Can overactivity bring on a flare?

[PhotoMare]

My work as a photographer is very seasonal and comes in spurts. Right now I am in the middle of a busy season. I'm holding up okay shooting multiple sittings day after day, but I can feel myself getting more and more fatigued. I'm afraid all this work is going to push me into a major flare. I'm on 600mg as day of Plaquenil, and I take 300mg of Tramadol over the course of the day for the muscle pain.  I have the option from my rheumy to start Lyrica. Anyone with experience with that?

Currently I have sores and blisters on the roof of my mouth, and my eyes and throat are even drier than usual. I have pain in my face that I haven't had before. I'm really afraid I'm going to pay later by pushing myself this way, but what can I do? Anyone else find this happening to them? Can you cause your own flare?

[Bonnie]

Hi Photomare,

I have found that over activity causes me to have a flare, in fact if I know that I'm going to have something which will take a lot of energy I try to rest up before hand.  Sometimes this works  My work also has large Peaks and virtually no quiet periods.  I find that at my busiest time of the year I will only be working and going home to bed.  (you should see my house during this time) the problem is when things happen unexpectedly and I have not been able to rest up. Hope you manage to get through your busy period, try to rest when you can. 

Take care,

Trudie

[jonnell]

PhotoMare,   Welcome to the forum.   My little girl Jenna has sjs she is 4.  My husband and I are seperated and she goes with her dad on Friday nights and comes back Sunday night.  He runs her ragged, she gets little sleep and is always on the go.  Monday morning I cant get her up for school sometimes she takes the whole day and just sleeps.  So yes I believe that overactivity makes sjs symptoms worse.  It also makes her joint and muscle pain worse.  I notice a big difference when she is rested and gets a chance to rest during the day.   Its like a it takes all week to get her back to normal and then its Friday again lol.  wish you lots of luck.      Hugs and Kisses   Jonnell and Jenna

[Linda196]

First let me say...you aren't causing the flare, SjS and the demands on your life are.

My job was somewhat similar but on a faster cycle...one 12 hour shift could go from pleasantly steady to chaotic in a flash, and sometimes wind down again just as fast. I've found that in my case, physical stress may have contributed to a flare, but emotional stress was almost always a trigger...of course physical demands on you cause increased anxiety and emotional stress in many cases, and getting overtired just opens the door for both physical and emotional stress.

If there's any way of pacing yourself, please do so...even if it means laying down in your studio for a short break between shoots, every little bit helps. As Trudie says, let some things slide...the housework and routine chores will still be there, waiting for you when you don't have to jam them into a few free minutes; better yet, is there anyone else who can do the everyday stuff, or can you possibly hire someone (maybe a student) as a short term helper?

Lyrica is designed to deal with nerve pain, it doesn't do much if anything for joint or muscle pain. The pain you mention in your face might benefit from Lyrica.

Bumping up your oral care (mouth rinses, tooth care, etc) maintaining a very nutritious diet, resting when you can, and occasionally pampering yourself are about all you can do to lessen the impact of this busy time, other than retiring and avoiding it completely, and it doesn't sound like you're ready for that.

[PhotoMare]

Thanks guys!

No Linda, I'm not ready to close shop. I haven't been doing any activity other than work, so my house looks like a BOMB hit it, lol! I'm finally getting my family to realize that Mom can't do everything, and now being a Sjoggie I need more help, and they are slowly coming around.

It's hard to get people to understand how you feel when you still look the same as before, kwim?

[Wynter]

I know the stress is what caused the advance in my disease. You situation sounds like mine. Prior to the advance, I really only experienced dry eyes and mouth. I worked full time and always exercised. Now I go to work and go home to eat and rest.

[Bonnie]

Wynter, I am exactly the same.  I so much miss the stuff I used to do.  I used to go to the gym, I used to salsa dance a lot.  I used to garden go for really long walks with my fury baby.  Now if I am having  a good day I try to squeeze in something that I loved.  I let my Gym membership lapse, no point in spending lots when I can only maybe go once in a while.  sjs grrrrr 

[dbab]

I still go to the gym on my good days.  Even if all I can do is 15 minutes on the treadmill at the slowest speed.  I know staying active is important but I also know that everyone is different in their symptoms.  Exercising sure does relieve my stress though which is another flare trigger so it's a balance.  Defintiely listening to your body is key though! 

I can see though with a job that can make it very difficult because you don't always have control over the activity.  I used to travel a lot for work and now I can't do that anymore.  It physically is too strenuous on me and caused so many problems.

[KYMOM]

Photomare, My husband is a photog (one of many jobs he juggles) so I know what you go through.  You need to work when the work is there.  I find that if I stay hydrated, I drink Propel all of the time, it helps. I also notice that I don't feel hungry when I need to eat, I just start to feel sick, light headed, and fatigued.  So I make sure that I eat or snack at regular intervals. Good luck with the photos.  Roxanne

[Wynter]

Yes, it seems the days of the gym are over for me. I can walk about a mile, but have to rest. I have bursitis in both hips and walking bothers me. I could defenately do yoga, haven't tried it. I don't take any DMARDS, only ibuprofen. I wonder if I was taking Plaqeniel if that would help my tiredness. However, with negative blood work, the rheumies in my town won't prescribe. As far as eating, I find if I don't eat, then I get acid build up and get sick.

[lesleyjoy]

Hi there, I find that it's emotional rather than physical stress that makes mine worse, but one affects the other so it's probably both.

Lesley (NZ)