Why does everyone else with Lupus seem so much sicker than me?

I'm no Wonder Woman, but I refuse to be defeated by Lupus.

I quite often get comments about how energized or productive I am compared to most people with Lupus and Rheumatoid arthritis. Sometimes I wonder about that myself. Why is it that I am coping so well while others seem to be fading away? Of course, I can't say what others are going through. They may very well be much sicker than I am, for one thing. But aside from that, here are some things I do to make sure I feel as well as I can for as long as I can.

I remain as active as possible.

As I said, some folks don't have a choice. Some days, neither do I. However, when I do feel well, I make sure to get up, move around and get things done. Sometimes I don't feel up to heavy labor. That's OK. I still get up once in a while to stretch or wash a few dishes or do a load of laundry. Before Lupus, I was a very hard working person. With Lupus, I try to keep that up as much as possible. Why? Because a sedentary lifestyle is deadly, whether you have a chronic illness or not.

I sleep when I need to.

I've never been much of a sleeper. However, I've learned that when you have a chronic illness, sometimes you need a nap in the middle of the day. Sometimes, I go to bed earlier than usual. I'm also careful not to drive when I'm tired because that can be deadly with Lupus. So, in other words, I work hard with Lupus, but I also know when to quit and rest.

I'm not a defeatist.

I try to see the bright side. Yes, there is one. I even blog about it in my “LupusLove” blog. Doing so keeps me focused on the positive. I feel that when people define themselves by their illness, confine themselves to a limited life, complain about it constantly and basically focus on their problems, it's self defeating.

Once again, I realize that some people have no choice in the matter. But as long as I do, I will focus on creating positive energy and solutions, rather than bemoaning my lot in life.

I take a crap ton of vitamins and I eat my veggies.

I believe a healthy diet can help improve many health issues. That's why they call it a healthy diet. Your body is designed to function normally when it has everything it needs. Granted, Lupus can be hereditary. Mine is and it's not going away, no matter what I eat. Still, eating junk instead of food can make it much worse. Therefore, it follows that eating right can help keep symptoms minimal.

I take a massive amount of Vitamin D. In fact, I take 10,000 units of D-3 daily. Doctor's orders, if it makes you feel any better. I did have a continual prescription until I found out it was cheaper to buy 5000 unit capsules over the counter and take 2 a day.

I take other supplements too. Among them are flaxseed oil and chia seeds for Omega proteins. I'm also on a mostly vegan diet, as meat and dairy can worsen inflammation and slow down digestion. I get the rest of my protein from nuts and legumes. I'm not all that into tofu, but I do eat it from time to time.

I eat mostly fruits, veggies, nuts, legumes and whole grains. I avoid GMO's whenever possible. I also buy organics whenever possible. I grow a lot of my own veggies to offset the cost of groceries and up the quality of the food I eat. Quality in = Quality out.

I have selective listening when it comes to medical advice.

What I mean is, I don't take everything my doctors recommend as the unvarnished truth. I don't just let them hand me a prescription and a pamphlet. I do my own research before taking any medication.

That's because in the past, I have had them give me a chemo drug without telling me that's what it was. It made me violently ill and actually worsened my symptoms. I've also had them give me other medications, assuring me they were safe, only to do the research and find they were risky as all get out and not safe at all.

I have also had doctors tell me that good nutrition wasn't really going to make a difference in the way I feel with Lupus or Rheumatoid. Seriously? They really need to start having doctors take more than the required 20-25 hours of nutritional training. Human beings need the proper fuel in order for their bodies to function properly. That's the whole reason for eating, after all. DUH!!!!!

Sick humans need even more nutrition in order to heal. This is just common sense to me. How about you?

So there you have it.

With Lupus, I remain as active as possible and eat well. I educate myself on the effects of my prescription meds. I take supplements for my particular nutritional needs and deficits. I sleep whenever I need to, even in the middle of the day. But I absolutely refuse to just lay around like a blob, waiting for the grim reaper. I have a life to live. And more importantly, I remain positive. Because once you lose hope, you lose your life.

Best Denver metro area swim beach

Recreation is important for good health. The beach is one of my favorite ways to rejuvenate. I have to use caution, due to Lupus. So, I use a beach umbrella at all times when I'm not in the water. I also use a homemade sunscreen with coconut oil and zinc. You might be wondering how one finds a beach in the Denver metro area. After all, we're not exactly on the coast, are we?

Denver is hot and dry in the summer, leaving us longing for a little beach fun. Unfortunately, there are few natural bodies of water with swim beaches. We do, however have some very nice reservoirs. In my opinion, the best Denver reservoir swim beach is at the Aurora Reservoir.

I was transplanted to Denver from upper NY state, where I was accustomed to the fabulous swim beaches in the Thousand Islands area. The sand was pristine and the water there was clean due to the natural lime river bed of the St. Lawrence River. When I came to Denver I was disappointed with the lack of swim beach venues comparable to home.

When I came upon the Aurora Reservoir, I was pleasantly surprised. True, it is man made, but also extremely well maintained. It's not at all like the other Denver area reservoirs. My main disappointment with other swim beach venues in Denver is the dirty look to the water and the lack of “real” sand.

The first thing I noticed at the Aurora Reservoir was the sparkling white sand swim beach. No rocks, pebbles or mud, just silky sand everywhere. This is the type of sand you want to sink your toes into. This lovely sand immediately made me feel at home. The sand is not, however, the only thing that makes the Aurora Reservoir swim beach my favorite Denver area swimming venue.

The water at the Aurora Reservoir is always sparkling clean. There may be a few stray pieces of seaweed floating at this Denver beach but the water is so clear, you can see through it to the bottom. At other Denver swim beach locations, I worry about what I am going to “pick up” while swimming there.

In fact, my daughter picked up a nasty case of ringworm at another popular Denver swim beach.
The atmosphere at the Aurora Reservoir swim beach is much like a back east boardwalk venue. The little store and restrooms are spotless and painted in seashore style. If I heard the sound of foghorns and the flash of a lighthouse beacon it would fit right into the scene. This Denver area swim beach makes me feel like I have been transported back to the East Coast.

In addition to the great swim beach, the Aurora Reservoir has other welcome features. There is plenty of shaded picnic space and built in grills. There are low wake boats for rent and a nice area to use them in. We like to rent the three wheeled boat tricycles. These things are just as fun as they look.

Most Denver area swim beaches have an area for jet skis and power boats. These are not allowed at Aurora Reservoir. This makes things very pleasant for people with sail boats, canoes, paddle boats and the tricycle boats. It's very nice to use a canoe without getting washed over by waves from power boats, as we recently did at another Denver swim beach. But that's a story for another time.

If you're looking for a swim beach in the Denver metro area, the Aurora reservoir is your best bet.

Geocaching is naturally healthy, right?

A typical geocache

A few years back, I did some research on geocaching. I still haven't gotten around to trying this unique hobby, although my son has had some fun with it. Now that I have a little more time, I think this might be a fun and healthy activity for me. Would you like to try it too? If so, you might enjoy this information I published back when I first started looking into geocaching.

What is geocaching?

Geocaching is high tech treasure hunting with modern technology mixed in. Geocaching aficionados locate their treasure with GPS tracking devices. Hunting down treasure troves sounds like a great way for the whole family to explore nature. I've been considering it for years. But what's it all about?

What is a geocaching treasure?

A geocaching treasure is a container located in wilderness areas around the world. Some geocaching treasures are found in state, region or national parks. The geocaching treasure container holds a notebook or logbook and small inexpensive treasures for the finders.

How do I find geocaching treasures?

Go to the official geocaching website and enter your postal code or address to find nearby treasure caches. When vacationing, enter the postal code closest to your vacation spot. This website also sells special GPS devices for geocachers.

What do I do when I find treasure caches?

When you find a geocaching treasure, open the box. Sign your name and share stories of your adventures in the log. Remove a token treasure from the box. Add a treasure to the box for the next person to find.

What type of treasure do I leave in the box?

Treasures added to the the geocaching treasure box should be small tokens of the place you are visiting. Arrowheads and small carved bears or other animals make excellent Colorado treasures. Seashells might be nice for a location near water.

How do I place a treasure of my own?

To originate a geocaching treasure box, place a waterproof container with a logbook and treasures in the public area of your choice. Most are buried or hidden in some way. Post the geographic coordinates of your treasure on the official website.

How do people find my geocaching treasure box?

Fellow geocachers go to the website to find nearby cache locations. They then enter the geographic location of the geocache into their GPS unit. The real treasure is the adventure had while searching.

What are the benefits of geocaching?

Geocaching allows families and individuals to enjoy the great outdoors while searching for “buried treasure”. It sharpens mental and survival skills of adults and children alike. Geocaching provides a healthy alternative to modern sedentary entertainment venues.

What equipment is needed for geocaching?

Equipment for varies with location. For longer treks, be sure to carry a backpack with water, food sunscreen, rain wear, bug repellent and other survival gear. Dependent upon distance, camping gear may be advisable as well.

What rules should I keep in mind when geocaching?

First and foremost, respect the wilderness area you are searching in. Leave no trash and take precaution with any campfires. Know the rules of the area and follow them. Be respectful of fellow enthusiasts as well. Take only one treasure from the box and be sure to leave a treasure in return.