The Never-Ending Sinus InfectionLiving with a chronic disease is a bummer. Taking medications that leave you immunosuppressed is a bummer. But when those medications keep the chronic disease from progressing, that’s PRICELESS!! Sometimes...reactions11comments
Night ExercisesI still remember the good old days when I could sleep anywhere, any time, and extremely deeply. In a previous article, I shared the story about the time my college...reactions3comments
Do I Really Need Surgery?Do I really need surgery? Boy, this is a question most, if not all, of us will face at some point over the course of our journey with rheumatoid arthritis...reactions5comments
The Strobe Light of Chronic Illness - How Others See Only Small SnapshotsI was watching a cop show the other day and one of those obligatory, “drug addled-club goers rave” scenes came on. You know, the one that shows what Hollywood thinks...reactions7comments
RA and Fatigue, Parts 5-8Fatigue is an invisible and incredibly difficult aspect of living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Mike continues a deep dive into rheumatoid arthritis and fatigue. ...reactionscomments
"But You Don't Look Sick"The thing about living with a sometimes-invisible disease is that it sort of feels like it's you against the world. You're living with this secret, this shadow, this double-life —...reactions1comment
A Little Gratitude in Uncertain TimesRecently, I wrote an article to empower us ‘Spoonies’ to head into this quarantine with confidence and strength. Now, I am going to talk about all the things I am...reactionscomments
When Lupus Limits Physical AffectionDo you know what my husband needs? A hug. A reassuring hand on his arm. A gentle back rub. All simple physical gestures, and all too frequently beyond my ability...reactions2comments
Finding a Good RheumatologistPeople who have chronic health conditions like ankylosing spondylitis (AS) or other similar diseases might be advised by their regular doctor or primary care physician to see a specialist known...reactionscomments
Post-Activity Stiffness and Psoriatic ArthritisPlease do not take this as the standard stiffness all of us with psoriatic arthritis usually experience first thing in the mornings. I want to talk more about being active...reactionscomments
Ask The Advocate: How PsA Impacts Daily LifePsoriatic arthritis can change how you live your life every single day. This condition is the center of the wheel that outreaches to all different aspects of life: physical and...reactionscomments
Brain Fog: The Impact of RA on Mental FunctioningResults from the 2019 RA In America Survey showed that 61 percent of survey participants living with RA experienced brain fog within the last month of taking the survey. Along...reactions8comments
Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosis = Reality AdjustmentI remember the day I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, in May 2004, like it was yesterday. Memories of all the lab reports, research I had done, countless doctor visits...reactions15comments
The Avoidable Unavoidable Ugliness of Pity & Chronic IllnessPity. Ugh, I know right? It’s awful, and no one wants to be pitied, or pitiable, but even just now when I said the word, you got that feeling, didn’t...reactions5comments
Love Your FeetIn this video, Nan chats about taking care of our feet with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), especially during the months we are in shoes! Listen as Nan shares some of the...reactionscomments
Long Nights and Rheumatoid Arthritis: The Problem of Chronic Insomnia “Have you stopped drinking coffee? You need to exercise every day and that will help you sleep.” It had been awhile since I’d slept a full night and I figured...reactions6comments
A Little Vitamin D on My RAnniversaryTime for celebration. It’s my 13th RAnniversary!! My disease is a teenager now. However, it’s likely older than that. Like a stray cat, we’re not exactly sure how old my...reactions6comments
Inject Me TenderlyStorytime: I have osteoarthritis. The end. Just kidding! I have relatively severe osteoarthritis and take medications to combat further deterioration. I started with a couple of different pills but...reactions38comments
Silver Linings & Sour Dairy - Benefits of Chronic IllnessThis whole corona pandemic has gotten me thinking about the drawbacks of RA, sure. But really, it has me thinking about the benefits – that elusive silver lining that sometimes...reactions2comments
On Shaky Grounds These DaysThroughout my 25 years with RA, I have had periods of time where I feel a personal “earthquake” of sorts. Characterized by a sense of emotional and mental unsteadiness, it...reactions1comment
