Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 2,237 Location: nr Southampton
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Firstly, I am no expert on this as I find I do such a lot and then wonder why and collapse in a heap.
I would suggest you get an appt to see an Occupational Therapist and get them to talk to you about energy conservation.
I have found a good system that helps me balance life more. The idea is that you dont push yourself to the limit every day- you hold some back and so not totally wiped out a lot of the time.
It is called the traffic lights system.
I wrote it first for "lady golfer" Val when she hurt her foot and was shattered.
"One thing that has helped me- I bought a weekly planner diary from smiths and I plan in the traffic lights system.
a red activity for me is- putting out the washing, taking the children out somewhere, chasing Bernice, making some stressful phone calls to the gas company.cooking tea.
an amber light activity is- working on the computer, planning the calendar, making a shopping list (checking cupboards)eating lunch, going through the childrens school bags.
a green light activity is- chatting to a friend, reading me book, listening to music, enjoying a DVD, emailing a friend.
For a week i wrote a little note of what i did when, then I colour coded it. This way I became more aware of spacing out my reds with 2 greens, an amber with one green and trying to have no more than 2 reds in a day.
this made booking appts easier in the end because i could see at a glance I already have 2 reds on weds so thurs would be better....
Worth a try? Also, it is good to look back and really track why I am having a really tough day as it is often related to how much I have been doing- not always but it is nice to feel a little in control!
Remember that stressful things count as REDs. they increase RA by 10% for each one (according to my rheumatologist)
Another thing is to try and stop the pain building so much- the peaks and troughs are a struggle to live through and can be addressed by taking long acting morphine (zomorph) when things are bad and taking co-codamol or similar as often as you are allowed to.
Getting decent sleep routine, going to bed at a set time and relaxation techniques (i got one for my ipod!) all serve to help and are worth asking the OT about.
There is a lot to this RA- few realise!
I am going to try and put in something that is for me each wk. At the moment this is attending a Mums grp when Bernice is doing wiggle waggle (obviously not when she has chicken pox!)
Jenni xx how to be a velvet bulldoser
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/5/2010 Posts: 89 Location: Mereworth, Kent
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Hi Jenni, I like your system and it must be useful to have 'a template' of energy expenditure for your regular activities. I have to use planners and balance energy and rest times. I get about 2 useful hours a day and don't expect any red light activity outside this window, but would feel pleased with an orange during this time!  I'll try adding the traffic lights into my weekly planning! many thanks Alison xx
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,110 Location: London
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Hi jenni, this sounds really good, its so hard to do everything in one day. We all need lots more green activities thats for sure!! Will definitely start to pwrite down what I do and see where it goes, thanks hun x  BARBARA
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,081
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I always think of you Jenni when am completely wiped out and tell Julian - "I've done too many reds", He didn't have a clue what I was talking about so have used your system to show him how it works with RA and activity.
Julie
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009
Posts: 302
Location: Rainham Kent
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Dear Jenni,
As usual you have given sound advice which is fairly easy to recognise once put in "black & white". I know I have a busy week ahead but hadn't thought through green lights. Thankyou. Hope you soon have some more better news about yourself. Love Anne
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/10/2009 Posts: 89 Location: Braintree, Essex
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Hi Jenni, I remember this and use it but still have some days out of my control, ie stress cant seem to predict that, but try to rest more when things calm down!! I do seem to get more wound up since having R.A and seem to remember someone saying that this can happen maybe the meds play a part and also the everyday frustrations we face ,where many take things like getting dressed in mornings for granted, it's much more than that for us, the spoon theroy is a fav of mine too ,thx Jenni you are a wealth of knowledge, love corinne xx p.s hope yr feeling better
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009 Posts: 331 Location: South London
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Hi Jenni   brilliant idea - makes so much sense
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