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
What to Ask Your Doctor Before Starting a Biologic for RALearning I had rheumatoid arthritis (RA) came with an entire mixed bag of emotions. To be honest, I was really grateful to have an explanation about the severe joint pain...Reactions0reactionsComments41 comments
Flare Prediction: Do You Know Ahead of Time?Do you know a week, two weeks, or a few days ahead of a flare that you are going to have one? Do you get that dreaded feeling of, "Oh no...something...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Pacing MyselfNovember and December mark the general time of year when I start to overdo things. It’s the end of the year and there are just so many things to catch...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
What Was I Thinking??"What was I thinking?" How many times do we say this to ourselves? Never about the same things though. With rheumatoid arthritis and its companions, it is never the same...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments
Navigating a New Diagnosis of Rheumatoid ArthritisMy pathway to RA diagnosis was unfortunately all too common in our community. I struggled with joint pain from the time I was young. I remember the pediatrician recommending Motrin...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments
The Seat Cushion That Takes a Load OffLiving with rheumatoid arthritis/rheumatoid disease (RA/RD) involves an ongoing process of trial-and-error, whether trying to find an effective medication or hitting the level of physical activity that supports health without...Reactions0reactionsComments8 comments
Does Hydroxychloroquine Have a Preventive Effect Against COVID-19?In 2020, the world experienced an outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), also known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). It is important to know that both names...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Does Menopause Affect Rheumatoid Arthritis?Aging is a natural part of life. Now that I can no longer say that I’m slowly approaching that age, I am interested in learning about what happens during the...Reactions0reactionsComments14 comments
Depression and RA – the Link That Cannot Be IgnoredI am writing this post in mid-October 2020. And frankly, I am getting tons of emails from political campaigns asking me for money, or help, or both in the closing...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Difficult Holiday Planning ConversationsWith the COVID-19 pandemic continuing into fall, it is time to plan for the holidays and have some potentially challenging conversations. Although I had the virus in the spring, my...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Tips for Efficient Errand Running with RASo, the key to running errands with RA in a way that is less painful, annoying, and time-consuming is a talent, and one well worth developing. Doing anything that takes...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments
Making Smarter ChoicesYou’ve heard the adage: work smarter, not harder. One interpretation is that it’s about using your brain and not just your body or brute force to get the job done...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments
RA Strain: What a Headache!Lately, I’ve developed a new (and annoying) problem: headaches. Nearly every day, by the end of the day, I experience an almost pounding headache - the type of headache where...Reactions0reactionsComments26 comments
How to Balance Arthritis and CyclingFour years ago, I bought a bike. Sounds simple enough. Although I hadn’t ridden on a real bike in decades, it seemed like a fun way to be more active...Reactions0reactionsComments13 comments