself and am not good at social networking. Here is the link to our fund-raiser and gives a more complete story:

http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/cheryl-s-medical-fund/40186

By the way we live in Portland Oregon with two children (twins!)

Thanks for taking the time to look at this.

Barry

Don't Wait Until...

noreply@blogger.com (Sheryl Aronson) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 20:30:00 +0000

I had an epiphany last week. I have been doing exactly what I tell my patients and readers not to do. I think it has been a 'perfect storm' scenario that started it. We went to California for a week, across 3 time zones, which threw my internal clock off. I lost my job, daylight savings time started, and this headache returned. For the past 5-6 weeks, I have had an almost constant headache, and greater fatigue than I usually have had. I have been able to continue to take care of most of my business, job hunting, writing this blog, etc, but my use of time has been less than efficient. I procrastinate, playing games on my phone, and looking things up on my computer. I am frustrated, unfocused. I am waiting until I feel better, until the fatigue goes away, until things get back to normal, and I can get on with my life.
WHAT??!!?? Wait a minute. This IS my life. This IS my normal (or a variant of it). If I am waiting to get back to that other normal, the one I used to have way back when, I am waiting in vain. I know this. I warn other people about this, and yet, I fell into it myself. Don't put off living your life, waiting until you feel better, or a particular event occurs. It may not occur, or even if it does, you may miss out on some wonderful opportunities while you were waiting. Live your life now, the best you can, with what you've got.
For the past 25 years, I have consistently had various types and levels of pain in various body parts. I describe it as being a member of the 'Pain of the Month' Club.I never know where I will hurt next, but when it shows up, it likes to stay for a month or two or ten. The fatigue I have only had for about ten years, at varying levels. The fact that this current pain is in my head compounds the cognitive problems that the fatigue causes, but it isn't anything new or unusual, just a variant.
Okay, so I realize that this is my life, no use waiting for it to get better (it might, or it might not, it might get worse). Now what? I need to get motivated, and to resist procrastinating. So easy to say, not so easy to do.
Having a routine and a schedule make the biggest difference. They both get me up and moving. One 'rule' I am instituting is using the morning time for me: exercise, grocery shopping, etc, and the afternoons for business: writing, job related pursuits, art, etc. I plan to not only have an ongoing to-do list, but pick out certain items from the list and what time I will do them. I will get up off of the couch more often, because sitting makes me sleepy, and sleepy plus fatigue makes me feel worse. I can set small goals for each day.
I ~~will be~~ am an active participant in my life. Now, if you will excuse me, I have some tasks to take care of.

Happiness: Four Keys

noreply@blogger.com (Sheryl Aronson) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 19:29:00 +0000

I have written a few times about happiness, mainly expressing my belief that happiness comes from being at peace with life.I don't understand the pursuit of happiness itself, because happiness doesn't exist by itself, in a bubble. This past Sunday, there was an article in our local paper, The Akron Beacon Journal, about whether married people were happier than single/divorced/widowed people.I don't recall the conclusion, because I got distracted by the sidebar, the content of which is below.
According to Kathaleen Stevenson, a counselor with Kessler Psychological Services in Hartville, Ohio, people who are happiest, whether single or married, follow these rules:
* Don't keep grudges. They forgive easily, and are active participants in creating positive interactions.
* Have a sense of purpose for their lives- engaging in outside relationships, contributing to the greater good, thus enriching their relationships and personal joy.
* Do not accept any form of abuse in their relationships.
*Follow the Serenity Prayer: God grant me the serenity to accept what I cannot change, the courage to change what I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
Only four rules, but these four rules contribute to a sense of peace, a feeling of comfort and belonging in your own skin, your own home, and your own community. Peacefulness creates a quiet happiness. I have written before about the first and the last rules.The other two rules can be more difficult, but are no less important.
How do you have a sense of purpose in life when just getting out of bed is a major feat? Perhaps in your relationship with others, as a grandparent, a spouse, a friend...Perhaps you feel that most of your life is behind you, or that you never had a chance for much of a life. How about writing your memoirs? There seems to be a lot of interest in stories about what it is like to live with (fill in the blank) Syndrome.How about tutoring a child, fostering a rescue pet or reading to a blind person? There are so many possibilities... The trick is finding the right one(s).
People who accept abuse from a parent, a spouse a boss, etc., often feel like they have no other options. There are options. Many towns have crisis hotlines, battered women's (and men's) shelters, and/or other support systems. Be brave, and look for them.
Those of us with chronic illness and pain have enough to deal with without creating more problems for ourselves by holding on to grudges or fighting fights we cannot win. Some of us never think about our purpose in life, others often do. I sometimes think that my purpose in life is life itself, a life well lived, to look back in the end and be able to say "I'm satisfied". Abuse is a tough issue. No one deserves it, yet some people dish it out. Eliminate or limit your exposure to abuse.
Four not so simple rules, but I agree with Ms. Stevenson that each of these contributes to happiness. Happiness is not having things, it is having peace.