A Home of My OwnA few months ago I daydreamed what it would be like to live in a place adapted to my rheumatoid arthritis and physical disabilities. It was during a time when... By Kelly Mack3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Vacation, All I Ever WantedOpen country roads, Main Street, little cabins on the lake, fresh air (except for the stinky turkey farms), miles of green fields for as far as you can see...no, this... By Angela Lundberg4 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments8 comments
Weasel WordsI believe the two most disheartening words you can hear from a doctor are “chronic pain.” As in “You have chronic pain.” Or worse, “You just have chronic pain.” This... By Wren3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments16 comments
Beware the Dignity PoliceI am sweating as I grip my walker and lift my feet to propel myself down the long hall when one of the rehabilitation facility administrators rushes up. She’s trying... By Kelly Mack3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Triggers, SchmiggersI’ve had a good day. I’ve run errands, maneuvering miles through heavy traffic to the bank, to the grocery store, and back home to put everything away; then Mom’s hair... By Wren3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments1 comments
No. 7 - Enjoy Your LifeThis is the seventh of ten things I’d like to go back and tell my newly diagnosed self about living with RA. I don’t think that anyone who has RA... By Carla Kienast3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments4 comments
No. 6 - Ask for HelpThis is the sixth of ten things I’d like to go back and tell my newly diagnosed self about living with RA. Let’s face it, life can be challenging. Balancing... By Carla Kienast3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments4 comments
No. 3 - Find a Rheumatologist You TrustThis is the third of ten things I’d like to go back and tell my newly diagnosed self about living with RA. One of the first things that happened soon... By Carla Kienast2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments5 comments
Is It Me or My RA?Lately, I’ve been having some cranky days. I really do take seriously my emotional state and how it influences my rheumatoid arthritis. Perhaps it is silly, but I feel staying... By Kelly Mack3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments12 comments
No. 2 – Do Research, Don't PanicThis is the second of ten things I’d like to go back and tell my newly diagnosed self about living with RA. Mae West has been credited with saying, “Too... By Carla Kienast3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Why Didn’t Anyone Tell Me That?On a recent visit to my rheumatologist, we were sitting with a medical student when my doctor asked me to explain how I was two years old when diagnosed. “See... By Kelly Mack3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments18 comments
Owning "My" RAHave you ever noticed that you refer to your own Rheumatoid Arthritis disease as “my RA”? It did not start out that way, but I think this sheds some interesting... By Nan Hart2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments3 comments
A Crash Course in CaregivingLiving with a chronic illness often dramatically changes the way you manage routine activities and responsibilities. You might need assistance to keep up with home chores or may need accommodations... By Lisa Emrich3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Where Would I Be Without Self-Advocacy?I’m riding a crowded train home from work and a woman behind me sets her bag on my head. I’m sitting in my wheelchair, so I guess it makes sense... By Kelly Mack3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments5 comments
Coping With ItI turned off the dryer and reached in, burying my hands in the deep-heated load of towels that had just finished the dry cycle. Oh, that felt so good! For... By Wren2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments4 comments
The Importance of Oral HealthDid you know that oral health and rheumatoid arthritis have the common link of inflammation? Recent research has found that people with RA experience gum disease at a much higher... By Kelly Mack3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments7 comments
What it is That Grips Us (Part 3)The evaluation of the symptoms of a major depressive episode is especially difficult when they occur in an individual who has a general medical condition. — The Diagnostic and Statistical... By Michael Booth5 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments4 comments
So what?It seems each year, around my birthday, I tend to reflect on purpose; more so now as I approach my last 18 months of full time work. That said, I... By Nan Hart3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments3 comments
When RA Severity Is Off the ChartsFirst, let me start by stating that every person with RA is unique and must grapple individually with pain, stiffness, joint problems and all the complexity of the disease. No... By Kelly Mack3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Lisa Learns to Ride, Part IIOur riding adventures began last spring when we wheeled Lisa’s new bicycle out of the local REI store and into our car. Before that moment, Lisa had tested several bikes... By Rob3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments1 comments