Everyone has their ways of coping with flare days, and I want to share some of mine.
I have spent a lot of time battling through the flare days, especially when I first started dealing with them. Once I was through the flare, I would punish myself for falling behind on housework by trying to catch up on everything in one day… which just led to another flare.
Pacing is something you have probably heard about a lot. If you aren’t already doing it – start now! Whether you have had this illness your whole life, or just a short time, learn your body’s limits and work within them. On my flare days, I still have to pace – I just do it with the most important things.
Saying no is another. When in a flare, you have to treat yourself as if you have the flu or any other acute illness. Stop, rest up, tell people you’re sick and can’t go out today, or you can’t take on that extra work, or any of that stuff.
Resting up. I have everything set up to allow me to just stay in bed and not need to move. Having my flare day kit handy means I just have to sort out some food, fill my water bottle, and then put my feet up.
But maybe it’s a minor flare…
Sometimes you might be feeling worse than usual, but still have the energy to do stuff. In that case – keep doing things! Just have a backup plan in case you have a sudden crash-out, and try not to add anything more to your plate.
Ruby the Chronic 