Articles

This May, I will be celebrating my 20th anniversary of being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. I was in my twenties when the diagnosis came into my life at the force...

Since June 2023, I’ve been scared into really taking care of my teeth. Last year, I had a tooth removed due to severe infection and deterioration. It had nothing to...

"Wisdom comes through suffering. Trouble, with its memories of pain, drips in our hearts as we try to sleep." -Aeschylus, Agamemnon My sleep hygiene is appalling. It's erratic and unhealthy and...

Living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can be an overwhelming journey filled with physical and emotional challenges. The daily battle against joint pain, fatigue, and uncertainty can leave some people feeling...

As you may have realized already, this was a leap year! Time to jump for joy! (Spoiler alert: If you don’t like leaping puns and word play, better click off...

Some environment and lifestyle factors can make rheumatoid arthritis (RA) symptoms and progression worse. One of the most well known is smoking. The relationship between RA and alcohol, however, is...

One of the things that comes along with chronic illness that almost never gets talked about is the inordinate amount of time it takes. I’m not talking about flare-ups or...

It's that time again: I've developed yet another pain and complication because of my RA. For those of you who have rheumatoid arthritis (RA), you know this feeling of dread...

I live with several comorbid conditions along with rheumatoid arthritis. Some of them have distinct symptoms, but many of them happen to cause similar responses in my body. Recently, I've...

Treating our rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can come in many forms. Some of us choose to manage it with traditional pharmaceutical medications, while others choose alternative methods such as functional medicine...

Well, here we are again, on the roller coaster. Now, I know what you are thinking... "Who doesn’t love a roller coaster?" Well, I don’t. Real ones and emotional ones...

I have a dear friend whose love language translates to mysterious Amazon packages showing up at my doorstep. Sometimes the items are funny, such as a bizarre pair of lobster...

I recently had an infusion, something that happens 4 times a year for me. As I was getting settled in my chair, I realized I was happy to be there...

Since my diagnosis over 19 years ago, I have implemented a holistic approach in treating my rheumatoid arthritis (RA). I use of combination of Western medication, dietary changes, exercise, physical therapy...

I recently went through a painful experience. I woke up one morning in incredible pain; my neck was almost locked up, I couldn't move my hand, and I felt just...

What do you wish someone told you about managing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) when you were initially diagnosed? Most people living with RA would likely agree that there is a lot...

I've been lucky enough to have had care with the same rheumatologist for the last 8 years, covering my diagnostic odyssey, medication trials, and luckily, now, several years of remission from...

I am not a good sick person. Now, this might seem bonkers considering I am a 3-decade alum of living with rheumatoid arthritis, but it’s true, and right now I...

My goodness, this has become a legitimate saga. If you've read my recent articles about my reproductive issues, they ended on a cliffhanger: the total laparoscopic hysterectomy and salpingectomy that...

Over the years, talking about my rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and explaining it to others has changed as I have shifted my mindset and experienced the progression of the disease. I...