What I Thought Was Eczema Turned Out to Be ShinglesEditor’s Note: This article was written by Patient Leader Cora Lyn Sears and originally appeared on our partner site AtopicDermatitis.net. She describes her experience of having shingles while living with... By Editorial Team 3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
I Love and Hate My LifeRheumatoid arthritis has caused a real dichotomy in my life. It caused so much turmoil but also some wonderful things. More often than not, I want to curl up in... By Monica Y. Sengupta4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments17 comments
Emotionally Preparing for SurgerySurgery – a necessary part of living with RA, unfortunately, and a major event in a patient’s life. Since this is part 2 of a 2-part series on preparing for... By Daniel Malito4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments5 comments
Preparing For Surgery - A GuideSurgery. For many of us with rheumatoid arthritis and other chronic illnesses, surgery is as much a part of life as fatigue or blood tests or having to make a... By Daniel Malito4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
Oppression Days/DazeI’m coming to grips that some days are just not good ones. It’s not just the pain, fatigue, or joint limitations from rheumatoid arthritis, it’s the days when the fight... By Kelly Mack3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments14 comments
Meeting Fellow Chronic Illness WarriorsI had a recent experience that I wanted to share with everyone in this community. My aim is to showcase the importance of community when it comes to having a... By David Advent2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments5 comments
My Shingles SurpriseRecently, members of our community discussed shingles. Shingles symptoms are uncomfortable, and can be more severe when combined with autoimmune diseases. It is always an unwelcome surprise when shingles erupt... By Editorial Team 2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
The Ticker Tape Parade of RA SymptomsYesterday I was relaxing in the afternoon and I started to feel my left ankle throb. Feeling surprised, I looked down and thought, “What now?” I know by now I... By Kathryn Elton, OTR2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments31 comments
Advocating for Pain Relief and Breastfeeding with RAAs a woman and a twice-over-mama, I have realized an unfortunate dichotomy among breastfeeding your child and choosing other things in your life. For example, for many women it’s all... By Janeil Whitworth3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments4 comments
The Caterpillar, the Biologic and Rheumatoid ArthritisI recall my grandfather looking at a Caterpillar bulldozer sitting in his yard at the lakefront property he owned. No one lived at the cottage. The cottage was used on... By L rick Phillips3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments7 comments
Brain Fog in a Multitasking WorldThe pressure in our society to do everything in the least amount of time is overwhelming, to put it mildly. The pressure on the average, healthy person to keep up... By Leanne Donaldson3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments9 comments
Questions to Ask Your Rheumatologist about Rheumatoid ArthritisHeading into an appointment with your doctor can be overwhelming or stressful. You also may not always know the right questions to ask, even if you've been living with RA... By Donica Liu Baker, MD, FACR2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments10 comments
As I Get Older, People Seem to Care Less About My RAFinding someone. Dating. Relationships. When you have rheumatoid arthritis or any chronic illness, being in a relationship comes with extra challenges. If there’s anything relationships don’t need – it’s more... By Daniel Malito4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments8 comments
Transitioning HealthcareThis was a difficult article to write, weirdly. Many of the incidents happened soon after I moved to a new state, but I felt guilty writing about them. Where I... By Monica Y. Sengupta3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments13 comments
It’s Not Patience, It’s ExhaustionMy husband Richard knows my true nature. I try to hide it and improve upon it, but the truth is that I am impatient. People mistake my exhaustion for patience... By Kelly Mack3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments22 comments
Struggling with the AIP DietI've seen a few posts on our site about individuals who have tried the autoimmune protocol diet (AIP). It's a diet designed to reduce inflammation and also an elimination/reintroduction diet... By David Advent2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments6 comments
RA and Misconceptions - Why Us?Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most enigmatic chronic illnesses out there; dealing with it daily is a herculean feat. Fatigue, pain, general malaise, depression – the list of symptoms... By Daniel Malito4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments38 comments
Chronic Clencher"You're a chronic clencher," the massage therapist said to me while pressing her fingers into my tender jaw muscles. Wincing from the pain, I agreed, "Yes, I am." Even though... By Angela Lundberg3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments33 comments
Water is RA's best friendDuring the dog days of summer, we often don’t need much of a reminder to stay hydrated as thirst is a constant companion, but remembering to stay hydrated when summer... By Nan Hart2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments4 comments
Feeling Good But Not Good Enough It’s been an encouraging few months, health-wise. The medication I started a couple of years ago is working better than ever. For the first time in over a decade, I... By Kathryn Elton, OTR3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments12 comments