Living

UPDATE: 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...

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...

Keeping 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...

When 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...

When 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...

Some chronic illnesses can run in the family. My dad has a form of arthritis that is chronic and inflammatory — though not RA — and my grandmother on my...

You never realize how difficult the act of sleep can be until it becomes an issue for you. For many people, sleep is a mindless and enjoyable act–something that they...

All of the times I have had surgery, it never felt optional. It always felt like something I needed to do to either maintain quality of life or to survive...

My next acupuncture appointment is coming up soon and I'm looking forward to it, as always. It feels great to get back into having acupuncture regularly again after quite a...

I remember the first time I noticed an advertisement about rheumatoid arthritis medications. The patients were smiling and doing everything they wanted! I thought I had failed when my medications...

As some of you may or may not know, I authored a piece last month where I talked about a question that I get asked often. The “if you could...

Like many of us, I’ve been forced to learn as much as I can about rheumatoid arthritis in the years since my diagnosis. As a bit of a researcher, I’ve...

A couple of years ago, my husband Richard and I had a great time seeing Phil Collins in concert. We were excited to see him perform as he doesn’t tour...

I am not a big drinker; I never have been. I drink socially on occasion, but I never felt the appeal to drink in excess. I just don’t enjoy the...

Swimming in the springs isn't the same when you have RA. You have to take care of yourself and your body wherever you go. I jumped off the dock into...

Living with rheumatoid arthritis for most of my life, I’ve had plenty of time to figure out what helps and hurts me daily. Like many people, that doesn’t mean I...

"I dream of never being called resilient again in my life. I'm exhausted by strength. I want support. I want softness. I want ease. I want to be amongst kin...

A common thread in our community discussions is the lack of family understanding and support you might face when you live with a chronic condition. It’s easy to feel betrayed...

Someone asked me the other day, “If you could go back and not have RA, would you do it?” It’s a question they love to ask in interviews and it...

In the first part of this history lesson on RA, we summarized the 3 theories of RA origin and discussed the role of skeletal remains in support of the various...