Last night, Mr. and I laughed at how Fitbits etc. change our behavior. I used to wrestle two garbage cans in one trip to take them down to the main road, but now I take them one by one - I can get my steps, a hill run, and 3 floors in one such trip. 
Ditto the laundry - no more carrying a pyramid of baskets!
I am meeting with some folks later in the afternoon, and I already decided that I am walking instead of taking the stinky city bus.
Haha, I love the double trips with the garbage cans! I have noticed the same thing - efficiency is no longer the goal in any task. Itās more important to get more steps than to get things done in the most efficient manner!
Thank you all :). Iām relieved to finally āknowā but now the journey to health begins! Iām glad to have multiple levels of support (including you guys!)
As for my knee, he thinks itās probably knee burstitus from the fall. Just have to rest it and the other meds should help.
romani, Iām sure the news is not what you wanted to hear. My family member has a dual diagnosis also - Schleroderma and Shogrins. At least now you have something concrete that you can wrap your head around and map out a course that will best meet your needs. When you are ready for it, the manual I sent you on exercise and RA has a wealth of information in it. Hope it is of benefit to you.
Thank you, Michael. Iām having a huge brain fog moment and donāt remember the manual at all. Would you be able to send it again?
romani, that is difficult news on the dual diagnosis. I hope we can be supportive in your journey with the treatments. Fingers crossed that the knee feels better soon.
Iām back home for a few days. After the long drive yesterday I went out immediately for a therapeutic run of four miles. Pace: mile 1, 11ā10"; mile 2, 10ā09" ; mile 3 10ā27" ; mile 4, 11ā23". And that is āfastā for me. Ohio, I cannot fathom a 5 minute mile. I cannot imagine doing a sub-10 minute mile that many of you do! Thanks to Fitbit, I can see my very fastest bursts were at a pace of about 7ā45" and that was, Iām sure, going down a very short ramped area of a boardwalk. I know I should not compare, but how do you all do it? OTOH, H and I went into the city for a show last night and I wore very small heels. I hobbled around complaining that wearing those shoes was torture by comparison with running.
Going back south over the weekend. On top of my poor momās problems, we got bad news about my sibling whoās dealing with CR cancer. Keep up with the screenings and healthy living, everyone.
So, so sorry to hear about your sibling Plantmom - your poor mom with all this going on. 
And Romani, now your job is to listen to the docs, do your best to find a āhalf fullā outlook on moving forward - youāve got a whole lot of decades ahead of you and I hope you find a rhythm to your health care that feels right!
Spin class at lunch and topped it off with a āquickā mile around the indoor track. D2 is coming home for spring break today and that means additional yummy food around the house - gotta keep up the exercise!
Romani, we both had a bit of a brain fog! The manual was on osteoarthritis. Hereās the link.
http://www.acefitness.org/continuingeducation/courses/support_items/OLC-TCO-10/Session2.pdf
Though OA and RA have a different genesis, this manual, which has detailed info on exercises and exercise types, may be of value. I would check with your doc to confirm that exercise recommendations for RA are similar to OA. At the end of the day, I would think that arthritic joint inflammation would respond the same to exercise regardless of the cause, but it would make sense to check with your doc.
Plantmom- Not that Ohio isnāt an excellent runner, but remember that his 5 minute paces are on the Alter G, which takes away a lot of your body weight. I am trying to find my son Alter G access (and have done so) in Philadelphia.
Bunsen- FitBit et al really can change behavior- usually in a good way! I find that I do a lot more face to face āvisitingā at work instead of shooting an email or call. That is a good thing!
" I find that I do a lot more face to face āvisitingā at work instead of shooting an email or call. That is a good thing!"
Spot on! Mr. says Fitbit makes his work more efficient because of face to face talks.
Good to hear you have a diagnosis, Romaniāyou can start looking for ways to help yourself. My mil was diagnosed with RA in her 40s. Two things helped her: 1) a good rheumatologist (she lived in a small town in OH and travelled 60 miles to go to a rheumatologist at a university medical center in Pittsburgh) and 2) a support group for RA patients.
Walked 3 miles today. Relax and restore yoga later tonight.
Plantmom - I am so sorry about your sibling. You must be under so much stress dealing with everything. I hope your mom is holding up OK.
I am amazed watching the really fast runners in races - the ones that are doing those sub-5 minute miles. Their running looks effortless (at least in the beginning of the race!). They just seem to glide along.
Romani, glad you finally know what you are dealing with. That had to be stressful.
Plantmom, there is certainly a lot on your plate right now. Iām glad youāre taking care of yourself - so you can care for others. Iāll be holding your family in my thoughts.
Started the morning off with circuit class - I certainly thought of all of you as we spent most of the hour standing on, stepping on and off, planking and doing burpees and other forms of torture with the Bosu. On a plus note (donāt laugh), I can now do the entire class using 3 pound weights (we do lots and lots of reps) and I didnāt fall off the Bosu once! Running with a group tomorrow morning - probably 8 or 9.
Thank you all, again. And thank you Michael, I will definitely look into it!
I was fine when I got the diagnosis but for whatever reason broke down when talking to Mr R about it when he got home from work. I didnāt realize how long I had been holding my breath (so to speak) and keeping everything in. The emotions really surprised me.
Iām doing much better now and Iām very optimistic. Weāre starting a new course of treatment that is supposed to be very effective so I am excited to get started on the healing journey
@Bromfield2 thanks! I really, really like my Rheumatologist. Iām lucky that we clicked and heās an MD/PhD and relatively young so heās been helpful in helping me chart a workable plan taking into account PhD requirements, the fact that I want to try to have a child someday, etc.
Iām going to try and find an RA and/or Lupus group either around here or one online more specifically for young people. I want to know how people managed their illnesses on top of pregnancy, young kids, etc. Just so I have a realistic picture of what I might be in for.
Iām very, very hopeful right now. I made a spur of the moment decision while getting my meds to grab hair dye so now I have dark red/purple hair. I figured my hair should experience a change as well lol.
Yes running is much faster when you reduce your weight by 30%!
MOWC - I think your son would benefit greatly with the AlterG. Looks like there are many Philadelphia locations.
Speaking of REAL 5 minute paceāI looked up the 60 age group mile record and it was listed at 4:51. Maybe something to shoot for next year? Might start including the mile with the 800 in track this summer. I used to do the mile/800 double in high school. If only I could eliminate work, kids, life problems so I could train and eat sensibly 24/7.
Red and purple hair romanai? Now ya gotta post a picture, lol. Bet it felt liberating :).
Itās a purpley-red rather than red and purple (and brighter than I expected, but thatās OK!). I donāt have the patience for two rounds of dye! Hereās a picture of the color: https://i.gyazo.com/6c23496dfc365f33633df0505fc56747.png
Oh by the way, I found an AlterG near me and am going to try and check it out after I finish with PT. My PT was surprised I had heard of it. Clearly, she doesnāt visit CC 
Plantmom, Iām so sorry your family is going through that. Sending my warmest wishes to you and your family.
I love different colored hair!
Plantmom- you DO have a lot on your plate. Iām glad the running can help relieve the stress.
My appetite seems to be coming back. I enjoyed a piece of someoneās retirement party cake this afternoonā¦
Romani, that is a great color. Yes, how did we not think of AlterG for you?
MOfWC, that is great news.
PlantMom, so sorry to hear about your familyās illnesses. Please take care of yourself. Running and walking are great for stress relief.
Someone mentioned it way, way back when I first came on here due to the joint pains. I just kept forgetting about itā¦
MOWC, thatās great! I hope the cake was delicious.
