I’ve got 3 random things to share this week for my Three On Thursday post . . . here they are
- I don’t mind washing my hair but I really dislike using the blow dryer. It’s noisy and it’s boring and I feel like it takes forever. The other day I wondered, could I use my AirPods and listen to a podcast while drying my hair? Would they cancel out the noise of the dryer enough so that I could enjoy the podcast? The answer to both those questions is a resounding YES. I can now listen to a podcast while drying my hair. This is a game changer for me, my friends.
- One of the things I’ve noticed since I started sharing my inflammatory arthritis diagnosis is that people don’t understand the difference between inflammatory arthritis, an autoimmune disorder, and osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease. Now, I’m not saying one is worse than the other, and I’m not minimizing the pain associated with either one, but I do think the difference matters. For a quick and dirty summary, osteoarthritis comes with age and is due to wear and tear on the joints. It generally starts in an isolated joint. Inflammatory arthritis happens when the immune system malfunctions and attacks the body and it often targets several joints at one time. It can come on at any age. I’m only just scratching the surface of learning about all of this but I do think it’s important to know the difference because, when someone says to me, “arthritis? Oh, I have arthritis, everyone gets that when they get older and you just have to learn to live with it.” I feel . . . dismissed.
- I’m considering whether I went to make a list of 22 items to do in 2022. I’m leaning towards doing it because it’s fun and I’m all about a good list. I’m leaning towards not doing it because I didn’t have great success with this in 2021. Stay tuned to see how this plays out!
And that’s what I have for you today. If you wrote a three things post, please include your link below and thanks for joining in on the fun.
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1. What if you didn’t dry your hair but let it dry on its own? That was the game-changer for me.
2. I don’t think pain should ever be dismissed! Pain from osteoarthritis can impair activities of daily living and isn’t simply a disease of aging, and there are so many autoimmune diseases (RA, psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, lupus, type 1 diabetes, MS, and about 75 others) that cause pain and other serious symptoms that people should be more aware of them.
3. Good luck with whatever you choose! I think I made a list this year but then promptly forgot about it.
It’s frustrating having people not understand your condition. At the same time, I don’t want to be defined by it either. Personally, I’ve settled on helping my close friends understand so they can be supportive. Otherwise, I minimize it unless not sharing will limit me somehow.
I share that blow dryer noise irritation. Same with vacuuming. Sometimes I can use it to my advantage. Just sayin’.
I am 2000% nodding my head with Bonny’s #1… um, yep… SO LIBERATING!
I think the diminishment of anyone with a chronic problem is what life is today… and it is just so wrong.
And I might be tempted to join on a “half-sie” list… we each take half… a list of 11 seems infinitely more doable to me!
Since I have really terrible hair, I hate all hair grooming activities. When you are annoyed with them, just remember that you are lucky to have such beautiful hair. BTW, I like your hair darker these days. It’s flattering.
It is really maddening to have people dismissive one’s health challenges. As my husband the doctor says , all health problems are minor, until they are _yours_!
You do come up with great lists, Carole. The last couple of years have been difficult in so many ways, so the lack of success in doing everything on your lists should not discourage you from making a new one.
Oops, shouldn’t have commented before I had coffee! What I meant to say was that many health problems are considered to be minor until they are _yours_! Of course all health problems are not minor, duh.
I am fortunate to have curls that do not want any kind of heat but I do wear my earbuds when vacuuming and that was a game changer for me.
Constant, persistent, unrelenting pain is something many people don’t understand. As someone who lives with a person who has daily pain, I hear people give advice and offer opinions that make me cringe. Sometimes we need to just listen and hear the truth in your story. Thank you for that.
I, too, dislike the hairdryer, although I got very spoiled by my family last year when they got me a Dyson hairdryer, it’s quiet and much faster!
I’m also contemplating a list for next year. I think the key is to make a list of things you’d like to do but don’t *have* to do, at least for me. It should feel like a motivator and not an obligation. I will be interested to see what’s on your list if you do go for it!
My ear canals are tiny and I’ve never found an earbud that fit properly or was very comfortable. I do a very minimal blow dry at the roots and around the edges, and the rest is up to nature. I’m thinking that you must routinely set/curl your hair, which is why you need it dry. I haven’t done that since… I don’t even know when!
I discovered a product by Odele called Air Dry Styler. It was my game changer. I am growing my hair longer and blow-drying was actually damaging my hair so being able to have it air dry and still have some shape and style is wonderful. I highly recommend it. I get the Odele products at Target and have not found them anywhere else. The company is women-owned and has several products with no sulfates and all those other things you don’t want. I use the smoothing shampoo and the conditioner as well and I feel like a commercial here, but really they are great!
I will admit to being lazy and I gave up the hair dryer many years ago (maybe even 30 as I hated to use a blow dryer). My hairdresser knows that when she dries it and makes it look good it will never look like that again. I just let it air dry.
I never thought of putting in my AirPods while drying my hair, that’s genius! If I have time I usually let it just air dry, but usually I do myself in by deciding to wash it at the last minute and need to use the hair dryer! I like your idea of 22 in 22, that’s a great idea. Sending healing wishes to you.
I’m so sorry you have to deal with people who minimize your pain. Why can’t people just acknowledge the diffence between visible and invisible limitations, and realize we aren’t all who we project to the world. When you share, you should be met with acceptance and an offer to help in any way others can.
I have an entire family who chooses to compare pain levels and then explain how to fix a problem with whatever it is they are doing to deal with their issues. One sister swears by a stretching regimen, and even suggested our older sister (who has always been the most active of all six of us, and has literally walked three, or more, miles most days, for the last twenty years or so) use it when diagnosed with a stress fracture in her hip!
Autoimmune disease is not something to disparage. My best friend, a nurse practioner with a Phd, has rheumatoid arthritis and I can tell you that her pain is real whether it’s apparent to others or not.
I hope as you go further along on this journey you find more people who lift you up, and less who dismiss you.
I realized as I went to sleep last night that I left out my friend’s medical colleagues are often the ones questioning her on the depth of her pain. That was the point of using her profession in the post.
I see you for that #2 … seems like it would be so much easier if it weren’t called “arthritis” to begin with. and I’m amazed how many folks I know who have autoimmune diseases. I can only assume that – like pretty much all the things that “just happen” to us – it’s partly due to better diagnosis, better treatments, and for sure, just normalizing talking about it. I’m so grateful to you for that! xxoo.