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Products and Tips to Help Make Life a Little Easier for People with Autoimmune Disease

A Few of My Favorite Things! 

Finding ways to work smarter versus harder is my motto #2.  My first motto that I live my life by is K.I.S.S., Keep It Simple Sweetie! I never thought that would be as applicable as it is today that’s for sure.  Instead of trying to reinvent the wheel, I find asking others what they recommend to be very helpful and time saving.  Knowing what real people use in their real lives makes a difference. Anyone can write a product review, but it doesn’t mean they actually use or have even tried the product.

I’ve compiled a list of products and tips that I find helpful that I truly use. I am not being sponsored or paid by any of these companies. Though that would be terrific to get some moolah, nada. As anyone with a chronic illness know money seems to fly out the window for medicine, supplements, doctor visits, yadda yadda yadda. Hopefully you’ll find these products fit your budget and help make your life just a little bit easier.

Here is a list of “A Few of My Favorite Things”!

Side note, my favorite childhood movie-The Sound of Music. Oh, how I wanted to be Julie Andrews!

EVERYDAY MUST HAVES

Scissors

Scissors, a must have and in every room of the house! Yes, EVERY room! Most brands will do as long as they are sharp and have comfortable grip. Fiskars are a good go to as they have many different styles and you can find them easily in your local box stores and online.

I’ve learned how I cut open packages matter. For instance, when you have packaging that is resealable like doggy treats for your fur baby, frozen foods, raisins, etc. it can be challenging to open when they cut along the top is even. Cut the package in a bit of a wavy curve. Then pull apart the package, on one side cut horizontally.  This will give you a little leverage to put the package apart more easily.

Gripper Reacher

When my amazing son went to college this fall, not only did my baby fly the nest, but I also lost my getter of items high on the shelf. At six-foot-tall, he was very helpful as you can image. Knowing this would be an issue for his mama, before he left, he got me a little step stool and a reacher gripper. Sweet and thoughtful boy!

There are several brands of reachers out there and some are more durable than others. You can find them at many stores and online. The Gopher II Deluxe is what I have and it can be found at Walmart.    

Step Stool

When you need that little extra boost, go to a classic. The Rubbermaid Stepstool. It’s light and durable. I personally did not like folding stepstools. They are great for storage as they fold and fit in slim spots. However, I did not find them sturdy enough and they were cumbersome for me to work with arthritis in my hands.  The Rubbermaid Stepstool vary in pricing from around $13 to $20 and can be found at your local hardware store, amazon and box stores.

FITNESS

When you have a chronic illness that affects your joints, muscles and stamina, it can be challenging to say the least. BUT you have to exercise to help your painful joints and muscles and improve your stamina. Yes, the proverbial “double edge sword”.  I am always on the hunt for tools to help me help my body get moving.  Her are a few of my favorite fitness things.

I LOVE these Women’s Copper Compression Full Leggings! In fact, I’m wearing them now!  There is copper in them and some people find copper very helpful. The size I ordered ran a little big and should have ordered one size smaller. I’m a meaty girl and went with an XL thinking they would be super tight. Nope. Order your true size or a little smaller if you like them really snug. I will also wear these to sleep in when my legs need some TLC. Not the former music group, though they made amazing music. Don’t Go Chasing Waterfall! One of the best!  I take Plaquenil and one of the side effects is intense leg pains. Not only do these leggings help with exercising, like for me walking…slowly, they help knock the edge off to help me sleep at night. I find them helpful during flare ups as well.

HAIR & SKIN CARE

When you have a chronic illness like autoimmune diseases, most days you feel a sense of accomplishment when you can take a shower.  “The Spoon Theory” by Christine Miserandino explains what I’m talking about. 😊 Check out Healthline’s article for a nice explanation of What being a Spoonie means.

My Autoimmune Quarterback, aka my Autoimmune Primary Care Physician (I have to PCPs, because what’s another doctor to have to go visit right?!) got me hooked on this AMAZING Epionce tinted moisturizer. It is so amazingly silky and makes your skin so soft!

Hair Care

Whether you have Hashimoto’s, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Sjorgren’s or many other autoimmune diseases; hair loss goes with the territory. Not to mention prescription treatments for your autoimmune that can do the same. I’ve shared with my “ologist” that my head feels like someone is grabbing one or two strands of hair and gently pulling them. I have experience with this when my ornery brother would do this in church when we were kids because he thought it was funny. Well… jokes on him. It’s a perfect example to share with you all in my blog!

I have found three things that have helped with my hair loss.

1. Collagen Hydrolysate by Great Lakes Gelatin Co.

Not only have I found that my hair loss has slowed down, but nails are amazing!  I was unable to grow healthy nails for years when my autoimmune diseases hit. Now they grow long and strong. I have to file and trim them which ain’t easy and they don’t crack and peel any more. You may be able to find the 7 oz. size at your local Trader Joe’s as I did. My Quarterback PCP sells the product at her office. The canisters she sells are least twice the size for around $25.

2. Hair Science 82S Shampoo

This product makes your hair so silky!  I absolutely love it and it is my favorite! It also calms the “hair pulling sensation” and comforts your scalp. It smells very nice! You can purchase it through Amazon for $39 or RevitaLife for $33.

3. Purador Gold Shampoo is another option for you to try. I really, really like it! Purador has great reviews you. It can be found on Amazon as well, of course 😊 for around $30.

WELLNESS

As most people with an autoimmune disease will tell you, nausea is part of the deal. Whether it hits from the disease itself or from the medicine you take, it is a nuisance that can derail your day.  I was VERY skeptical that these bands would really work. I found them when I hit frustration with yet another bout of nausea and the last thing, I wanted to do is take another medication.  While pursuing my local Walgreens for some kind of nausea relief that would not cause yet another side effect, I saw these bands. I thought I had nothing to lose but a few bucks. I could not believe it! Within a few minutes I started feeling relief!  So, so glad!  I keep one in my wallet at all times and several throughout my home.  It is so nice to have something that I don’t have to have prescribed, or ingest, or have unwanted side effects.

You can purchase a for a two count package at Walmart less than $6. Most drugstores carry them which is especially helpful if you don’t have yours while traveling. I’m speak from experience.

Nausea Sea-Band  https://www.sea-band.com/

Nausea just comes with the territory. Whether it is the autoimmune disease itself or the medicine you take, nausea just plain sucks.  It affects how, what and if you can eat. You have to eat, but you don’t feel like eating. You may have to travel, but you feel queasy when you do. You have to function, right/! If taking ANOTHER medicine is the last thing you want to do, the Nausea Sea-Bank may be for you!  I was incredibly skeptical. However, I was out of town for work and had to do a presentation. I could not get rid of the nausea with other “natural ways” and no way was I going to take another medication. So, I went into a drugstore on my way to my meeting and saw this band and I thought, what the heck…I’m desperate.  Holy moly it worked! I absolutely could not believe it!  Now I keep one in the car, my purse or backpack and around the house.  They come in two colors that I have found: black and gray.  I have both. The price point is pretty good ($6.99 to 13.99 for two depending on where you shop), making it worth a try!

WORK

Anchor Wireless Mouse 

I had a colleague with RA (rheumatoid arthritis) and as we were getting set up to work on a project together, she whips out this contraption. I’m like, “What the heck is that?”. She laughed and said it was her mouse. It looked more like something you’d see on the Star Trek. She told me to give it a try and I did. It was a little funky the first minute or two, then I got it! It made a huge difference in how my hand felt while navigating on my laptop. Whether you have arthritis or not, I think most people who like an external mouse would really like this one.  It may look a little odd, but don’ let that you stop you because your wrist and hand will feel so much better!

Handstands Memory Foam Mouse Mat Mouse Pad with Wrist Rest at Target

If you like using an external mouse, then you probably like a to use a mouse pad as well. The Handstands Memory Foam Mouse Mat Mouse pad works well with any type of mouse. I use it with my Anchor Wireless Mouse. As is the case with many patients with autoimmune diseases, your body changes through out the day; sometimes hourly. You can swell up, swell down, then up and down and on and on. Because of this, I typically start off with the traditional flat mouse pad. As my hand and wrist get fatigued and swell, I switched to this one. It is a tremendous help!

FINAL THOUGHTS

As mentioned in the beginning of this article, I am not being sponsored or paid by any of these companies. I use these products consistently and some I use daily. Having an autoimmune disease or multiple autoimmune diseases is a struggle for most of us. If we can find one thing to make life a little easier, I count that as a win and a blessing!

A Few of My Favorite Things Gallery