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Living with
Primary Immune Deficiency

Holiday Stress

Time Tested Rules for the Holidays

"Rather than go on a holiday from your chronic illness, sometimes the holidays actually cause an immune disease to flare up," says Cora Scarlet, RN. "Many precautions you take throughout the year just go out the door during the holidays, and this can cause more grief for people with immune disease than others."

She offers these time-tested techniques that work well not only in December, but throughout the other 11 months of the year.

1. Plan your treatments well in advance of the holidays. Start thinking about your treatment dates in October and make arrangements ahead of time, advises Scarlet. "It's easy to miss an appointment because clinics are often closed for holidays, or you'd rather attend a party or special event. But it's more important than ever not to miss your dose of IVIG, so check your schedule and plan ahead."
2. Give yourself a hand…and wash it. Handwashing is more important than ever during the holidays. "You'll be in close contact with people more frequently, more kissing and hugging than usual, so washing your hands frequently is the number one way to prevent getting an illness," says Scarlet.
3. Eat right, exercise and get enough rest. "These three things are important all the time but are often forsaken around the holidays," says Scarlet. "My advice is to keep adhering to these common sense rules despite the temptations around you—you'll feel so much better if you do."
4. Review your insurance. Although it may not seem festive, being proactive with insurance requirements in December can decrease a lot of stress in the new year, when you might need to change providers or assume new out-of-pocket costs, counsels Scarlet. "Look into insurance changes now that may take place in January and carefully examine coverage, formularies, etc. It will make the transition much easier in January." Scarlet also advises you to review your deductible policy. "If you've already met your deductible for the year, it might be less expensive to get your treatment on Dec. 27 instead of Jan. 5. Holidays are often tough on finances, and this could be a big help."

Preventing Holiday Burnout

Mind your Ps this holiday season, with some sage, but not stuffy, advice from Melissa C. Stoppler at about.com:

Perspective: Try to keep the whole experience in perspective by remembering that the holiday season represents only a very short portion of the year. Consider that many others feel the same way as you and are also experiencing disillusion, stress or anxiety.

Preconceived Ideas: Banish your notions of what the holiday season should be like. Although difficult, this can be very liberating. Separate the holiday traditions you truly enjoy from those you feel you have to do because you've always done or are expected by others to do. Try to ignore merchandising and mass media implications of how you should be feeling.

Planning: Think before committing to any responsibility or social event. Make no snap decisions, say you have to check your calendar first. Decide what is the right level of social activity for you to feel your happiest and best, and plan accordingly.

Permission: Give yourself permission to have feelings and to make the choices you need to make. Do not judge or compare your feelings or actions with those of any one else.

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