Do You Have A Flare Action Plan?A few months ago Rheumatoidarthritis.net compiled the results of their RA in America 2016 survey. Surveys like this are so important, especially for those of us living with rheumatoid arthritis... By Kathryn Elton, OTR3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments13 comments
Hello, Representative. Does My Insurance Cover Sex Therapy?As I explained in a previous post, about a year ago my sex life was really suffering – partly as the result of having two very young children but also... By Mariah Z. Leach4 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Let's (NOT) Keep Politics Out of It!"Please keep the politics bs off this page. There are other forums for that." -- My Facebook troll I got "trolled" recently on my RA Facebook page by an angry (and rather... By Angela Lundberg4 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Rosacea and RAI’ve been fighting an annoying rosacea flare since November last year. It’s sort of fun (and sardonic) to blame it on the outcome of the presidential election, but I doubt... By Wren2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments4 comments
The RousingHe begins the Rousing every day in the early morning gloom. Most days he uses his new-found voice, but other times he opts for a bag, a box, or possibly... By Rob2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments6 comments
“Supporting Fatigue” at the 2016 American College of Rheumatology Annual MeetingThe American College of Rheumatology (ACR) is a professional organization committed to improving the care of patients living with rheumatic diseases. Each year, ACR hosts a meeting attended by rheumatologists... By Mariah Z. Leach2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments12 comments
Making The Internet Work For YouThe ability to connect with people, information, organizations, etc. online can be one of the most important things you consider while dealing with RA. It can make your life so... By Nan Hart3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Reality and AppearanceLiving with Rheumatoid Arthritis is often a subtle masquerade of appearances: a smile when one is in pain, the forced buoyancy of energy when one is exhausted, the illusion of... By Michael Booth3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments9 comments
“Where oh where is my libido?” or The Time I Decided to See a Sex TherapistThough it isn’t often talked about, I think most people living with RA would agree that RA can have a very negative impact on a person’s sex life. Pain and... By Mariah Z. Leach4 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments1 comments
It's Not Too LateI get a flu shot every fall, usually after a routine rheumatologist appointment. The VA medical center where I get my care offers them to all vets, and they keep... By Wren3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments8 comments
Know Your Love Language – A Tool for Improving Communication in RelationshipsCommunication is an essential part of maintaining a healthy relationship – it’s how we share our thoughts, ideas, feelings, and desires with our partners. But, in a relationship where one... By Mariah Z. Leach3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments2 comments
(Finally) Embracing Goals and How They Help MeMy entire professional life has been deadline driven. There were usually dire consequences if deadlines weren’t met: contracts could be lost, governing bodies could impose fines, disclosure regulations would be... By Carla Kienast3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments2 comments
It's a small, small worldHave you ever stopped to think how important the notion of smallness is to managing RA? As strange as this may sound I am convinced that remembering to keep it... By Nan Hart2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments2 comments
IsolationThe journey of the lone protagonist, forgotten and consigned to oblivion, is the plot of innumerable movies, dramas, novels, and historical narratives. Something about a single individual, whether stranded and... By Michael Booth2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments7 comments
Learning to Speak RAWhen you’re diagnosed with RA you become a member of an exclusive club. To quote the iconic comic, Groucho Marx (and others to whom the saying has been attributed), “I... By Carla Kienast2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Aches and AchesThere are aches, and then there are pains. The frequency of both have proliferated in my life since being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. As a young athlete in extreme sports... By Michael Booth3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments3 comments
A Hair-Raising ExperienceI have never had an easy time with my hair, but rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has made it even more of a challenge. From the time I was a little girl... By Nan Hart2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments13 comments
Seeking: Modest Health Care ProfessionalsModesty is sometimes an undervalued characteristic in people and health care professionals in particular. When I was a child, it was confidence and authority that you sought in a doctor... By Kelly Mack3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments2 comments
What Does Pain Actually Look Like?Here’s a scenario I’d like you to consider: two people are currently experiencing acute and intense pain. The first person is generally in perfect health and almost never experiences pain... By Mariah Z. Leach3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments10 comments
Self-What? Remembering Self-CareAt a recent physical therapy appointment at my pain management clinic, my therapist began to ask me questions related to self-care. "So have you tried the breathing techniques we talked... By Angela Lundberg6 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments2 comments