My Psoriatic Arthritis Is on Overtime

When you work 40 hours a week, the last thing you want to hear is "Can you work some overtime?" I have learned over the years how to be a great functional employee. I know for me at the end of the day I’m exhausted and tired. PsA kicks in and tries to work on my body. Sometimes it may be three or four hours a night. If my figures are correct, then this would be equivalent to at least 20 hours of overtime weekly on my body.

Body aches with PsA are real

The body aches I feel are real. There is nothing wrong with having a disability. I know because I have one. I desire to relax and soak my aching muscles. My legs and feet really desire relief. Just feeling fatigued is enough, but then I am stuck in an office all day with a computer and double monitors. After eight hours I just want to go home and lie down. I don’t have the energy to join you for happy hour. People think you are being anti-social, they just don’t get it.

PsA is an invisible illness

There are times that I feel my psoriatic arthritis is an invisible illness. People always say, “But you don’t look sick”. You look so nice today. I always have a smile on my face, and I come to work. People look at you with that “look” when you say you don’t want to do that today. I hide my pain where you don’t see it, but if you paid attention, you would see the pain is there.

Going into remission with PsA

I've been reading a lot of information on how other people have gone into remission. Unfortunately, this has not been the case for me yet. When you go into remission, you are free from the flares, body aches, and pain. It’s like being on a temporary vacation. Psoriatic arthritis packs up and goes somewhere for a while, and after it is rested it returns home. Everybody deals with their illness differently. I know for me remission would be nice; if just for a moment. You would have to walk in my shoes to even understand this one. I can’t possibly explain what it feels like to have pain 24/7, but you still go on each day.

Three aids I use to help manage my symptoms

There are ways I deal with those extra hours. I use heat for swelling joints. I invested in a lovely heating pad which works wonders. I believe positioning ourselves is very crucial. I recall when I went on a very long ride with a friend. I was positioned in a way in the car that left me literally numb. I realize when exiting the car that I was in a wrong position. My PsA was not happy about it.

Sometimes we learn from those mistakes we go through. Another aid I use is extra big pillows. I find sometimes with PsA our joints become painful, sore, swollen, and sensitive. I have found that placing an extra pillow under certain parts of the body really helps. I love having my neck supported by a firm pillow. This has helped with the morning stiffness.

Another aid that I use with my overtime with psoriatic arthritis is my fan. I find that with the biologics I take, sometimes my body temperature tends to get very hot. So my fan is a lifesaver to me. It’s so uncomfortable to sleep when you feel like your burning up. Our body temperatures must be balanced. I know other people are cold when I’m extremely hot. These are things I daily deal with my extra hours of being a psoriatic arthritis patient.

Using a disabled parking decal

With my overtime, I need a disabled parking decal. People tend to look at me because they think I’m not disabled in their eyes. I always feel self-conscious. I just want to tell them there are days I can barely walk or even get out of bed. I could not handle the note on my windshield. I don’t think people realize that you can’t judge a person by the way they look.

Over the years I have found a good support system. They don’t always understand what I’m feeling, but they are there for me. You never have to travel this journey alone. If you need help, just ask for it.

I don’t apologize anymore for what I can’t do. Hey boss, “I can’t do overtime today”.