Flare Day Survival Tips

By Cynthia Covert

2 min read

Flare days do more than inflict an unconscionable amount of pain on our bodies, they have the power to destroy our plans and make a mess of our lives. It would be one thing if it was just physical pain, I don’t say this to belittle our pain, but I do find dealing with a physical pain easier when my brain is unaffected.

When severe flares disrupt life

When I experience an extreme flare, there’s usually swelling around my spine and skull. The inflammation produces migraines, the inability to speak or think like I am used to, and a level of fatigue that turns me into a narcoleptic.

Severe flare days used to disrupt my life. Okay, they still do, but not like they used to because now I have a plan. Because I can’t schedule a flare, I have to prepare for them the same as I would an earthquake. Who knew that moving to California would help me survive living with psoriatic arthritis?!

Here are a few of my flare day survival tips.

Be prepared!

I refuse to drink tap water, so I make sure to always have plenty of drinking water available. Besides allowing my body to rest, the second best thing I can do is to stay hydrated.

Not only is cooking the last thing I want to do while flaring severely, it is something that I am unable to do when my brain and body are in that state. I make sure to keep food on hand that is easy to prepare, such as frozen meals or fresh foods that don’t require any preparation. Flare days are also perfect for taking advantage of the convenience of restaurant delivery apps.

I keep an emergency stash of items that comfort my body. Some examples are: heat wraps, ice packs, topical CBD oils, herbal pain relievers, sleep mask, etc...

Create comfort

Because it is so difficult to find comfort while flaring, I do whatever I can to make my time in bed as comfortable as possible. I have special pajamas set aside for times when comfort trumps fashion. While I typically prefer crisp cool sheets, my body prefers flannel or t-shirt sheets when flaring. The most important thing I have done is to make my bedroom a place I am okay with spending time in. My bedroom used to be cluttered with knickknacks, clothing everywhere, and had become the place that I threw things that I just didn’t want to deal with. Decluttering it made the world of difference. Now when I flare, I don’t feel like I am lying in a junkyard or like the walls are closing in on me.

Have a back-up plan

Since I can’t schedule a flare and trying to solve problems is next to impossible when one hits, I make alternative plans ahead of time. For example, when my daughter was taking dance classes I had my mom on standby to drive her when I couldn’t. I have learned to make it clear with people I make plans with that they may change. This way they aren’t caught off guard when I do have to cancel.

How do you prepare for a flare?

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rojo Member
I usually cook/prepare all of my meals with the food I buy, steering clear of processed foods as much as possible.I also drink bottled water exclusively. My Flare Survival Pack includes five gallons of bottled water for emergency use only(EUO), five frozen meals(EUO), a pint of frozen soup(EUO), a four pac of coconut water in terra pks, a frozen loaf of gluten free bread, and a jar of peanut butter. The EUO is for flare days. I replenish what I use when it passes. When one begins to hit it's jammies and Netflix time. Hydration is the #1 priority for me always. I understand the importance of nutrition but during a flare food prep can cause serious pain I would rather do without. Worst case there's peanut butter and bread. Yep, it's all about weathering out the storm.
kerry Member
Hey <inline-mention user-id="3281054" username="cynthia"/> Covert I did not realize that PsA could cause migraine headaches. I have been getting these lately. My Dr just put me on a migraine medication. I get pain in my lower back and hip.
frances00 Member
I sleep up to 20 hours/day when I have a bad flare up. I don't eat, have zero energy and need to keep hydrated, so I keep bottled water in my bedroom. I'm single and live alone. Just walking downstairs to the kitchen, is unattainable when I'm in this state. I also have developed a relationship with my cleaning lady and she will come clean the house, run errands for me in the aftermath of a big flare.
Amy68 Member
I find soup really comforting during flares, so when I'm having a good day, I'll make a big pot of soup using fresh food, then freeze single-serving containers. When my stock starts getting halfway down, I make another big pot on my very next "good day" to make sure my supply never runs out (I currently have creamy taco soup, green chili enchilada soup, three bean soup, and collard soup in the freezer - woo hoo, choices!). I'm not fond of microwaved food, so I plop the frozen soup in a pan on low (to avoid having to get up to stir it), and when I'm done, the pan and dishes can just sit in the sink until the flare passes and I don't let myself feel guilty about it. I'm on a well, but I still filter my water and keep two pitchers of filtered water in the fridge at all times, plus a case of bottled water just in case. I also bought a tea kettle and keep a supply of hot tea and hot chocolate on hand - that bit of inner heat is sometimes soothing. Extra pillows on the couch and bed for propping and stuffing under painful joints. Got an oscillating fan with a remote control so I can turn it off and on as needed (and it has a timer). And I feel zero guilt for setting my phone to silent when necessary, even during the workday. I also keep my tablet loaded with a range of books and regularly update my "watch lists" on the channels I stream so there's always something to watch when even searching for something requires too much effort. That's another thing - as much as I love real books, the tablet has become my new BFF. The backlit screen and adjustable font sizes nearly eliminates eye strain and also means I don't need a light on in the room, I can prop it on my lap or a cushion when my hands hurt too badly to hold a book for long, the "blueshade" allows me to read at night without disrupting my ability to fall asleep, and the auto shut-off feature means I'm not running the battery down when I drift off while reading. I pay $10/month for KindleUnlimited which allows me to read as much as I want without having to pay by the book. Honestly, if you enjoy reading, a tablet is the way to go. Distracting myself with reading/watching movies is the only way I get through some of the worst flares. 
1. Lori.Foster Community Admin
 You've come up with some great strategies, <inline-mention username="Amy68" user-id="6765940"/>. I love that you make all that soup and freeze it. How smart of you! Soup is such a power food, but eating it can bring emotional comfort as well. I love physical books as well, but I don't know what I would do without my e-reader. It comes with me everywhere and the books are so much less expensive. I always have a physical book at home that I am reading, but I use my e-reader at least as often. The auto-shutoff is definitely a great feature. No losing the page when it slips out of your hand. Thanks for chiming in. Warmest of wishes. - Lori (Team Member)

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