#34 Go to the Gig: Emily's Before, During and After Plan for Concerts with Arthritis

**Episode 34: The Live Well with Arthritis Podcast** *#34 Go to the Gig: Emily's Before, During and After Plan for Concerts with Arthritis* Last weekend, Emily was at the **Take That concert** in a crowd of thousands, mid-heatwave, singing loudly with her mum. **In the photos, with her red lipstick on, she *looks fine*, but what you can't see is her pain.** This episode is the honest version of that night, and the plan that made it possible. **Living with arthritis doesn't mean giving up** **festivals, gigs, travel, or brilliant experiences that make life worth living.** It just means going with a plan, and some self-compassion for afterwards. Arthritis does not mean you stop showing up for your life, but you do show up differently. Heat, crowds, standing for hours, and barely any sleep, is a perfect storm for a flare, so Emily walks through the whole thing: the biology of why heat and bad sleep hit our joints so hard, and what shes does about it. **Topics covered:** - **Biology of the Flare** Why heat, dehydration, exertion and lost sleep aren't four small things, but one absoltely compounding thing - **Knowing Your Triggers** Naming your own triggers (for Emily - stress, travel, lost routine, and lots of walking) so you can plan around them - **The Before** Banking your rest, planning an air-conditioned route and seating/accessibility, and exactly what was in Emily's Take That flare-up/pain kit - **The During** Hydrating relentlessly, forgiving an imperfect meal, micro-resting without guilt, managing the heat actively, staying ahead of the pain, and letting joy be medicine - **The After** Handling the flare without guilt or panic, with rest as a non-negotiable, soothing swollen joints, and remembering a flare is a temporary cost for a permanent memory - **Travel More Widely** How the same before/during/after system carries over to flights, hotels and getaways, and why protecting your sleep matters is vital ***About the podcast:*** With a focus on reducing inflammation and improving daily life, this podcast features expert interviews, science-backed strategies, and real stories from people living with all types of arthritis. Emily combines her 12+ years of lived experience and insights from healthcare professionals to offer practical, encouraging steps that help you feel healthier, happier, and less alone when living with arthritis. Emily (*Arthritis Foodie*) is a bestselling author, certified coach, and founder of *Live Well with Arthritis*. ***Episode Links:*** Applications for the **Live Well with Arthritis 12-week programme** are open, **Apply now:** https://www.livewellwitharthritis.com/waitlist Emily Johnson ***@ArthritisFoodie:*** - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arthritisfoodie/ - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arthritisfoodie/ - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@arthritisfoodie ***Further Resources:*** https://linktr.ee/arthritisfoodie