Infusion, Delayed Confusion, and the COVID-19 VaccineAhh, it is finally here: infusion day. I have been waiting for over a month to have the infusion. Each day of waiting makes my body pay the price for a...Reactions0reactionsComments13 comments
Why I Live in Leggings - Clothing & RAThe last time I bought hard pants was a decade ago. What are hard pants, you might ask? To me, hard pants are anything that feels hard to get on...Reactions0reactionsComments7 comments
Heave Ho – Lifting with RALifting without igniting a flare may be one of the biggest challenges we face in our day-to-day lives. When you stop and really consider how many times a day you...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments
Dressing Helpers for Rheumatoid Arthritis: 4 Ideas to TryHave you ever found yourself staring at your sock wondering what to do next? If you’re like me, the next step usually involves a groan, followed by, “Why is this...Reactions0reactionsComments9 comments
Take the Person Before Patient SurveyThe Person Before Patient Survey is now closed. Thank you for your interest! What makes us the people we are? Living with a serious health condition like rheumatoid arthritis can...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
The Pain of RA & How to CopeI think it’s time for a practical post, don’t you? We’ve talked about a ton of abstract concepts lately and, while those are valuable for sure, they aren’t going to...Reactions0reactionsComments10 comments
Patience Is PowerI started teaching a mindfulness class for 2 graders and I was reminded about how important patience and focus are to my wellbeing. I’ve written numerous times about how when...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments
Helpful Tips for Everyday Life: RA Tells a Complex StoryFor Arthritis Awareness Month, we dedicated each week to raising awareness of the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) journey. We explored topics such as: As this awareness month comes to an end...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
What a Difference a Day MakesYesterday, I looked 90 years old. I was walking with ace bandages around my knees at a pace that was too slow for my patient parents who are around eighty...Reactions0reactionsComments15 comments
People Are Not BurdensI don’t remember where the worry came from, but when I reached my teen years with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis - now known as juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) - I started...Reactions0reactionsComments11 comments
Unsolicited Advice aka "Thrusting Good Will"Every day, now, I read about someone who is dealing with unsolicited advice. When you have a chronic illness like rheumatoid arthritis (RA), it seems that people just can’t keep...Reactions0reactionsComments34 comments
Monstrous Medical Misconception: You Can’t Have RA If You Can ExerciseExercise and being active are important parts of staying healthy and fighting back against the effects of aging and disease. Everybody and every body is able to exercise to some...Reactions0reactionsComments9 comments
My Experience in Dealing with Shoes and RA-Related Foot IssuesI had been living with RA-related foot pain since I was diagnosed in 2004. Unfortunately, my foot pain symptoms were not taken as seriously as I would have liked them...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments
A Connection Between RA and Eating BetterI've been trying to eat better. Yes, it has been hard, mostly due to the pandemic but also because I regularly experience cravings for carbs and sweets (that's a nice...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
Dealing With a Lack of Social Support: RA Tells a Complex StoryFor the third week of Arthritis Awareness Month, we continue our efforts in raising awareness about rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In previous weeks, we focused on topics like RA symptoms and...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Clearing Up RA Infusion ConfusionI have been getting biologic infusions for rheumatoid arthritis off and on for over 20 years now, depending on the medication I am on at any given time. For the last...Reactions0reactionsComments8 comments
How I Describe PainMany years ago, an old school friend seriously asked me what my rheumatoid arthritis (RA) felt like, as I gingerly lowered myself into one of my living room couches. She...Reactions0reactionsComments29 comments
What Is Hijama (Wet Cupping)?I personally take biologic medications. However, I am always interested in learning about and using different complementary techniques. In the 2016 Olympics, the cupping technique was displayed on the world...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments
Telling Your Story May Be Good for Your Health“While writing about my health issues has not cured them, it has helped me develop better coping skills and even contributed to better management of my symptoms (and I could...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments
Validation of Pain Is the Start of TreatmentIn our society, only older people are allowed to have pain, like my 87-year-old grandma who calls it “The Netflix” and wears silk scarves around her neck. It’s not normal...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments