Tag: #RAWarrior

What COVID Taught Me About Preparedness and Self-Care

How have you adapted to the changes brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic?

I’ve adapted in simple but meaningful ways. Two parts of my routine that have changed are when I go grocery shopping—I now go during the day—and how I immediately wash my hands as soon as I get home. Since I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, which puts me in the compromised immune category, I’ve also become more cautious in public. I make a point to keep my hands away from my face when I’m out.

In February, I caught COVID for the second time. That experience reminded me how important it is to be prepared. Now, I make sure to keep over-the-counter medication on hand, just in case. These may seem like small changes, but they’ve become a meaningful part of how I look after my health.

October 15, 2023

What have you been putting off doing? Why?

1. I’m putting off yesterday’s dishes because I’m hurting.

2. The second major task I’ve procrastinated on is cleaning under my bed.

What have you been procrastinating on? Let me know in the comments.

October 6, 2023

Tell us about a time when you felt out of place.

When I meet new people, their curiosity about my physical disability is evident in their expressions. I push through any initial hesitation and focus on enjoying our time together.

Another incident that makes me feel out of place is when I receive unsolicited advice on how to cure Rheumatoid Arthritis. That makes me uncomfortable. Most of the time, it comes from a caring place, with people wanting to help me get better. What they don’t realize is that they are crossing a personal boundary in my life regarding how I manage my health, which is none of their business. They are treating me like a child because I refuse to accept their advice on how to handle my disability and don’t respect my decisions.

Most of the time, I ignore it because I don’t want to be friends with them. There are times in a friendship when a friend has crossed that boundary, and I need to tell them to basically back off. If the friendship ends, it wasn’t strong enough to begin with.

Have you ever found yourself on the receiving end of unsolicited advice, especially when it comes to personal matters? If so, how did you handle these situations, and what lessons did you learn from them?

October 5, 2033

Your life without a computer: what does it look like?

Life without a computer or other technology would be a living nightmare that never ends.

I rely on technology due to being dyslexic and having Rheumatoid Arthritis, as it provides the access and accommodations I need. Also, October is Dyslexia Awareness Month.

I rely on dictation software to type for me, especially due to joint deformity in my fingers and dysgraphia. Speaking sentences is easier than typing them, and it allows me to create longer and clearer sentences. Additionally, my handwriting is nearly illegible, making technology an essential tool for communication.

When it comes to editing, I need technology. I love the feature of text-to-speech where it reads it back to me. That has been an awesome help to help me to improve my grammar, and syntax, and make my thoughts clearer without this technology, I wouldn’t be writing.

Over the years, my reading skills have improved thanks to technology. I use narration on the Kindle App for novels, text-to-speech software on the iPad for articles and other materials, and I also enjoy listening to audiobooks. Without technology, I wouldn’t be reading.

I don’t want to go back to a life without technology.

Prompt’s September 16, 2023

How often do you walk or run?

I need to make walking and other exercises a priority again and a part of my routine. That is my goal for October, and even starting this coming week.

I prefer walking, and easy low-impact exercising for my joints due to Rheumatoid Arthritis. Exercising and stretching are one of the keys to keeping my mobility longer.

How do you exercise? If you have Rheumatoid Arthritis or a chronic illness, how do you exercise? What exercises would you like for me to discuss in a future blog post?

Rheumatoid Arthritis Fatigue

I have RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis) in all my joints. The one thing that can stop me in my tracks is fatigue.​ It can be very difficult to manage this symptom. Click on the link to continue reading. Please Like and Share too. Thank you.

I have RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis) in all my joints. The one thing that can stop me in my tracks is fatigue. It can be very difficult to manage this symptom.

What does RA Fatigue do?

Some days, I can easily get tired quickly throughout the day. People tell me everyone gets tired, which is true. RA Fatigue is different. It is like dealing with a dying device battery after using it for a few hours it needs to be plugged in.

I wake up in the morning with a lot of energy and then by the afternoon, my energy is draining away like a dead battery. Then I’m exhausted. There are times that I pushed through the fatigue to get things done before I take a nap.

Treatment for RA Fatigue

The best way to deal with RA Fatigue is to have the RA under control by medicine. That’s what I have learned. Taking a nap, when I need it. If there are tasks that must get done I pushed through the fatigue, and then rest afterward.

Other people with Rheumatoid Arthritis have their strategies for dealing with fatigue. For me taking a nap helps.

If you are battling RA Fatigue and nothing is helping you to manage your symptom, please talk to your rheumatologist.

If you have questions, let me know in the comments

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Prompt’s August 11, 2023

I want to make a difference by taking away the stigma of accommodations for people with disabilities.​ Click on the link to continue reading. Like and share too!

What change, big or small, would you like your blog to make in the world?

I want to make a difference by taking away the stigma of accommodations for people with disabilities.

To bring awareness of the struggles of the disabled.

I want society to look at a disabled person to ask what accommodations that person needs to live a happy, independent, and successful life.