Rheumatic Fever or Rheumatoid Arthritis: What's the Difference?Many eons ago, not long after my diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, I went to the library to learn all I could about it. Ever since I’d taken Lamaze training so... By Wren3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Jeepers Peepers!There’s a lot more to rheumatoid disease than meets the eye. When I first started learning more about this disease about ten years ago, thanks to an increasingly useful Internet... By Wren4 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments2 comments
JawbreakerLong ago, on a pretty autumn morning, I woke with a miserably aching right jaw. My first thought was that I had a toothache--a terrible thought indeed because I’ve always... By Wren2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments15 comments
Keeping CoverI have structured my life around maintaining health insurance coverage. Diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at age 22, my mother quickly impressed on me the importance of having health insurance. She... By Tamara Haag3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments2 comments
When and how to extend our hands...I recently had an interesting experience that led to me reflecting on when and how do we extend ourselves to others suffering with RA. Are there some boundaries we need... By Nan Hart4 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Financial Crisis to Financial Confusion: One Year LaterI wrote an article last year about our experience in rectifying a potential financial crisis caused by insurance uncertainty. Through diligent communication with the pharmaceutical company that provides co-pay assistance... By Rob3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
RA Daydreams: The Flare-Away PillLiving with rheumatoid arthritis can feel like a nightmare, which sometimes leads me to daydream about things that would make this journey a little easier. If I could have one... By Tamara Haag3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Community Thoughts: How Much Do I Share About RA?Inspired by writer Kelly Mack's questions in a recent article:"I struggle with the question: how much do I share about my RA? How much can others handle? How much do... By jennl6 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments4 comments
Seminal MomentsWe’ve all had those seminal moments – instances where everything after that point changes. Maybe it was that moment when you knew you wanted to get married – or divorced... By Carla Kienast2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments1 comments
I Can Do This!: RA AffirmationsWe all know the little blue engine that pulled the train up the mountain by saying to itself, “I think I can. I think I can.” It turns out that... By Tamara Haag4 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments4 comments
The Words We UseWhat’s your first thought when someone tells you they’re sick? What if they say they’re chronically ill? I ask this because describing such things to others is full of potholes... By Wren3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments6 comments
What's up Doc?Among the many ongoing decisions associated with wisely managing Rheumatoid Arthritis, arguably the most crucial one is who to turn to for treatment. First you must decide which medical professional... By Nan Hart5 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
The Hows and WhysI’m a regular user of Twitter--I love being able to talk to other people who share my interests or, in particular, people like me who cope daily with chronic illness... By Wren4 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments2 comments
When I Get That Feeling I Want... Arthritis HealingThe stage was set for a romantic evening. The kids were spending the night at grandma’s. The house was blissfully empty and quiet, with the whole evening ahead of us... By Tamara Haag3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments6 comments
Finding the right balanceOne of the many challenges we face as we move through the years managing a chronic disease like RA, is finding the balance between being vigilant about our health and... By Nan Hart3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Mommy, My Knee HurtsGrowing up, I learned early on that some families are plagued with health problems. When I was five years old my sister was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes, and our... By Tamara Haag4 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Understanding the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)If you – or someone you love – live with a chronic illness, you may eventually need to take time off from your job to focus on a health issue... By Mariah Z. Leach4 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Over-scheduled!A Greek food festival. A chili cook-off. A professional soccer game. A play with friends. A movie in the park. A trip to California. A weekend getaway with my husband... By Mariah Z. Leach2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments7 comments
Smashing BarriersWhen I graduated from college, I got a job in Washington, DC, and moved there with a friend. We took a day trip from the campus and visited a lot... By Kelly Mack3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Mind ReaderHere’s a thing: expecting others to know we’re in pain if we don’t tell them. Here’s another: feeling frustrated or angry with them because they don’t. How can they know... By Wren5 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments5 comments