Finding a Realistic Sense of Hope While Juggling Multiple Chronic Illnesses: Katie’s Story

<p>You are not alone. In this episode, host Cheryl Crow and <a href="https://arthritislifeschool.thinkific.com/" target="_blank">Rheum to THRIVE</a> Graduate Katie Searfross discuss how to find a realistic sense of hope when coping with multiple fluctuating, complex chronic illnesses that are sometimes out of our control. </p><p>Katie shares how she copes and finds ways to hold on to moments of joy even when her symptoms of Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD or complex regional pain syndrome), Migraine and Rheumatoid Arthritis remain. Katie and Cheryl share how they’ve learned to be gentle with themselves and patient in those tough moments when you do “everything right” and your symptoms remain.  They also discuss the complexity of moments where you have to decide whether to push past your pain and when to slow down and listen to your body. </p><p>Katie and Cheryl also discuss the value of group support and a sense of community, which Katie found in Rheum to THRIVE.  Katie also shares lessons she learned as a children’s pastor specializing in grief, which can apply to people with chronic illness as well.</p><h2>Episode at a glance:</h2><ul><li><strong>Diagnosis story: </strong>Prior to her rheumatoid arthritis (RA) diagnosis, Katie knew she had other diagnoses including Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD or complex regional pain syndrome) and Migraine. As a result, it was difficult for her to recognize “normal” symptoms for RSD compared to out of the ordinary symptoms which pointed to a new diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.</li><li><strong>Pain and dissociating:</strong> Katie shares how she found herself dissociating from pain / distracting herself from pain, and needing to learn to reconnect with her body.</li><li><strong>Katie’s coping toolbox: </strong>At first, adjusting to RA diagnosis felt like losing everything. It’s frustrating to have days when you do everything right and still have pain. Katie shares how in <a href="https://arthritislifeschool.thinkific.com/" target="_blank">Rheum to THRIVE</a>, being p