Articles

Here 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...

Organization 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...

In 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...

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...

For 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...

As 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...

I 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...

According 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...

My 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...

Well, 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...

Since 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...

When 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...

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...

Recently the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) released its recommendations for autoimmune patients (including rheumatoid arthritis) for the COVID-19 vaccines. Their conclusion was that although there is limited data, autoimmune...

In my last article, I talked about developing a support system and finding ways to boost your self-confidence. Today, I have two more suggestions for you. Just like any relationship...

Pfizer reported results from a new post-launch study on the safety of the drug Xeljanz (tofacitinib), finding more major adverse cardiovascular events and cases of cancer when compared to TNF-inhibitors...

As technology has become a bigger part of our daily lives, its uses in healthcare have also grown. Thanks to improvements in technology, there are many options for accessing healthcare...

As an autoimmune disease patient living with Crohn's disease and rheumatoid arthritis, I have a long standing relationship with infusions. From inpatient hospitalizations to doctors' offices, infusion centers to home...

My hands hurt.  One thing that RA/RD has impacted is my hands. My fingers regularly swell and small object manipulation is nearly impossible.  I practice doing these manipulations by building...

Being diagnosed with an autoimmune condition like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can take years. Many people report their early symptoms were dismissed by doctors or they were misdiagnosed. This delays treatment...