Mother's Day With Psoriatic Arthritis

Last year's Mother's Day weekend was one of the best I have had in a long time. At the same time, the psoriatic arthritis seemed to be at its worst.

It has been seven years since my boys were together with me for Mother's Day. I cannot explain to you how it felt emotionally having them both together for the whole weekend not just Mother's Day. Physically though, it was a whole other story.

Living with psoriatic arthritis

I have had psoriatic arthritis for almost seven years now. The joint pain is severe in my lower back. Sometimes my knees swell as well. It makes it hard to stand for long periods of time or even wash dishes without being in intense pain.

I try hard to fight past the pain until I cannot deal with the pain anymore. Knowing my boys were coming to stay for the weekend meant I had to get the house in order. I pushed hard for two days cleaning and polishing. Even though they are my children I never want anyone coming to my house without it being clean. I guess I'm OCD like that.

Everything had to be perfect for the perfect weekend I was expecting to have. How many of you can already picture in your mind where this is heading? Pushing yourself with having psoriatic arthritis is never a good thing. Take it from someone who is now sitting here writing this in intense pain.

A mother and her sons

My oldest son arrived home first. Of course with him only living forty-five minutes away it was pretty much a given fact that would happen.

After all, my youngest son had a three-hour drive to make once he got off of work. One of the things I do for my children is to cook their favorite meals. The first night was not bad. However, the next day would prove to be my undoing. I was not about to let my youngest son down and not cook his favorite meal.

Almost all the meals I cook are labor-intensive. That doesn't work well for a body that is racked with psoriatic arthritis. By the second night I was in so much pain I was almost crying trying to get the meal cooked.

Paying the psoriatic price

Mother's Day was to be celebrated with a fish fry for dinner. No one knew the pain I was in. I had asked the boys to do the cooking.

This way I could just visit with them instead of being up on my feet with knees that were swollen and a back literally screaming at me. I did enjoy visiting with them. I enjoyed the dinner.

I did not enjoy having to move around to fix my plate, go to the restroom, etc, etc. Finally, the time came for my two sons to have to leave Sunday afternoon. It was bittersweet. I loved having them home again at the same time. However, trying to hide the pain I was in was exhausting.

Planning better with psoriatic arthritis

I almost ruined what was a great weekend. I know better than to push myself like that. I am the only one going to pay the price for doing it.

Now I'm kicking myself. The pain is a real reminder that psoriatic arthritis deserves more respect from me even if it means my house is a mess. My boys would understand. They wouldn't want me in pain like I am now.

Lesson learned the hard way. Take it from me please be kind to your body. Listen to it and be ever mindful of what the pain is trying to tell you. The other option is to push past the pain which will lead to you paying the price as well. Be good to you.