Rebecca Gillett: There’s one thing that can easily kill the mood if you’re not in the mood is the smell of pain cream. So, if (laughs) my husband ever walks in the room and he’s like, “Oh, it’s one of those nights, huh?” So, he knows, OK, you’re in pain, fine. You know?

But that is one thing, too, for some people. I’m fortunate to have a husband that does a lot of things. Just that alone, that appreciative perspective I have of all of the things he does to support. That adds to the intimacy. He takes care of me. It does make a difference. I think that adds to it. Keep unloading that dishwasher, Pete. I mean, seriously. (laughs) For a lot of women, especially in moms, we’re all trying to balance so many things. And that’s, you know, that’s the hard part. When am I supposed to have energy to do that, too?

We’ve talked a lot about having a healthy sex life and drive and keeping that with your partner. But I don’t wanna skim over the fact that there might be listeners who are listening who don’t have a partner. So, do you have patients with arthritis who come to you who have concerns about their sexual health and they don’t have a partner?

Iris Zink, NP: Absolutely. And I hope Vicky has a lot more advice about this: If you are newly diagnosed with an autoimmune disease and you’re dating, and when do you reveal that? And talk about lubrication and things like that. I have a sex therapist that I have on speed dial so that I can refer my patients to the sex therapist, or give them a catalog of toys. There’s so much on the internet now that is available. And remind them that the occupational therapist can help them with gadgets and devices and help them manipulate them.

If you have an orgasm, your pain threshold goes up by 110%, according to the Rutgers study. That is huge. It really helps with pain. Ler mais