Choose Your SymptomOr, pick your poison. Rheumatoid arthritis is a fun disease. It wreaks havoc on every part of our bodies. It provides a full access pass to the carnival of inflammation...Reactions0reactionsComments17 comments
How Much Is Too Much with RA?I feel like throughout my journey with RA, this question haunts me as one of the most difficult. Often, I have had to ask this when it comes to so many...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments
What Is the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) Diet?Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) occurs when your immune system attacks joints, cartilage, and other body parts. Experts do not know what causes this autoimmune reaction. One theory is that certain genetic...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments
An Antibodies MysteryIn late April, I came down with COVID-19 and recovered. I feel very fortunate that I had a milder case and recovered without problems, but am still grappling with a...Reactions0reactionsComments9 comments
Fighting DiscriminationDuring normal times, I love to travel. I have been to many places in the US and some lovely places internationally. So I was extremely upset when I saw the...Reactions0reactionsComments16 comments
Gizmos, Gadgets, and More!Recently, I have seen several articles reviewing gizmos and gadgets that help people with rheumatoid arthritis. A couple of these articles have been written by folks with rheumatoid arthritis, but...Reactions0reactionsComments21 comments
Fatigue Stinks. That's It.Well, I think it’s time, once again, to talk about fatigue. More and more lately, I have seen our community members talking about fatigue and I’ve been sharing my tips...Reactions0reactionsComments93 comments
Use Caution While Exercising with RAI recently got back to my swimming regimen after 8 months of not being able to swim in our indoor pool due to its closure. I was thrilled to get back...Reactions0reactionsComments9 comments
Monica’s First Day Out…during the pandemic, that is. Yes, I have gotten a couple of takeaways here and there (only things that I could blast in the microwave at home). I have gotten...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
What 20 Years of RA Have Taught MeI recently had my 20 RAnniversary, having now lived two decades with a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis/rheumatoid disease. A reader reached out and shared that she is 22 years old...Reactions0reactionsComments37 comments
The Hazard of Becoming My Own DoctorThe year 2020 has been many things, and for people with RA, it has been a year when timely medical care has often been challenging. This year, my every six-month...Reactions0reactionsComments7 comments
Gain and Loss with Rheumatoid ArthritisAt the end of every year, I like to take the time to reflect on the things that I’ve gained, the things that I’ve lost, and everything in between. Since...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Rheumatoid Arthritis Should Give UpI took middle school Practical Arts. It was required for all 7 graders in my school system in the 1960s. The curriculum consisted of four classes in a 9-week rotation. There was...Reactions0reactionsComments9 comments
Monica’s Tips for Staying HealthyOne thing I’ve always been proud of is that I rarely got sick. I mean “normie” sick like the flu, colds, and other gross illnesses. I mean, sure, I ended...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments
Can a Blood Test Predict Treatment Response in RA?A recent study suggests that laboratory tests may be helpful in predicting which patients with rheumatoid arthritis will respond to disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Common DMARDs include medications such as...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments
COVID-19 Vaccinations For People With Autoimmune ConditionsUpdate: As of August 13, 2021, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends an additional dose of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine for people who are moderately to...Reactions0reactionsComments9 comments
Do Assistive Devices Help or Hurt with RA?This is a question I have pondered on for years and my opinion is that it depends entirely on the purpose of the device and how long you need to...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
The Day My Meds Didn’t WorkMy biologic, Orencia, hasn’t been working at full capacity for many months now. I know this because, at the beginning, I could feel a marked difference in my symptoms the...Reactions0reactionsComments7 comments
Unwinding and UngrindingI first saw the term “grind culture” on an Instagram post from The Nap Ministry. I immediately knew what it meant, as I’ve spent decades grinding myself down and celebrating...Reactions0reactionsComments14 comments
Scatter Brains and Organizational DisarrayNot long ago, Rob and I were sitting on our front porch listening to the birds sing and watching squirrels scurry around the yard. It was restful and we were...Reactions0reactionsComments9 comments