Category: JRA

Nov 28, 2021

Here’s the for my podcast episode for Nov 28, 2021:

https://anchor.fm/alexandra-mars1/episodes/Sunday-Talk-with-Alexandra-Mars-Nov-28–2021-e1aum3r

Here’s the link for Monday’$ Topic for Nov 22, 2021

https://anchor.fm/alexandra-mars1/episodes/Mondays-Topic-ADD-Nov-22–2021-e1aph0u

Here’s the link for Sunday Talk on Nov 21, 2021:

https://anchor.fm/alexandra-mars1/episodes/Sunday-Talk-Nov-21–2021-e1apgi6

Nov 5, 2022

Last night, I edited two chapters of my manuscript. I am starting to get immersed within my story again, and that is a very good thing. Since I have been away from it. It’s also good to have distance away from the story, looking at it with fresh eyes at the material that I have already written to help find the errors and make sure that the plot is understandable to the reader.

One thing I realized from being away from my story so long is that I need better notes; so I know how to keep things going on within the plot with the new changes, and some of the ideas that I had previously thought about before I became sick. I’m hoping the new software that I using will help with that in the future. And I did make a lot of notes in my previous draft and that is helping quite a bit.

The plot is strong and my cast of characters is developing nicely, but there were some changes that I wanted to make within the story, and I just haven’t found those notes. What I wanted to do is coming back to me, which is a good thing. So what I have learned about this is that I need to make well-detailed notes or have a better outline for future manuscripts. Because when I do get sick it does take a lot out of me physically and mentally, and I need to be prepared for that.

Oct 21, 2021

Here’s the link for Wednesday’s Topic: https://anchor.fm/alexandra-mars1/episodes/Wednesdays-topic-update-on-my-goal-list-e192rms

I am very proud of myself, I finally decluttered my desk! After I released Wednesday’ Topic, and I cleaned my desk by getting rid of things that I didn’t need. It is nice to see that area looking nice and organized too.

When having Rheumatoid Arthritis can make it difficult to clean. For me, I find it easier to do my deep cleaning into sections and then do a maintenance clean, like doing laundry, picking up trash, and putting things away.

After being sick, and dealing with a flare-up, and now, I am behind in my chores. I refused to do the catch-up game, so, I just start where I am at. That helps me not to feel stressed out.

Another, thing that I am doing, if there are items that I no longer need or want I am getting rid of them. That helps me to reduce on the clutter.

It also helps to have realistic expectations of what I can get done in a short time period or during a good day when I have energy.

My goals for this week of Oct 17, 2021

These are the things that I want to accomplish this week to help me to get back on track with my schedule.

1. Decluttering my bedroom

2. Work on my laundry

3. Read Dune

4. Work on my outline

5. Editing my manuscript

7. Create mock book covers for my outline and manuscript

6. Get back in the routine of exercising

How many lists of things to get to get done helps me to get back on track after dealing with a major infection and having a flare-up. Perhaps, my list of goals will help somebody else dealing with Rheumatoid arthritis.

Oct 13, 2021

Yesterday, I received my infusion, and the flare-up is over! I am feeling much better. Now, I need to get back into my schedule and start to exercise again. So, I will be working on that this week.

I am blessed to have found a biologic that works for me. There are others with RA that it takes trying different medications to find what works for them.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is an nasty disease and it affects everyone differently.

Day 4 of the Flare-up of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Here’s a link if you would like to listen:

https://anchor.fm/alexandra-mars1/episodes/Day-4-of-the-Flare-up-of-Rheumatoid-Arthritis-e18jgt5/a-a6m6rkn

Yep, it is day four of the flare-up. And I am not feeling the greatest right now as I’m writing this post. Yesterday, I was up real late the night before, and it messed up my sleeping schedule. So, I just took it easy yesterday and didn’t do anything. Today, I just feel really lousy which is normal, dealing with a flare-up.

So yeah I am writing this post trying to decide what I want for breakfast. Do I wanna scramble some eggs or do I just wanna eat some cereal. So yeah. So I took a medication I have to wait about at least 30 minutes before I can eat. So I started thinking that you are wondering how do I prepare meals during a flareup. Which is a good question.

Well, I’ve always been a huge fan of leftovers. And I always like making extra food when I prepare a meal for the times when my energy levels are low or like times like this when I’m dealing with the RA. Which helps when it comes to having food prepared ahead of time. Last night I had leftovers; I had a hamburger, some macaroni salad, and macaroni and cheese that was my dinner. It was delicious.

Tonight‘s dinner is going to be something simple and easy to fix. I’m not spending a lot of time over the stove cooking a huge meal. I want to have some smoke sausage and probably a couple of cans of vegetables. That later this week, I’ll have different kinds of leftovers in my fridge. I like to have variety in my leftovers. And this helps me by taking off the pressure for what’s for dinner? Also, having a variety of leftovers helps with not getting bored eating the same thing over and over again. Still at the same time trying to have a healthy balanced diet as well, which can be hard at times when you’re dealing with a chronic illness like rheumatoid arthritis.

Having leftovers helps to reduce relying on eating fast food. And that’s what I am trying to cut down on. So I use leftovers to make sure I have meals when I need them and when I feel like it I also cook. So this is how I handle what’s for dinner when I have a flare-up.