Is the Pandemic Making Me Weaker?Like most people, I’m just trying to get through the pandemic crisis (mostly) intact. I expect we’ll all be changed, we’ll all have to recover in various ways, and the...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
The Value of UncertaintyHere is my premise. We need uncertainty for medical professionals to get our diagnosis right and, even when they have it right, we need them to be uncertain going forward. Without...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
The Medicine HopperIt doesn’t surprise many people when they learn that I change medications frequently. I’m a little flakey and I like fast results. Barring the last few years, I was never...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
Aging with RAOld. Over the hill. Out of date. Starting to rot... Call it what you will but, as my grandfather said, getting old isn’t for the faint of heart. The thing...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Which RA Door - 1,2, or 3?As a kid, I loved to watch the show "Let’s Make a Deal" because the surprise aspect of it was very intriguing to me. Contestants were asked to select, sight unseen...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Take the Chronic Dry Eye In America Survey!*Update: As of Wednesday, April 28, 2021, the Chronic Dry Eye In America survey is now closed and will not be reopened. It is estimated that more than 16 million...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Insomnia + RA - A Vicious CycleI used to think I couldn’t sleep because I had too much on my mind. Then, I thought I couldn’t sleep because of how much my knees hurt. To confuse...Reactions0reactionsComments22 comments
The Medication Side Effect Dance of Rheumatoid ArthritisHere I am again. Feeling the effects of my body trying to adjust to a medication, and it’s not fun. I’m reminding myself that my bad mood is just temporary...Reactions0reactionsComments10 comments
Monica's Tips for Staying OrganizedOrganization is a big thing for me. Because of the mixture of rampant brain fog and medication side effects, my memory is not particularly reliable anymore. I tend to forget...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Starting Humira as Treatment for RAIn May 2019, I took my first injection of Humira. It was the first time I had been on a biologic for treatment of my rheumatoid arthritis. Previously, I had...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments
Tonsils and RA?It was about this time last year that I had one of the worst sicknesses that I’ve ever experienced: a combo of strep throat and tonsillitis. My tonsillitis were so...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Prednisone Mood Swings and Rheumatoid ArthritisFor some, prednisone is a miracle medication. For others, it is the slingshot that has launched them down a course in their life that they will never recover from. But...Reactions0reactionsComments7 comments
Quick Tips to Manage Nausea for RA PatientsAs an RA patient who also lives with a GI condition called Crohn’s disease, I am unfortunately too educated and experienced when it comes to dealing with nausea, upset stomach...Reactions0reactionsComments15 comments
Painful Knee Osteoarthritis: It's Time to Repeat Hyaluronic Acid InjectionsI remember the occasion very clearly when osteoarthritis made itself known beyond a reasonable doubt. In 2010, I decided to paint my home music studio a fun combination of light...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments
My Bone Loss StoryAccording to the Mayo Clinic, osteoporosis “causes bones to become brittle and weak” because “the formation of new bone does not keep up with the loss of old bone.” Bones...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
Getting Accommodations During the PandemicMy general stance on the pandemic: things are challenging for everyone and we are all just trying to figure it out. So when my local pool re-opened without any plans...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
If Murphy’s Law Was A Disease, It’d Be RAWell, that’s it; the title says it all. Thanks for coming, please leave your praise in the comment section below! Ha! There’s more, of course, which you probably already knew...Reactions0reactionsComments13 comments
Tips for Juvenile Idiopathic Rheumatoid ArthritisSince I was diagnosed at age two more than 40 years ago, the condition has changed names (from juvenile rheumatoid arthritis to juvenile idiopathic arthritis), the treatments have greatly improved...Reactions0reactionsComments8 comments
My Healthcare Team: More Than Just RheumatologyWhen you have a chronic illness — and more specifically, a rheumatic illness — your rheumatologist is your eventual first point of contact after working with your primary care doctor...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments
Should I Have Some Physical Therapy for RA?I have been fortunate to have had some really talented and outstanding physical and occupational therapists to work with over the years I have had rheumatoid arthritis (RA), so I...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments