Things Change The other day, I was in my closet organizing and found myself sitting on the floor on an extra dog bed. When it was time to get up, I felt...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments
My Rheumatoid Arthritis Journey With TeaAs I am writing this article, it is a very cold winter day. I am inside as the wind is howling and snow is blowing with zero visibility. My city...Reactions0reactionsComments16 comments
We Are More Than Just RA, We Are People With LivesGuess what? Chronically ill and disabled people have lives. Gasp! It’s true! We drink milk and we date, and we stub our toes at night and curse the very universe...Reactions0reactionsComments64 comments
Rheumatoid Arthritis and Decision FatigueShould our rheumatoid arthritis always get the final say in every decision we make? Before I commit to pretty much anything, I always have to check in with my rheumatoid...Reactions0reactionsComments46 comments
What Life With RA Is Really Like: Results from the 2022 RA In America SurveyRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that commonly affects a person’s joints, tissues, organs, and so much more. Although RA affects millions of people, there are still so...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments
Using Electronic Devices With RA HandsSuccessfully managing the use of electronic devices intended to make our lives easier and more efficient can be neither if we are not careful. It seems to me it is...Reactions0reactionsComments23 comments
H.O.P.E."Grief and hope can coexist." -Rebecca Solnit I recently saw a meme posted on social media that caught my eye and attention. I quickly took a screenshot of it and...Reactions0reactionsComments7 comments
New Year, Same RAIt's the start of a new year, and with that comes the same stuff we usually hear around this time about how someone is going to change their life, their...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments
Anemic and Confused: Part 1For over a year, rheumatoid arthritis has not been my biggest health concern. (I know, right?!) My biggest health issue has been anemia; severe, debilitating anemia. Do I know why...Reactions0reactionsComments7 comments
My 2023 RA Intentions and BeyondMy sincerest hope is that your 2022 was a better year than mine. Don’t get me wrong, there were many moments of happiness and fun. However, overall, 2022 was very...Reactions0reactionsComments8 comments
How I Have Used VECTRA Testing to Guide RA Diagnosis and TreatmentWhat happens when I have a strong suspicion of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) but the 2 traditional lab markers (rheumatoid factor and anti-CCP antibodies) are not coming back positive? I have...Reactions0reactionsComments19 comments
The Confusion of How and Where to Get Test ResultsI recently needed to get both a cervical MRI and knee x-rays. For better or worse, I asked for the reports so that I could have them for my records...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments
Grappling With Instability or FusionAt a recent visit to a new spinal doctor, I learned that my top couple of vertebrae have become "naturally fused" as a result of my rheumatoid arthritis (RA). He...Reactions0reactionsComments40 comments
Unexpected Red: Eye Inflammation with RAUntil my own episode, I never realized RA could affect your eyes. Joints? Sure. But eyes? It seemed far-fetched in a disease like RA. I was aware of the need...Reactions0reactionsComments38 comments
Changing Perspectives of RAWhen someone thinks of a person with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), they don't think of me — for a variety of reasons. I'm young (a majority of patients with RA start...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
Angela's Adventure: Traveling with RA"Travel brings power and love back into your life." -Rumi Hallo aus Köln, Deutschland! (Hello from Cologne, Germany) I'm writing this from my friends' house in Cologne, Germany, where I've...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
5 House Cleaning Tips for Life With Rheumatoid ArthritisIn a perfect world, I’d be able to afford to have someone come in and clean my house for me. But as we are all painfully aware, we do not...Reactions0reactionsComments24 comments
When Our Service and Support Animals Are in NeedI am the proud mom of a 7-year-old, 20-pound cat named Luka. He is no ordinary animal; he has been deemed my emotional support animal by my physician. Through my...Reactions0reactionsComments25 comments
Joint Stiffness Not RequiredI remember the first time I saw a rheumatologist, he asked me a simple question: Do you experience any stiffness? Promptly, I said no and I was telling the truth...Reactions0reactionsComments17 comments
How Circadian Rhythms Influence Autoimmune DiseaseCircadian rhythms are 24-hour patterns generated by people's internal body clocks. These patterns respond to the environment, so they can change. Your circadian rhythms help tell you when to go...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments