Life with a Flare

As I prepare for an upcoming hospital stay which will hopefully go as planned and only be two days I asked a few of my chronically ill friends what are their hospital essentials. Clothes Underwear- I always bring a bunch of extra pairs and I go for pretty but with plenty of coverage because at some point during the stay you will be on a gown. (Although as I go into below still bring some hospital appropriate outfits) Sports Bra- (This one is only for those with boobs obviously) Nurses and doctors will be in your room at all hours so you will probably want to sleep in a bra. You also might have a test of procedure where you need to remove all metal so steer clear of the under wire. Comfy Pants- I go for either yoga pants or pajama pants (bonus points for fuzzy PJ pants). Even if your hospital does make you wear a gown many times you can get away with your own pants. My doctor even lets my wear my own yoga pants for endoscopies. T-Shirts- Personally I like soft closer fit...

Since being diagnosed with Celiac in December leaving my dorm has taken more preparation than it used to. Every meal and snack has to be carefully planned out., each restaurant research, all snacks packed. So going to Celiac Education Day at CHOP was quite a treat, I only had to bring my cell phone and wallet with me. For the first time since being diagnosed with Celiac I didn't have to worry about it, irony at its finest. The day was amazing. I got to play with adorable children, one three year old informed me that she had Celiac and a wheat allergy, and was very excited to learn that I have Celiac as well. Even more exiting I could eat everything! There was a ton of samples! There were a few things that stuck out for me. First of course were Sweet Note Bagels . As a Jew who grew up right out side NYC, bagels play an important role in my life. Between finding out I probably had Celiac and the final blood test the two things I got while in NYC was a bagel and a black and white ...

Today is the first day of my two weeks without any medication, I had to go through this before my other hip surgery as well but I do not remember it being quite this painful and horrible. So here are some tips on how I have been surviving (just barely) without my precious Voltaren. Tylenol Arthritis Although I actually have discovered I like the Walgreens brand better. The Walgreens brand bottle hads and easy to open cap instead of a childproof one, so when my wrist flared I could still open it with my one usable hand. Heat Pads! My favorite things ever. I know cold is better for swollen joints but heat feels so good and kick's stiffness' butt. My Amazing Heat Pads Plus you can't go wrong with a red owl right? Hot Baths I love hot baths, they are amazing. They just make everything feel better. Nuff said. On another note I really like some of the health tracking apps on my new iPhone, so soon I may make a post with some of those.

A while back I saw someone post a picture of a microwavable owl heat pack on Facebook. I decided I would look into it last week. Off to my favorite website, Amazon. I quickly found what I was looking for. It came in red (Go Temple Owls!) , better yet. I ordered one and it arrived on Friday! I was a bit nervous that it wouldn't stay hot for a long time, but after I stuck it in the microwave for 90 seconds it stayed really hot for about a half hour, and pretty warm for another half hour! It also smells like lavender! Plus it looks like a stuffed animal and not a heat pack, and will look adorable in my dorm room next year(I have my priorities). I would totally recommend this to anyone looking for a heat pack. Disclaimer: I received no financial compensation or free products for any of the above reviews. 

RA Warrior is doing a blog carnival about non-medical things that help ease some pain or make life a little easier. I have a few golden product so I have decided to participate. I probably could not function without my Sun Beam Heat Pad. Most nights I can not choose which joint to use it on first. When I got it last year to calm muscle spasms after knee surgery I did not know how much I would use it. There is even a pad inside that you can dampen so you can use it for moist heat. I got it from Wal-Mart and I don't think it was even $15. This Teavana Tumbler is actually my favorite thing ever. I use it everyday for both tea and coffee. Even before I had problems with my hands I have always been a naturally clumsy person, and leaky travel mugs might hold up for most but for me they have always been a recipe for disaster. Now throw in a pair of crutches to that equation, as I had to for three months last year, and I needed help to carry the travel mugs, because in my bag...