Background/Purpose: In 1983, over forty years ago, I was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE).  I was immediately prescribed high dose corticosteroids.  My body and disease flared.  After 16 months, the rheumatologist and internist decided to start to taper my medication dosage.  I was stabilized at 20, 15, 12.5 and 10m milligram daily doses.  However, the side effects were still drastic, and I wanted to see how well I would do at a lower dose.  So together with my doctors, I started a slow (super slow) taper process.  Eventually, I was taking 2.5 milligrams of steroids a day.  After three months, we discussed another tapering.  It took another three months, in 1989 I took my last dose of corticosteroids.  At the time, my doctors thought I would have a potential future need for another round of corticosteroids, as most people living with lupus do.  My prognosis at the time of diagnosis was a life expectancy of 5-7 years based on my symptoms and lab work.

Intervention: During the intervention, and while I was in lockdown, I was struggling to balance my mental and physical health, when I discovered how slime could help me stretch my mind and body.  I quickly realized how much I needed the tactile sensation and distraction; the slime had helped me regain my sense of play and I was captivated by the autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) that popping slime provided.  With some practice, I was doing tricks and I saw my outstretched arms and shoulders above my head, even better I was not wincing in agony.  My Range Of Motion (ROM) was increasing with each session and I was thoroughly enjoying my self, while the slime was providing me with quality occupational therapy, I was improving my Quality of Life (QOL) and the impact on my state of mind which is evident in the “countless smiles that smile has brought to my face.”  Slime has had a such positive impact on my life that I am using less prescription pain and anxiety medication to help maintain my healthy “flare free” state while living and thriving with SLE for 40 years and still striving.

Maintenance: Due to my use of slime as a tool for my mental and physical health, I am using less prescription pain and anxiety medication to maintain a healthy state of aging with while living with SLE and I am a proud “adult slimer” who has found a way to quantify my playtime as being truly good for my health.

Quality of Life: Due to my use of slime as a tool for my mental and physical health, I am using less prescription pain and anxiety medication to maintain a healthy state of aging with while living with SLE and I am a proud “adult slimer” who has found a way to quantify my playtime as being truly good for my health.

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ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/lupus-with-slime-improve-qol-and-increase-rom-in-sle-with-slime/