those with Health problems and this weather

[Lonestarchickypoo]

I dont talk about it much.. Only bc I refuse to give into the fact that I have it lol... I suffer from SLE..systemic Lupus Erythematosus.. about the only people I talk to about it.. is those that are close to me.. but lemme tell ya... my hands today... are so swollen that I cant open a bottle of pop.. its hard to type... an the only thing I can blame it on is this weather!!!...all my joints hurt... and the fact I had to bust water tanks this morning bc our water heat quit working last night.. I put one in the horses tank last night.. his old man dont like us using them bc we havent rewired the barn and stuff so he thinks everythigns going to burn down if we plug something in.. I just went out and took it out before he could get out there this mornign and it ended up not working anyways lol

but anyways the reason I was posting this is bc I have found that HOT Parafin wax dips you can get at salons HELP TREMENDOUSLY!!!.. I just wish they would make a tub of it so I can emerge myself lmao...

[snowyhorse]

That's rough! Is it the cold that aggivates it or the barometer falling?

[pinkhorselady]

Sorry to hear that!

You've probably tried this before, but a hot rice compress seems to work well for me to penetrate to the joints when I'm having aching/stiffness issues. My sister made me one that's about 2 ft. long & filled with rice. I can wrap it around my neck, wrist, etc... It seems to give off a moist heat, which is better than just the heating pad.

Hope things warm up soon, so you'll start feeling better!

[pinkhorselady]

Duh - forgot to mention how you heat it! You stick it in the microwave for a couple minutes.

[horsecrazymom]

Sorry to hear you are in pain

I can second pinkhorseladys opinion on the rice bag!! You can make one easily by getting a long tube sock and then just tying the end off after you put the rice in. They ar egreat because they can be used hot or cold you can stick them in the freezer!

[Lonestarchickypoo]

thanks I will get through it lol..

I HAVE TRIED THOSE before!!.. they are great.. I ended up being up most the night last night.. just finally got out of bed around four am... this is the first year in Gosh.. atleast ten years.. that it has bothered me to this point... its been in remission since I was 17 I am now 34 I would have little symptoms here and there.. nothing like this I almost forgot what it was like lol.. I ended up taking a really hot bath and a hot shower tonight.. I didnt have to break ice today I think that aggrivated it a lot ... but the more I moved this morning the better it seemed.. but you can see that my wrist and hands are really swollen.. but i figured its just a matter of time til this starts to bother me so badly again... im not the type to pop hard core pain pills to make my aches and pains go away .. infact I down right threw all my pill bottles at my last doc that treated me for it.. oh.. um.. many years ago lol.. I usually can maintain it with motrin... and stay away from the hard stuff.. I could easily get stronger stuff from the doc.. but I rather not.. more the likely I will need to get on some type of anti inflamatory now.. bc its been about four or five days even before this cold weather got here and im not getting better.. I got my appointment.. but more then likey I will be maintaining with motrin as long as I can lol... I do not do well on stronger stuff my stomach cannot handle it lol..let alone me.. im the type if I have an over the counter cough medicine.. it will knock me out for hours lol.

[american03pride1]

I have one of those wax heaters for feet an hands an the parfafin.It does help alot with my arthritis.I also get the steriod cortizone shots in my spine from hip to neck too to block the nerves an it makes it so i can do things like chores an housework an stuff that slowly was effected by my increasing pain.BUT i can NEVER imagine what lonestar is feeling,that disease is critical physically.

[lounsbery2]

Lonestar, my husband has RA and your symptoms sound alot like his. He is already moderate to severe and only 35 years old and has been dealing with it for around 8 years. He soaks in the tub at least an hour in the morning to loosen up and be able to move and that at night to help relax. So I don't have it, but I can say I can somewhat relate because I have to do what he can't. Sometimes open a pop bottle, the shampoo, tie his boots. I give you credit.

[Lonestarchickypoo]

OH Im so sorry about your hubby believe me I feel his pain.. I really havent let this get the best of me, IM STUBORN... those that know me well know that I hide it very well.. I refuse to let it get the best of me.. but man this past cold snap I felt like I did right before I had my very first flare up with it.. The tub thing I do to just about everyday lol.. my poor skin is so dry lol.. but I bought some more lotion today and stuff to ad to the bath.. mean time Mortin is my friend lol... once I get moving im ok, but I cant carry a hay bale right now an its taking me longer to clean my stalls but I WILL NOT STOP!!!... I feel if I do, it gets the better of me, and I feel better as long as I keep movin during the day and the kids help with that lol... With Lupus they dont want you in the sun the UV rays can set it off.. but when I went to FLorida for Bike week, I did the tanner thing.. I started out to 3 minutes and worked up to 35 over a month peroid to hopefully get my body used to it.. and its sucks bc the warmth of them things helped tremenously... I didnt get sick in florida when I went either... I dont know with RA if your supposed to stay outta the sun or not?