Asking for Help Is a Skill We Need to LearnI have come to understand that asking for help of any kind for those of us with RA is 1) not easy, as many of us are type A personalities... By Nan Hart2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments6 comments
RA Travel Prep Is No JokeAfter 45 years of marriage, working for almost as long, and raising 3 sons, my husband and I are now retired and finally able to do the traveling we have... By Nan Hart3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments22 comments
Does My RA Doctor REALLY Hear Me?When we moved 4 years ago, one of the most difficult challenges was establishing a new relationship with a rheumatologist here. In my previous community, I had a very successful... By Nan Hart3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments13 comments
Ra Horizons Are BrightAs we approach and enter a new year, I tend to contemplate my life and journey with RA. This year, one thing that has really resonated with me is the... By Nan Hart2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments1 comments
The Most Comfortable RA WearI recall years ago that trying to dress while dealing with RA was at best difficult and at worst impossible. The clothing fabrics all seemed tight and confining, shoes were... By Nan Hart3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments13 comments
Using Electronic Devices With RA HandsSuccessfully managing the use of electronic devices intended to make our lives easier and more efficient can be neither if we are not careful. It seems to me it is... By Nan Hart3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments23 comments
The Confusion of How and Where to Get Test ResultsI recently needed to get both a cervical MRI and knee x-rays. For better or worse, I asked for the reports so that I could have them for my records... By Nan Hart3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments5 comments
RA Flare or RA NudgeI recently had a significant RA flare, which is probably not news to anyone with rheumatoid arthritis. What was new for me was that it was the first one that... By Nan Hart3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments5 comments
That Pivotal Moment with RAWhen I was first diagnosed with RA, I recall my thoughts largely being centered on what aspects of my life would now be altered in a negative way and what... By Nan Hart2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Water is RA's best friendDuring the dog days of summer, we often don’t need much of a reminder to stay hydrated as thirst is a constant companion, but remembering to stay hydrated when summer... By Nan Hart2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments4 comments
RA Status Quo or No?One of the perennial challenges of living with rheumatoid arthritis is the question of maintaining the current status of treatment and management choices. Is there a point at which it... By Nan Hart3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Learning lessons from the good timesEven though experiencing “good times” with RA may seem out of reach, I have found that when those good times happen, it is crucial to embrace them, take the opportunity... By Nan Hart2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Muscle Cramps and RAAlong with the pain associated with our joints that are a distinct mark of an RA flare, some also experience muscle cramps. Though not necessarily related to a flare, there... By Nan Hart2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments19 comments
Decluttering the Emotions of RAWe all know that along with the physical demands that come with a chronic disease, there are mental/emotional demands as well. I believe that there is a need to declutter... By Nan Hart3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Mobility Instability: Balance and RAThanks to the volatility of RA joints, balance issues are a sad reality of the disease. It only makes sense that if our joints are swollen, painful, and/or compromised in... By Nan Hart3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments8 comments
Through the Seasons with RAHaving lived in a four-season climate throughout my life, I have come to understand how important it is to adjust your approach to the day-to-day management of RA to address... By Nan Hart3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments6 comments
Tales from an RA VeteranWhen I consider that I have been journeying with RA for a quarter-century, it seemed only fitting to spend some time sharing my thoughts as an “RA veteran”. One of... By Nan Hart3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments4 comments
The Many Faces of RA PainThe pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis is not a one-size-fits-all situation. When I reflect on it, the types of pain, the way we each experience it, the duration, etc. are all... By Nan Hart2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments6 comments
Comorbidity Overload With RAI actually had no idea what the word comorbidity meant until I was a few years into my rheumatoid arthritis (RA) journey. As I recall, it came up when I... By Nan Hart3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments6 comments
The Mental Chaos of RAMost of us understand that the very nature of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), physically speaking, is chaotic and unpredictable. I have always understood this to be true and one of the most... By Nan Hart3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments8 comments
