For Sandy Guerriere, life’s a beach. But that wasn’t always the case. Twelve years ago, at age 50, this avid walker and professional makeup artist hit a roadblock that stopped her in her tracks.

“I couldn’t walk. My ankles and feet swelled up badly, then my hands, wrists and fingers,” she says.

Career-driven and accustomed to moving at warp speed, Sandy says her diagnosis with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and fibromyalgia has taught her the meaning of humility and loneliness, but it also has given her the strength to cope and never lose hope.

“When you have a chronic illness you lose a sense of self. You’re not the same person anymore,” says Sandy. “You’re isolated because you just can’t keep up with what other people are doing.”

Taking Charge

Two years after her diagnosis, Sandy had grown tired of the side effects from her medications and made the decision to stop taking them. “They told me I’d be in a wheelchair within six months without methotrexate,” Sandy says.

But she found another way. “Some­times you just have to take charge,” she says.

She signed up for a warm water aerobics class and went every morning for a year until she lost the 20 pounds she had gained from the meds. She read countless medical studies, and then, using her own experiences and the help of a nurse practitioner who agreed to treat her holis­tically, Sandy discovered her formula for treatment.

“I’m very proud of that,” she says. “We’re responsible for our health. We know our bodies better than anyone and if we listen to our bodies and pay attention to the triggers, we can take charge of our lives and learn the personal coping skills, whether it’s walking the beach or dancing.”

For Sandy, the sun, the sand and the surf near her Wilmington, N.C., home are as vital as the air she breathes.

“Being near the ocean is so tranquil and so relaxing that it helps my mind unwind,” says Sandy. “It’s a real mind-body workout. I meditate and reflect during my walks and I find a peace within myself and with nature that I just can’t find elsewhere.” She walks on the beach for 30 minutes two to three times per week year-round.

“I love the sounds, the smells. But one of the reasons I walk the beach is because it burns 20 to 50 percent more calories than walking on the pavement. The sand also cushions and cradles my feet.”

Over the years, Sandy had watched six maternal relatives die of cancer before age 60, including her own mother at age 57. Knowing her own genetic odds were stacked against her, Sandy had always made health and fitness a priority – walking up to 5 miles a day on the beach.

Know Thyself

By getting regular exercise, as well as closely monitoring her diet and avoiding emotional drama, Sandy says she’s been able to safely manage her RA and fibromyalgia.

“I live one day at a time. If I’m tired, I rest. If I’m energetic and feel great, I push myself. I don’t baby myself. I’m not in remission; I still have flares, but I work through them.”

The key, says Sandy, is knowing the triggers and avoiding them. “Sometimes it’s food, sometimes it’s a mental thing, like dwelling on a confrontation, or it could be a lack of exercise.” Dairy products are a “no-no” for her. She also avoids processed foods and tries to eat organic when possible.

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.”