Living

The summer after I completed my master’s degree, I decided to celebrate by seeing the world and improving my Spanish via a couple of months spent in South America.  Planning...

I have long understood the benefits of breastfeeding. My mother was the leader of the local La Leche League chapter, so she touted the positive impacts of breastfeeding, in addition...

I have always lived with the credo that as one door closes another one opens.  This has proven true on so many levels throughout my journey with RA.  For instance...

When I stop to consider some of the challenges RA folks face over time one has popped up for me just this past week.  It involves sorting out the difference...

If you are anything like me, you often take one day at a time. This is great for most situations; but when an event is on the horizon that would...

Recently I had a big meeting at work, with a presentation to give to the higher-ups in our school district. I prepared my data, reviewed points I anticipated questions on...

Editor's note: This article was first published in May 2015. Since then, more research has been conducted to understand the role of genetics in rheumatoid arthritis. Read this recent study...

Here’s a common scenario: I’m feeling pretty good and am up for a task I’ve been putting off, such as painting a room, reorganizing closets, or stripping and waxing the...

The irksome earworm I’m stuck with this morning keeps singing the tune to “Bad Boys” in my head.  Except instead of “bad boys,” it’s chanting “Bad hands, bad hands, whatcha...

When I made the decision to become pregnant, one of the chief factors I weighed was how my body would handle the pregnancy. I had long heard about the swollen...

A good friend of mine just shared an article with me that was recently posted on BuzzFeed by a young woman with RA. In the article, she honestly and eloquently...

It is all coming back to me now. Remember when we were youngsters and our parents, teachers, coaches, etc. would instruct us to "do that over"?  Most of the time...

A few years ago I visited my primary care physician for an annual check-up. She gave me a good going-over, studied my blood and urinalysis test results without commenting, and...

Back when my now-husband and I were talking about getting married, we discussed the things most important to us in merging from single life to a partnership, such as bank...

A couple of months before my 16 birthday my mom got me the most amazing gift any teenager could want: a car. It was a 12-year-old Nissan and was nothing...

I got a need. A need for sleep. Partly, I do it to myself. I get all wrapped up in work, volunteer activities, and fun with friends and family. Quickly...

Eating is such a necessary part of our existence that we often just take it for granted without giving it a whole lot of thought.  It is, however, one of...

I’ve had rheumatoid arthritis since I was 31 years old. The young internist who diagnosed me way back in 1987 said that that RA was an autoimmune disease. I had...

There is a lot to hate about rheumatoid arthritis: the pain, swelling and fatigue, the side effects and expense of treatment options, and the fear of what the future with...

“Do you really need that many pillows?” I don’t know how many times my husband has asked me that. In spite of being very supportive and compassionate, my husband continues...