What to Tell OthersI have a hard time talking about my pain and illness with others. It’s something I’m trying to get better at, especially with close friends. Fundamentally, I struggle with the... By Kelly Mack3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments17 comments
Outside the linesIt seems that so much of our time managing RA centers around the main aspects of the disease itself, i.e. the joint pain, swelling, fatigue, etc. that it may be... By Nan Hart3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
What Does That Say?I’ll admit it: I’ve never had great penmanship. As a young child, I was an overachiever with report cards filled with “E’s” for “excellent.” The one exception was penmanship, for... By Tamara Haag2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
Six Assistance Programs RA Patients Need to KnowDisclaimer: Some of the programs mentioned below have been discontinued. We're in the process of updating this information. Managing a chronic disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis, can be made more... By Lisa Emrich3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments4 comments
Invisible Illnesses & Handicapped ParkingEver since the day I was first issued my handicapped parking placard, I have been waiting for someone to give me a hard time about it. I’ve heard horror stories... By Mariah Z. Leach2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments4 comments
Losing Dr. McWonderfulIt was time to make my quarterly appointment with my rheumatologist. I called the Veteran’s Administration Health Care Appointments number and waited, as usual, through several repeats of the recorded... By Wren6 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
Summer R&R for RAHello from Brooklyn, New York! I'm back! Okay, maybe you didn't know I was even gone, but I took a two-week trip back home to Minnesota in early July to... By Angela Lundberg4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments3 comments
Searching for Peace in a Quiet DayWhen I was in college, I loved staying out until the wee hours of the night going dancing or to concerts, then sleeping until noon and spending the rest of... By Tamara Haag3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Helpful or Hurtful?When does someone's "friendly" advice cross the line and turn unhelpful or even hurtful? Is unsolicited advice really an effort at friendship and support, or is it bossiness and ego/arrogance... By Angela Lundberg7 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments4 comments
Plagued by InflammationIn recent months, I’ve been struggling with an inflammation of the eyelids called blepharitis. Warning: this is gross! I wake up with yellow crusties on my eyelids and a sticky... By Kelly Mack3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments11 comments
RA Daydreams: Robot ChauffeurLiving with rheumatoid arthritis can feel like a nightmare, which sometimes leads me to daydream about things that would make this journey a little easier. Sitting in my car in... By Tamara Haag3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
The Importance of Patient FeedbackOur healthcare system can be extremely complicated for patients to navigate. And, all too often, it seems like patients are a captive audience, with little to no power to influence... By Mariah Z. Leach3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
Not Measuring UpWhen I returned home from my last knee replacement surgery I had nurse visits, home rehabilitation with a physical therapist, and also occupational therapy (OT) for helping me adjust to... By Kelly Mack3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
Like When it Sneaks Up on YouSo the other day I was at my computer. I was researching an article, surfing the Web for credible background, reading, and taking the occasional note. It wasn’t particularly pleasant... By Wren4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments4 comments
Listening to Caregivers: Recollections from a Caregiver SeminarThis past weekend, I traveled with Lisa for a 1-day patient blogger conference held in Chicago, IL. The event, hosted by a pharmaceutical company, was arranged to gather feedback from... By Rob3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
RA in America -Symptoms by the NumbersThe RA diagnosis and disease management journey can often feel overwhelming, particularly when the number of symptoms increases over time. Are you curious to know how your experience compares to... By Editorial Team 2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments11 comments
Laughter truly IS the best medicineI can imagine that at first glance the notion of laughing about a chronic disease borders on absurdity. But let me make a case for why laughing can actually improve... By Nan Hart3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
The RA DivideRecently I went to pick up my kids from preschool, and was feeling really achy. There had been a series of storms and temperature fluctuations all week, and the shifts... By Tamara Haag3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
Skin in the GameI have a new dermatologist. It wasn’t really a choice. My previous dermatologist of many years passed away and the practice was sold. My records weren’t even in the system... By Carla Kienast2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
Enough, Already!When I was young, I thought rheumatoid disease (arthritis) was something only old people had. Then I got it myself. I was only 31. I learned that there were other... By Wren3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments