The week of Christmas I came off plaquenil because of the nightmares causing me such a huge lack of sleep. Thinking I needed my rest to get through the holidays made sense to both me and my rheumy at the time, he did say I could try again in the future
Right after the holidays were over life got even more stressful and the pain hit a new high, the fibro pain the joint pain and the arthritis thats been around forever started totally kicking my but, throw in the sleeping tons of hours more than usual and still needing more all added up to major flare :(
Unfortunately, I stress out easy, well much easier than my dh who makes me worry over the fact that he never seems worried. I can remember an ex telling me 30 years ago I wasn't happy if I wasn't worrying about something. Sigh!!
I have a form of meditation I use for pain but it does NADA for stressing out. The more I stress the more I stress and the more I hurt. I'm a control freak who knows I'm not in control of anything, BUT who needs to be!!
From reading I think its safe to say that stress causes flares.......................correct me if I'm wrong.....in my world flares cause stress, not being able to get crap done causes stress. Am I making any sense?
I've really really tried the let it go, to heck with it, and all the other lil things that should help change who I am. Sjogrens changed a lot of me but not that part of me. I'm not in denial, I get that I have this stuff. Heres the thing, when you live your life with a disease where you have to push harder, be tougher, endure more and so on ...... it makes you a certain way. I don't know how to not stress over what isn't getting done, or how will they get done. Part of all this seems like if we can find the right combo (esp with an early dx life gets better for the most part and we live on)
My worrying,stressing issues however seem to be keeping my ss kicked in. I'm 50, I'm not ready to lie down n die, I don't think a shrink can teach me not to worry or stress......... so whats my point then???????
I can't be the first person to have this problem can I? Maybe stress isn't my trigger, it sure seems like it. Ooops I think I forgot to mention I went right back on the plaquenil but only the morning dose for now. This is quite possibly making no sense.
How can I learn to not care about all the things I've always cared about? Its who I am. I can let some things slide, my dh helps when I ask and I do ask more than I used to, (I worry about that to, he seems worse off than me, I learned to hide my pain. I think a lot of females do that) Its hard to ask him when he looks worse than I do. Still that doesn't take care of my problem. I'm in a viscous circle cycle and I don't know how to stop. I keep praying that stress or worrying isn't a trigger. I'm not looking for sympathy really, what I need is to hear from someone like me how they deal. If stress (worrying) will keep triggering then I'll have to find ways to live with it the way it is. I've said 100 times to hubby I wish I were like you and didn't worry, I never meant it for more than a split second though :( nothing would get done if I were like him.
How does one become someone they not only aren't but have pretty much always loathed
XOXO
Ldy
XOXO
Ldy
You might consider reading the book Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness. It is by based on Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn?s renowned mindfulness-based stress reduction program. There are 4 CD's that go with the book, body scan meditation, sitting meditation and 2 that cover yoga.
I'm really enjoying the book, a couple of more hours til I am finished. The body scan really helps me. Have yet to try the others.
Stress is for autoimmune diseases like kyrptonite is to Superman. It plays a major role in my Sjogren's. And if that isn't enough, try living with and caring for two eldery parents. One with COPD, emphysema and possible asthma, a recurrence of cervical cancer in 2011, osteoporosis with 3 spinal vertebrae fractures and a broken hip last fall. The other with recurrence of lung cancer who also has osteoporosis.
Nice summary of how stress can affect the 'general population'....
Symptoms of Stress
Stress affects us all. If you can spot the symptoms, you can manage them.
Do note, of course, that these symptoms may also be indicators of other things. (If in doubt, consult you doctor...).
Note also that a stressed person is unlikely to experience all of these symptoms and that even one can be a sign of stress.
Emotional/cognitive symptoms
Emotional and cognitive symptoms of stress include:
Feeling irritable
Feeling frustrated at having to wait for something
Feeling restless
Unable to concentrate
Becoming easily confused
Having memory problems
Thinking about negative things all the time
Negative self-talk
Having marked mood swings
Eating too much
Eating when you are not hungry
Finding it difficult to concentrate
Not having enough energy to get things done
Feeling you can't cope
Finding it hard to make decisions
Having emotional outbursts
Generally feeling upset
Lack of sense of humor
Physical symptoms
Physical symptoms of stress include:
Muscle tension
Headaches, irritability, depression
Hair loss
Dry mouth, mouth ulcers
Pains in chest
Aggravation of conditions such as asthma
Pains in shoulders or neck
Low back pain
Stomach/abdominal pain
'Butterflies' in stomach
Indigestion and 'the gurgles'
Diarrhea, irritable bowel
Ulcers, gastristis, colitis
'Pounding' or 'racing' heart
Cardiovascular disease, hypertension
Muscle spasms or nervous tics
Unexplained rashes or skin irritations
Sweaty palms
Sweating when not physically active
Menstrual and vaginal disorders
Premature ejaculation, impotence
Unable to sleep or excessive sleep
Shortness of breath
Holding breath
Muscles work in opposing pairs, with movement caused when one contracts whilst the other relaxes. Stress can result in both muscles working at once. There is thus no movement, but still muscular tension.
Autonomic nervous system
We have an involuntary nervous system called the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS), which contains two types of nerves.
Parasympathetic nerves conserve energy and keep the systems in a relatively resting state.
Sympathetic nerves prepare the body for action through the Fight-or-Flight reaction.
Thus it is the sympathetic system that is affected by stress.