When the RD Meds Work--Sort ofBack in November of last year I started a new biologic drug to treat my rheumatoid disease. Having had two other biologics fail me utterly during the previous 12 months... By Wren3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Characterizing RA painI would imagine that like me, most of you are asked from time to time to explain the type of pain you are feeling in your joints ravaged by RA... By Nan Hart2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Funky FeetMy feet are strange and unusual. Perhaps I should call them unique. They are abnormally small, which I attribute to my rheumatoid arthritis constricting their natural growth trajectory. Additionally, many... By Kelly Mack2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments5 comments
Incurably Well“Incurable.” I hate that word. It’s so final, so deadpan, and so totally hopeless. When I hear or read it my first reaction is to turn away, shut down, and... By Wren3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Parents' Perspective (Part 2)Recently I had the opportunity to talk with my parents about their experience having a child with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). I was diagnosed at a very young age (about 2... By Kelly Mack4 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
When to See the DoctorWith RA it seems like there is always something going on: pain, swelling, even the occasional fever. So how do you sort out what’s “normal” and when you need to... By Carla Kienast2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Love is in the airWith February being the month designated to celebrate love (thank you Valentine's Day) PLUS my birthday falls on that day PLUS my last name is Hart I felt compelled to... By Nan Hart3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
HomebodyI’m an extrovert. While dictionaries generally define an “extrovert” as an outgoing person, psychologists and personality tests often look at the word not in terms of friendliness, but rather by... By Tamara Haag4 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Grief Is A Process; Progress Takes TimeFor those who have been diagnosed with chronic illness, it may be the worst thing that has ever happened to you. It certainly was for me. But then my dad... By Leslie Rott2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments5 comments
Oh Blizzard!Growing up in upstate New York we had our fair share of heavy snowstorms. But living in DC for the past 15+ years has been a different story. We recently... By Kelly Mack3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Weighing the Risks: Glenn Frey and RD DrugsBy now, just about everyone has heard the sad news about Glenn Frey, co-founder and musician/songwriter of the Eagles, the wildly popular 70s band. His untimely death on January 18... By Wren4 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments2 comments
AnticipationOne aspect of living with a chronic disease like RA that often gets little attention is the notion of anticipation. What I mean by that is the very real prospect... By Nan Hart3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Scoliosis and RAThere are a lot of strange aspects of rheumatoid arthritis, and when I look back at my childhood, there were several health issues that seemed unusual and out of place... By Tamara Haag2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments17 comments
Feel the BurnDid you know that research indicates that hard workouts can help joints with rheumatoid arthritis to feel better? In fact, new research findings described in Prevention magazine (“Giving Your Joints... By Kelly Mack2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
If Not For RA Would I Still Be Childless?When I was around 20 years old, I had hopes that I would complete college, marry my sweetheart, and that we would have 3 kids before we turned 30. It... By Lisa Emrich3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Stress Doesn’t Do A Body GoodI’ve had a lot going on recently, including losing my job due to budget cuts, going through a breakup from my boyfriend of three and a half years, and moving... By Leslie Rott3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments1 comments
A New Word: KinesiophobiaI love words. Not only do I believe that they’re one of the most powerful forces in the universe, I’ve been blessed enough to make my living writing for more... By Carla Kienast3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Locating Our LifeboatsIt was a rainy Saturday morning, and I’d arranged for my children to spend a few hours with their grandmother so that I could hold the bi-annual toy purge I... By Tamara Haag5 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Don’t Neglect Mental HealthFindings from a recent study indicate that rheumatoid arthritis causes mood disorders. While mood shifts come as no surprise because we are battling pain, limitations, and sleep deprivation, it is... By Kelly Mack3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments7 comments
Giving Your Loved One a Cold is a Gift You Wish You Could Take BackOh man, now I really feel bad. My husband had to stay home from work today...sick. He’s finally caught whatever crummy bug I’ve been dealing with over the past several... By Lisa Emrich3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments2 comments