RA + Aging = A Big ChallengeMy first symptoms of RA began when I was 40 years old. I was officially diagnosed at 42 years of age. I...reactionscomments
Can Being Sick Affect Your Blood Work?Last month I came down with a horrible virus of some sort. It caused a high fever and made my body feel...reactions2comments
He Said, She Said, NSAIDI ran across an interesting study the other day on pain in America that was reported by Rheumatology Network. While there is...reactionscomments
Piles and Piles of PaperworkJosef K. was arrested, so the story goes, on his thirtieth birthday. The crime he was arrested for is unknown, the agency...reactions1comment
Two Scary Words: Open EnrollmentLabor Day is a key milestone for a lot of people. Kids are starting back to school. Retailers put swimwear on sale...reactionscomments
Brain Fog and the LudditeHave you ever met someone who eschews technology, who sees an impending evil in every new scientific advancement, and who wishes that...reactions2comments
The Weight of the WorldThe feeling of heaviness or weight on one's joints is yet another enduring aspect of RA that we have to handle on...reactionscomments
The Tell Tale Sign"Illness is definitely not elegant, and certainly not venerable." — Ludivico Settembrini in The Magic Mountain As I walked through the lobby of the...reactionscomments
Biomarkers and Treatment PlansSince my diagnosis just over eight years ago, I’ve steadily worked my way through all the biologics except one. Your body can...reactions4comments
Seasonal ChangesHere in Vermont, fall is just around the corner and with it comes shorter daylight hours, dark mornings and cold weather. I...reactions1comment
Bracing for Flu SeasonIt’s instinctual—I cringe when I hear a cough, see a sneeze. I can’t help it. After years of immunosuppressant drugs, bouts with...reactions4comments
When Your Loved One Has RAA diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) impacts more than just the person who receives it. Even if you have no personal experience...reactions18comments
Inflamed BrainOn July 1st of 2016, the Rheumatology Research Foundation announced 85 recipients of education, training, and research funding. The financial awards serve...reactions3comments
Will I ever know the difference?Here I am 20+ years into RA and I still, quite frequently, cannot tell when I am flaring versus when a treatment...reactions1comment
The Viennese Quack, Pikachu, and Parenting with RAThere are two things I have found that solicit the most unwanted and inaccurate advice from others: rheumatoid arthritis and parenting. Whether...reactionscomments
Dear Mom, I'm Not PrinceDear Mom, I'm not Prince. I'm not secretly taking Fentanyl or having to land my private jet in Illinois in order to get...reactions2comments
RA Loo ManeuversOK, this is something we’ve really got to talk about. Yes, it’s a bit awkward; it’s the kind of thing we usually...reactions43comments
The "Get Out of Flare Free" CardLiving with rheumatoid arthritis is frustrating to say the least. This disease causes pain, inflammation, and fatigue, all of which can place...reactions2comments
Laying Off Opioids, Part 2: Adjusting to ChangeNote:If you haven’t read my earlier posts, “The War On Opioids Comes Home” and “Laying Off Opioids: Part 1,” you might want...reactions10comments
Why I said I DoI just got married, for the first time, at the age of 47. Growing up with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (now called juvenile...reactions6comments
