RA In America – Symptoms by the NumbersThe RA diagnosis and disease management journey can often feel overwhelming, especially when the number of your symptoms increases over time. Are...reactions11comments
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...reactions2comments
The RA DivideRecently I went to pick up my kids from preschool, and was feeling really achy. There had been a series of storms...reactions2comments
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...reactions2comments
Enough, Already!When I was young, I thought rheumatoid disease (arthritis) was something only old people had. Then I got it myself. I was...reactions2comments
Adjusting the MedsIt’s always a gamble, a guessing-game to get the medications right. I think of it as a delicate balance. Enough of the...reactions9comments
The Hostess with the Mostest... Hip PainI bustle around the kitchen prepping food. It’s my daughter’s birthday, and we’ve invited several families over for a backyard barbecue to...reactions6comments
Getting engaged is delightful at any age!So the final E in my EEE approach to RA management is Engaging (the first two E's can be found here and...reactionscomments
A Smoother CycleAs a very active kid, exercise wasn’t a chore; it was the means to a great time. It wasn’t until I was...reactionscomments
Wasted WeekendI came home Friday feeling wrecked from the week. My bag was full of work to catch up on over the weekend...reactions2comments
Suiting Up . . . for a Day at the OfficeMost people familiar with rheumatoid arthritis understand that mornings are tough. Those of us with RA tend to experience morning stiffness, so...reactions14comments
The Joker in the DeckLike thousands of other aging boomers, I’m caring full time for my elderly mother. She’s 83 now, and while she’s doing fairly...reactions2comments
Passing JudgmentPeople who cope with chronic pain--the kind of pain that comes to live with you forever--are very good at hiding it. I...reactions1comment
Those were the days....You would think that after nearly 20 years, my memory of the onset and diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis would be at best...reactionscomments
That's a Fail!As a rheumatoid disease (arthritis) patient, I’m used to feeling like a failure. After all, the pain, fatigue, malaise, and disability it...reactions6comments
“Mean Mommy”When I was a nanny in college, I vowed that when the day came when I had kids of my own, I...reactions2comments
How Do We Comfort Our Healthcare Providers?At my last rheumatologist appointment, I had a somewhat bizarre experience. When my doctor orders labs, one of the nurses comes in...reactions2comments
How slow can you go?I have learned through the years of association and friendship with others with Rheumatoid Arthritis that many of us were used to...reactionscomments
Eating the ElephantRheumatoid disease (arthritis) is sometimes overwhelming. The frequent pain, fatigue, niggling low-grade fevers, and feeling ill and foggy are a lot for...reactions11comments
To Exercise, or Not to ExerciseEvery morning I wake up and dread the first movements of the day. I hate waking up and I’m the worst at...reactions6comments
