Questions to Ask Your Rheumatologist about Rheumatoid ArthritisHeading into an appointment with your doctor can be overwhelming or stressful. You also may not always know the right questions to ask, even if you've been living with RA...reactions11comments
As I Get Older, People Seem to Care Less About My RAFinding someone. Dating. Relationships. When you have rheumatoid arthritis or any chronic illness, being in a relationship comes with extra challenges. If there’s anything relationships don’t need – it’s more...reactions8comments
Transitioning HealthcareThis was a difficult article to write, weirdly. Many of the incidents happened soon after I moved to a new state, but I felt guilty writing about them. Where I...reactions13comments
It’s Not Patience, It’s ExhaustionMy husband Richard knows my true nature. I try to hide it and improve upon it, but the truth is that I am impatient. People mistake my exhaustion for patience...reactions22comments
Struggling with the AIP DietI've seen a few posts on our site about individuals who have tried the autoimmune protocol diet (AIP). It's a diet designed to reduce inflammation and also an elimination/reintroduction diet...reactions6comments
RA and Misconceptions - Why Us?Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most enigmatic chronic illnesses out there; dealing with it daily is a herculean feat. Fatigue, pain, general malaise, depression – the list of symptoms...reactions38comments
Chronic Clencher"You're a chronic clencher," the massage therapist said to me while pressing her fingers into my tender jaw muscles. Wincing from the pain, I agreed, "Yes, I am." Even though...reactions34comments
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...reactions4comments
Feeling Good But Not Good Enough It’s been an encouraging few months, health-wise. The medication I started a couple of years ago is working better than ever. For the first time in over a decade, I...reactions12comments
Exercising My Arthritic Hands with Sticker ArtA study in Arthritis Care and Research looked at and monitored the hand grip strength of individuals in the early stages of their RA. The study reports, “There was an...reactions24comments
Tips for Parents of Children with Juvenile Idiopathic ArthritisThere’s a lot of improvements that have come along for families who have children diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (or JRA- juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, which is what it was called...reactions22comments
Extreme Heat Waves, Going to the Beach, and PlaquenilIt's summer. Of course, Florida is hot during this time of the year, but this past week was one of the hottest I can remember since living in the Panhandle...reactions6comments
Antidepressants and RAI don't mind admitting that I have trouble with my mental health. I have struggled with clinical depression and bipolar II for a long time, and I have been on...reactions2comments
Why Don’t I Give Myself a Break?“No one is harder on you than you are,” said my husband Richard recently, and I had to agree! In this case, I was getting over a tough cold and...reactions18comments
Pillow PlacementDisclaimer: I still wake up frequently and commonly experience pain and stiffness in the morning. The pillow placements I talk about below provide additional comfort but do not alleviate all...reactions15comments
Giveaway: Paraffin Wax KitUPDATE: The Paraffin Wax Kit Giveaway is now closed. Thank you for your interest! This September, we are acknowledging Rheumatic Disease Awareness Month with a new giveaway! Since many people...reactions7comments
Advocating for Rheumatoid Arthritis: Being a Voice in Court The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines being an advocate as, “one who supports or promotes the interests of a cause or group.” The day we were personally diagnosed with RA or someone...reactions18comments
Stronger Hands: Keeping Your Small Joints StableKeeping my strength up is one of the biggest uphill battles of my life. This is also the case when it comes to my hands because they have endured more...reactions9comments
Insurance SurprisesWhen living with chronic illness, health insurance is vital. There’s absolutely no way many of us could pay for treatment and care without insurance coverage. Maintaining access to health insurance...reactions10comments
RA Relationships and the Big ContradictionWhen you have a chronic illness like rheumatoid arthritis, especially for many years, there’s a unique contradiction that occurs. Interestingly, the longer you suffer from whatever chronic illness you may...reactions12comments
