Like many, she says, she occasionally cheats on her diet. “I call them my little sins. But I always pay for them.” Eating a trigger food can put her out of commission for days. “I’ll have extreme pain in my hands and my feet. I’ll have days when I can’t move my arms.” To cope, Sandy exercises. “Even though it’s painful, I work through the pain.”
Staying Connected
Sandy also turns to her passion for photography and online social networking, including her blog, Rheumatoid Arthritis Support. Initially, she says, her reason for blogging was selfish. “I was lonely. I started the blog to cry out, to express feelings that no one wanted to listen to. It was an outlet to let people know I’m not invisible, even though many had turned their backs. It’s not that they didn’t care – it’s just that you can’t do the things you used to do,” she says.
Now her blog, Twitter and Facebook pages let her share her lessons and provide support to others with the condition.
“My blog is an extension of who I am. It brings me great satisfaction to help others who have a chronic illness,” Sandy says.
While RA has scarred her both emotionally and physically, including damaged joints in her hands and feet, Sandy says she has been fortunate enough to find a lifestyle that works for her.
“I’m 62 and you wouldn’t know it,” she quips. “If you do what you love to do, you will find joy. And that is going to enhance your health.”
