Summer used to be one of my favorite seasons. I loved the sunny days and warm nights. Lupus has managed to change that! It’s not even officially summer yet, and I’m finding myself adversely affected by not only the sun, but the heat itself. **
Body
One word to describe my Lupus body today: Hot
Which habits and rituals did I practice to soothe my Lupus body?
- Stayed hydrated
- Ate a clean diet
More details about my physical symptoms:
I’m hot today, and I’ve been hot all week, except for Wednesday when the high only reached a rainy 77 degrees. For some reason, I haven’t been able to enjoy the summer’s heat like I used to. Not sure if it’s the Lupus, or the medications for the Lupus that’s causing the problem. Or, maybe it’s something else altogether.
I searched Google to find out if any other Lupus patients have trouble with heat intolerance. I was so surprised to see how may of us do. I knew about the problems of too much sunshine and the need to protect our skin. But the heat itself? No I didn’t know, and now that I do, I have to add it to the ever-growing list of things to deal with. Sigh.
Mind
One word to describe my Lupus mind today: Disappointed
Which habits and rituals did I practice to strengthen my Lupus mind?
- Learned About Lupus
- Managed Expectations
- Managed Time and Energy
More details and thoughts about how I’m feeling emotionally today:
I love summer, usually. The fact that I’m having trouble tolerating the heat is a huge disappointment. This is my second summer in the home we bought here in Reno, and we made all the landscaping and other outdoor modifications to protect me from the sun when I spend time out in the backyard. Now, I can’t enjoy it as much because it’s so darn hot. Hopefully, the temperature will go down a bit so that I can get back to my soothing habit of getting fresh air and enjoying my garden.
Spirit
One word to describe my spirit today: Visualize
Which habits and rituals did I practice to nurture my Lupus spirit?
- Meditated, prayed, visualized
- Embraced uncertainty
Thoughts about my spiritual connection and spiritual lessons learned today:
I worked hard today to embrace the latest uncertainties surrounding my new heat intolerance and the moving of my fabulous doctor (I found out on Wednesday that the doctor who discovered that I had Lupus is moving away). I’m visualizing finding solutions to both issues.
Meals
Today my meals were:
- Breakfast: Gluten-free toast, scrambled eggs, free-range pork sausage
- Lunch: Turkey burger on gluten-free bun
- Dinner: Baked salmon, dill rice, spinach
- Snacks: Gala apple slices, almond butter
Thanks
At least one thing that I’m grateful for today:
- The convenience of being able to research issues with Lupus
**(This post is based on the format of the Lupus Diary that I developed for keeping track of how Lupus affects my body, mind, and spirit, I check-in here once a week to let you know about the more interesting days of my Lupus journey. To learn more about the Lupus Diary, how I developed it, and why I use it, click here.)
