Supporting Yourself Through A Flare-Up?

Hi everyone,

What are ways you support yourself through a flare-up? Ways to make it a bit easier and help you get through it? I’m pretty sure I have been in one for about 3 weeks now and would love suggestions to make this a bit more bearable.

Thanks!

[Spanielmadlady]

Be kind to yourself...treat yourself to something nice whether it be a soak in the bath with bubbles ,your favourite cake or a bunch of flowers but most importantly of all get plenty of guilt free rest....things can wait. 🤗 xxx

[Hidden in reply to Spanielmadlady]

Thank you! Rest sounds perfect right now ☺️

[MrsMarigold in reply to Hidden]

I go outside as much as possible. Swing

On my swing. Walk. Sit in the park.

[citygirl1234]

I agree with everything spanielmadlady said but I would also add that prioritising is important.

Some prioritising tips:

- Identify what has to be done and write a list of what must be done and by when

- Go through this list and see which of the tasks you can delegate or ask for help with. If you’re feeling really bleurgh, anything that doesn’t have to be done by you, should be delegated to a friend, partner, family or professional (depending on the context), especially if it is something you don’t feel up to doing but still needs to be done e.g. cooking, cleaning, food shopping, picking up prescriptions, fixing the boiler etc. It can be hard to ask for help from friends and family but they should know you would do the same in return, when you are feeling better. If you can afford it, getting professional help e.g. getting a cleaner in or getting your pharmacy to deliver your prescriptions can help give you one less thing to worry about.

- Anything else that is on your to do list that doesn’t have to be done, can either wait or be added as a lower priority item to the delegate list.

- Just do the things on your “must do” list - don’t feel guilty about not doing anything more, there is no point in wiping yourself out any further. If you feel up to it, do a few more things but be careful not to overdo it. This is a marathon not a sprint.

If you are working, be mindful that while you might not want to, sometimes taking time off is what you need. Don’t let anyone make you feel guilty about it.

Finally, don’t suffer in silence, if you think you are flaring and things aren’t improving despite your best efforts to take it easy, seek medical advice. For most people a rheumatology nurse helpline is the first port of call, but if that fails try your GP or consultant’s secretary.

Hope this helps x

[MrsMarigold]

city girl has wonderful advice. I would add that the “must do” list must also be put aside; in my case, a lot. I no longer feel guilty for sleeping 24/7 until humanness returns to my body. I throw must do lists; all lists away. When I’m a bit better I prefer to bake a pie (which I’m doing today actually) in other words, an activity that is slow, methodical and fun for me. And I also acknowledge to myself if my body says sleep; no matter time of day, I sleep.