Fascinating Radio 4 programme.

[Jules13]

I just listened to "Searching for Happiness" on Radio 4 (bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0001xp7). The reason I am posting the link on here is because they talk about a scientific link between sunlight, depression and inflammation. Especially mental health and inflammatory disease.

My original GP who discovered I had seropositive RA, immediately put me on Vitamin D and Folic acid supplements because of what she had read about depleted stores in RA patients. I am so lucky to have had such a vigilant and bright doctor, I know that, but I have also had very interesting chats with my RA specialist about mental health and RA. We all know that stress can cause flare-ups so it makes total sense that if we are depressed or have gone through a trauma that affects our mental well-being, that it can significantly effect the inflammation in our bodies.

The one thing that I really found interesting was talking about our natural circadian rhythm (body clock), the way our bodies react to daylight and how that massively affects inflammation. So basically, even if we are feeling rubbish, and want to just hunker down in our beds and feel sorry for ourselves, it's much better to sit outside for a while, wrapped up in blankets and expose our bodies to natural daylight, not fake daylight.

I'm off to sit outside for a bit... xx

[Shalf]

Totally believe in this. Again very similar experiences Jules. Also my last holiday abroad in constant sunshine helped me massively with my RA and generally boosted my overall well-being. X

[rab1874]

Well Jules totally agree and I’m off to the Canaries on Wednesday so hopefully get plenty shunshine in my body 🌞

[NeonkittyUK in reply to rab1874]

I agree .. I had a gorgeous sunny week in Lanzarote early December and my joints didn't ache one bit! The sun wasn't burning and I don't sunbathe as such but walking about in it and being outside relaxing was wonderful. About 23-25 degrees so just right. Lovely sea breeze too.

[Jules13 in reply to NeonkittyUK]

salt water and swimming really helps too xx

[NeonkittyUK in reply to Jules13]

Agree! Also seawater much kinder on the skin than some chlorinated pools. I do one hydro session and one in the gym pool every week. Chlorine can make your skin quite irritated. The sea in the resort we were in in Lanzarote was lovely. Clear clean and calm. xx

[Hidden]

Wrap up warm. Is flipping freezing! I've just got back from a two hour walk. I'm out more than in to be honest.

[Hoffster1984]

Thanks for the link Jules! Great work

[Hoffster1984]

Such good advice and so true. Being outside does wonders for the soul. x

[wishbone]

I'm supposed to avoid direct sunlight due to a stupid skin condition...I tend to lurk in the shadows like some beastly vampire..hehe. Not sure what my vit D levels are. I do take a multi-vitamin but think it might be a good idea to ask the rheumy nurse about having it checked when I see her on thursday.

[Jules13 in reply to wishbone]

Not necessarily sunlight or sunbathing but being outside. Daylight. X

[wishbone in reply to Jules13]

Ah right, thanks for that. Think I'll still ask about having my vit D checked as I can't recall ever having it done.

I didn't read your post properly either.

[Jules13 in reply to wishbone]

Also methotrexate does something with our absorption of stuff which is why I was given folic acid. It showed low phosphates.

[Jaxine]

Yes agree with stress/ trauma has a big part to play in auto immune diseases, I lost my father two months ago so can't be a coincidence that suddenly I've developed RA, or at least it spurred it on! Sitting outside, I can defo appreciate the logic but it's really cold!🤤 think I'll wait til it gets a bit warmer😎

[Jules13 in reply to Jaxine]

It’s more about light. Outside vs inside. Did you listen to it because I’m not that good at paraphrasing. X

[Jules13 in reply to Jules13]

I'm so sorry about your father. Has the stress caused your RA or did it come on earlier?? Have you ever had symptoms before now? x

[NeonkittyUK in reply to Jaxine]

I think you're very right about the stress and RA onset. Sorry to hear about your Dad. 😢 The stress from losing my Mum four years ago made my RA go mad. xx

[Jules13]

I don’t mean sunbathing necessarily because being on mtx we’re not supposed to sit in the sun too long. It was more about light in general. I didn’t explain it very well.

[Jaxine in reply to Jules13]

You did, it was more me not reading it properly😆

[NeonkittyUK in reply to Jules13]

I was grossly Vit D deficient two years ago and have taken VIt D3 drops ever since and it's back to a good level .. Took about three months to turn it around. However summer 2018 in the UK we had a big dose of Vitamin D from the amazingly hot and bright summer.

[Simba1992 in reply to NeonkittyUK]

The new guidlines I believe for UK is to supplement all year around, even summer especially for those on meds.

[NeonkittyUK in reply to Simba1992]

Yes Simba, I stay on it all year round and I've less general muscle aches in my legs since being on it. My OH takes it during winter months as he has to protect his skin so his dermatologist recommends he uses it but I think he needs it all year round too. His dermy told me I should be on it many years ago. I've been taking it two and a half years now. I think he got very low in mood before without it. OH not dermy!! 😆 OH is against taking most meds himself .. Ahh he's a stubborn Taurean 🐗 but will do supplements, I'm glad to say. He's been on it for ten years winter months only. He's much more outdoors than me normally .. running in the hills a lot as his hobby but with UV running kit and sun protection on. However last year I spent all our UK summer gardening so guess I got my extra Vit D dose as most of us did. 🌞 We're both dreadful at swallowing pills so tiny capsules for him and a liquid for me. My doc said one should sit out in the UK sun for 15 minutes then wait 30 to apply sunscreen etc so the Vit D from the sun can penetrate the skin. I hadn't heard that before but sounds like it makes sense. She said unless it is crazy blazing midday sun it's ok to do that. I used to always blather myself with the clear, easy to apply factor 50 Ambre Solaire spray before going out in summer sun as I'm fair skinned but I will gently bronze, if I'm outside generally pottering. Mtx has never caused a sun/light sensitivity in me, but know many meds and definitely steroids thin the skin making it vulnerable to sun damage, but I couldn't even sit near a window in the summer light let alone sun, when on Sulphasalazine 20 years ago. I had urticaria all over. I had to wear a sun hat or swathe myself in a long sleeved linen tunic and headscarf or sunhat and wear large shades when a passenger in the car for any distance. Very film star LOL 😆 I didn't do much distance driving myself at that time as I'd be itching and prickling with the photo sensitivity. Just short trips in the summer if me driving. Holidays were a no no in the height of summer. Easter/September trips to Scotland were more my thing,which are still lovely to me! Strange that my then rheumy said that my sun/skin reactions were not caused by taking Sulpha. 😤 They absolutely were. When I got my first camera phone I took the evidence and she was very quiet and said nothing!! xx

[Simba1992 in reply to NeonkittyUK]

Yes it's really too bad with all the meds that keep you from the sun.Vit.D is so very important for us and we are so very often deficient. Supplementing in my view should be a must for rheumies to perscribe. 15min in the sun between 12-3pm if you have 30% of your body uncovered,does give you some viD but not enough. Gardening with sun screen blocks the production of vit.D. But being out in sunlight does other good things for your body. Did you know that vit.C also protects from sun damage as does taking two tlsp of tomatoe puree daily in the summer ( very efficient actually, studies on this!). I think you are wise in keeping on supplementing😊All the best.Simba

[NeonkittyUK in reply to Simba1992]

Yes I'm good with my Vit C but would find it hard to take the cold tomato purée. I am out for quite some tom when it is sunny but will never bake in it. Sitting under a sunshade umbrella and going in and out for breaks is good to cool off a little.

[Jules13 in reply to Simba1992]

Oh that's interesting.

It also sucks that we are told to not go out without sunscreen on, even in winter because of sun and UV damage, but we also need sun exposure on our skin. Bloody hell x

[Hidden]

Hi, Jules, That is very interesting information, thank you. X

[Jules13]

Well I had to drive into Bath for an appointment today. I went in early, sat outside my favourite café, people watched and drank hot chocolate. I was in my wool coat, scarf, hat and gloves, and I felt soooo good because it was sunny and fresh and gorgeous. I did feel better after an hour so maybe it's not ridiculous. x

[Simba1992]

Yes this is important information😊👍🏻

[NeonkittyUK]

Just realised .. I've heard a programme on R4 a few months ago re circadian rhythms but I didn't think it was called that. Probably a different one as R4 has quite a lot of interesting health and philosophy programmes.

[Jules13 in reply to NeonkittyUK]

Yup that was a different one that was about sleep. x

[Simba1992]

Hello Jules13,

Found this so very interesting article about the importance of sunlight, not just as a source of Vit.D. Thought it might interest you.😊Simba

scribd.com/document/1162445...