Spending Time with the Important PeopleThis summer we have visited many family members and have plans for another round of visits in the coming weeks. One special weekend involved a reunion of my mother’s family—many... By Kelly Mack3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments2 comments
RA and The 16th Century Italian MummyThe past calls to us. Whether through ancient relics, stone monuments, the ruins of temples, paintings on the walls of caves, or the remains of ancient rulers and saints, human history... By Michael Booth4 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Journaling JoyI have an idea: how about we keep a daily log about the good moments in our lives? You know, like a pain journal, except noting what makes us smile/feel... By Wren4 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments2 comments
For Just One Day....I wonder if, like me, you ever daydream about what it would be like to have just one day without RA. I found myself, just a few days ago, reflecting... By Nan Hart3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Midnight MedrolI tossed and turned, my left hand cradling my right wrist, holding it against my chest and then my side. Yet no relief from the throbbing pain could be found... By Michael Booth2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments4 comments
RA + Aging = A Big ChallengeMy first symptoms of RA began when I was 40 years old. I was officially diagnosed at 42 years of age. I am now 62 years old. Aging with this... By Nan Hart2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Selecting a RheumatologistOne of the most crucial decisions we make is the selection of a physician to treat our RA. This video offers some specific criteria and also subtle nuances to help... By Nan Hart1 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Can Being Sick Affect Your Blood Work?Last month I came down with a horrible virus of some sort. It caused a high fever and made my body feel very tender and achy. Felt like the flu... By Lisa Emrich3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments2 comments
He Said, She Said, NSAIDI ran across an interesting study the other day on pain in America that was reported by Rheumatology Network. While there is some very interesting data about pain in the... By Carla Kienast2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Piles and Piles of PaperworkJosef K. was arrested, so the story goes, on his thirtieth birthday. The crime he was arrested for is unknown, the agency of those who arrested him is equally unknown... By Michael Booth3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Two Scary Words: Open EnrollmentLabor Day is a key milestone for a lot of people. Kids are starting back to school. Retailers put swimwear on sale and start making space for holiday merchandise. And... By Carla Kienast3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Brain Fog and the LudditeHave you ever met someone who eschews technology, who sees an impending evil in every new scientific advancement, and who wishes that civilization would go back thousands of years to a... By Michael Booth3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments2 comments
The Weight of the WorldThe feeling of heaviness or weight on one's joints is yet another enduring aspect of RA that we have to handle on a daily basis. Over the years this sensation... By Nan Hart3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
The Tell Tale Sign"Illness is definitely not elegant, and certainly not venerable." — Ludivico Settembrini in The Magic Mountain As I walked through the lobby of the University hospital, I stood tall, like a man... By Michael Booth4 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Biomarkers and Treatment PlansSince my diagnosis just over eight years ago, I’ve steadily worked my way through all the biologics except one. Your body can build up a resistance to medications just like... By Carla Kienast2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments4 comments
Seasonal ChangesHere in Vermont, fall is just around the corner and with it comes shorter daylight hours, dark mornings and cold weather. I happen to like the cooler temperatures but not... By Nan Hart2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Bracing for Flu SeasonIt’s instinctual—I cringe when I hear a cough, see a sneeze. I can’t help it. After years of immunosuppressant drugs, bouts with long-lasting colds plus bronchitis and pneumonia, I am... By Kelly Mack3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments4 comments
When Your Loved One Has RAA diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) impacts more than just the person who receives it. Even if you have no personal experience living with a chronic illness, if your loved... By Mariah Z. Leach3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments18 comments
Inflamed BrainOn July 1st of 2016, the Rheumatology Research Foundation announced 85 recipients of education, training, and research funding. The financial awards serve various functions: "One example is the Investigator Award... By Michael Booth2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Will I ever know the difference?Here I am 20+ years into RA and I still, quite frequently, cannot tell when I am flaring versus when a treatment, be it medication or otherwise, is no longer... By Nan Hart4 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments1 comments