Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) - Introduce yourself and meet others

Hello, I'm Katie. I'm a 72-year-old woman living in Midwest. I have had RA since diagnosis in 2007. Flares mostly controlled by taking Arava (Leflunomide). Also, Major Depression since 1990; on Venlafaxine, which helps with eating, lack of suicidal ideation, still have lack of energy, lack of interest in old activities and interacting with people. I have slowly altered lifestyle to accommodate symptoms, but Covid has made my introversion into more like agoraphobia! My thoughts still leap to doing the floors, laundry, taking out the trash, long to-do lists, like always; but, then my emotion is sinking quickly down to depressive bottom of feelings area and thoughts of "I can't, not now." This feeling comes and I return to my Internet, streaming and TV, often all at once. Anybody else in this pickle?

I’m up there with you! I’m so sorry

Hello @ekml, I would like to add my welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect along with @susandenise and other members. I can relate to your thoughts leaping to a long list of things to get done today and then a few moments later resigning to not today. It can be a difficult struggle. I had the opportunity to listen to Dr. Amit Sood speak on the Happy Brain a few years ago and it gave me some new tools to help with some of my daily struggles. There is an article you may find helpful that has a short 5 minute video by Dr. Sood on meditation that might be helpful -- Mayo Mindfulness: A new way to meditate: https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-mindfulness-a-new-way-to-meditate/.

Katie have you found any strategies that help a little to keep you out of the pickle?

That is a wonderful video. I had such trouble becoming mindful that I took a course. It took me a year to be able to do it with ease.
It turned out to cure my ptsd related to my long illness and lack of diagnosis.
Now I can do any meditation.
It is the most pivotal thing for relief from pain, stress, and emotional problems.
After 15 yrs of suffering, I’m now in charge of myself almost all the time.
I’ve really learned patience.
I likdd Er myself more than ever.
Ty for sharing

@asquires Dr Amit Sood has a Ted Talk that I found really good also -- Happy Brain: How to Overcome Our Neural Predispositions to Suffering | Amit Sood, MD | TEDxUNI: https://youtu.be/KZIGekgoaz4

Hello all - I don't have depression, but a strong tendency to ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) that gets in the way of completing tasks. I also had 2 years of being really ill with a lung infection that, along with the meds to treat it, caused profound fatigue. I have been working on mindfulness and pain reduction with a PT, but still didn't feel like I was getting things done.

I have resorted to the tactic I used in my career as a project & people manager before I retired to accomplish something each day - the list! Each day I make a list of (up to) 3 tasks that I must accomplish, one thing I want to do for pleasure, and one thing on my long list of "should do" items. Each time I finish one item, I check it off and reward myself with a few minutes of reading, sitting on the patio, or other pleasurable activity. Since I tend to "get lost" if I go on line, I set a 15 minute timer if that's my choice.
Sue

I like your list idea. I think my whole family of origin has/had some degree of ADD. We all had our little messes that would grow and accumulate and we were frustrated by the situation. You should see my table where I eat and use the computer. I think my paper blizzard is breeding; I work at getting rid of stuff but it piles up faster than I can keep up. My reward is sitting in my comfortable chair at night reading with a cat on my lap. Many evenings I don't get to do this. I read two newspapers online and I am getting very close to weaning myself off of one of them. That should provide an additional hour.

@ellens I have a few suggestions for taming the "paper blizzard" as well - I learned in my work to "touch each piece once" and try to do that at home.

First, we have a locking mailbox, so if we don't have time for it on a day, it sits for a while. Then, I stand by the recycle bin to open the mail. Brochures & ads get a quick look & 99% go right in, envelopes as soon as opened - into the bin. Magazines & newsletters go right to the table next to my reading spot on the way in. I walk to the kitchen, and if it's a bill it goes right next to my computer to be paid. Hubby's stuff goes right ON his computer so he handles it instead of piling. I have folders on inside of the broom closet door for receipts, medical stmts, etc - that stuff goes right in. Once a week, before I let myself read email or online news, I go through the little pile while I have my coffee and deal with everything. My husband is working on doing the same... I still have to occasionally push a bit - our tables look a lot better now, which makes us feel better, and we can find things a lot easier. If (when) things get temporarily out of control, we sit at the table with a recycle bag & a shred bag and dispose of the mess.

We have also transitioned to "paperless" for every newspaper, newsletter, bill, statement, and mailing that we possibly can. And over time we have learned to "folder" stuff on our computers instead of printing out. This has really helped.

PLease know that it took us living in a "tiny house" 5 month of the year to develop this system, and even then it took many months. Try it, but don't get discouraged if it doesn't "take" immediately. We call it "baby steps."

Sue

Thanks for the suggestions. I do have a big paper bag under my magic table (where everything seems to happen) for recycling. I have 2 online subscriptions to newspapers--I am thinking about canceling one of them to give me an extra hour or so per day. When a cat jumps onto the table to my left and stuff slides to the floor, I know I'm back in dangerous territory. My latest task is to go through all the little slips of paper with reminders, book titles, etc. I did sort of square up that pile and I do have a folder for book titles. Getting that done is the problem.

i don't have RA but may have other arthritis problems. I was at Mayo in June, they found nothing