How Well Do I Know My Body?

One of my favorite things to do is run. When I run on a track I get very competitive with myself, when I run on the street I enjoy the sounds of my feet and the surroundings, when I run in the rain, I run with my heart. I just love it. It is so much more to me than just exercising and "clearing my head" I can't explain it.
My brother and my husband understood what running meant to me. After being diagnosed with RA and being stripped of all my passions, they knew what to do for me, run. They have become runners. Both of them are athletic, however neither were runners. This is the point I am trying it get a crossed to others (without RA or illness); take care of your body, nurture it, use it, love it! Because when it's gone, life gets hard. If you have a mobile body USE IT! There is nothing more annoying to me than seeing healthy people sitting on their butts and wasting a perfectly healthy body, I would do ANYTHING to feel healthy and strong again. What my brother and husband have done has really touched me; it showed how much they cared and how aware they were of how I felt.

Today I face a struggle, how well do I know my body...

The weather is getting nice out and I am getting the itch to run again. I go on walks about 3 to 4 times a week but I want to run. The other day my dog and I were on a walk and we came to a place where we were alone on a road and I thought, "well here goes nothing." And we jogged, I could feel myself being stiff and scared, I ran about 1/2 mile. It felt good, don't get me wrong, but I am not yet convinced that I can run. It is so very scary to me. I don't want to get me hopes up, remind myself how much I love this sport only to find the next day I have extreme flare ups and I can't walk (once again). So I'm stuck on a teeter.

I have to try to run again. Wish me luck.

Which Hand am I?

I have been off my meds for 1 month and 6 days, Wha whoo! Getting closer to the third month mark. During that time I have had a few rough days and mornings. But the biggest problem I am having is my left wrist, still! I am left-handed so I am constantly over using it, causing it to flare. I am making a conscious decision to try and use my right hand more and more. It feels odd but I hope it will give my left wrist some relief. However I would much rather have my wrist act up over my feet. Not being able to walk is much worse and I feel it causes so much more emotional and physical pain. Knowing what it feels like to not to be able to walk, reminds me that I have little to complain about.



It’s a short entry today, but more is to come…

Saying NO, is easier said than Done!

I love kids, I love acting like a kid. My nieces, nephews, and cousin’s are a BIG part of my life. Over the weekend it was my nieces 6th birthday party held at a gym. With 15 six year olds running around things got wild! My sister asked me if I would conduct some games for them. So we did, Simon says, red light green light, and tunnel tag. It was a blast and I surprised myself with how mobile I was! I made sure I was doing activities than mainly involved my feet, not my wrist.


As the evening died down, so did the kids. Then it was "hold me." I hate when my nieces and nephews ask me that :( I want to pick them up and squeeze them tight, but I can't without inflicting pain. If I start by kneeling on the floor and wrap my arms around them, then I can pick them up. However, if I'm standing and I have to lift them up--no way. When I have to say "no, I'm sorry I can't," the kids are only disappointed for a second, and their off to a new idea! But for me...it makes me feel bad. Some times I cave, and say "sure I'll hold you!" Like I did yesterday, and today I'm left with a flared up left wrist. I'll be wearing my wrist wraps all day today.