The Need for SleepI got a need. A need for sleep. Partly, I do it to myself. I get all wrapped up in work, volunteer activities, and fun with friends and family. Quickly...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments
Mylan Initiates Voluntary Recall of Methotrexate Lot #7801082On April 23, 2015 Mylan N.V. announced that it is conducting a voluntary nationwide recall for select lots of several injectable products due to the presence of visible foreign particulate...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Chew on thisEating is such a necessary part of our existence that we often just take it for granted without giving it a whole lot of thought. It is, however, one of...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Arthritis is Arthritis... Right?I’ve had rheumatoid arthritis since I was 31 years old. The young internist who diagnosed me way back in 1987 said that that RA was an autoimmune disease. I had...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
Pencil Me InThere is a lot to hate about rheumatoid arthritis: the pain, swelling and fatigue, the side effects and expense of treatment options, and the fear of what the future with...Reactions0reactionsComments10 comments
The Pillow Queen“Do you really need that many pillows?” I don’t know how many times my husband has asked me that. In spite of being very supportive and compassionate, my husband continues...Reactions0reactionsComments23 comments
Living with End Stage RAAccording to clinical definitions, I’ve been living with “end stage rheumatoid arthritis” most of my life. Obviously, this phrasing is inadequate to describe my disease, because it may be severe...Reactions0reactionsComments16 comments
Living in RheumalandRheumatoid arthritis pain is sneaky. Like a slouching cat creeping up on a mouse, it pounces without warning and sinks its fangs deep into its hapless, unsuspecting prey. That’s me...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Does Itching Cause Anxiety or Does Anxiety Cause Itching?Several months ago, I had the displeasure of going to see an immunologist, after my rheumatologist was unable to provide an answer for some severe itching attacks I was having...Reactions0reactionsComments23 comments
Joint Replacement: A Chat with my SurgeonWhile certainly not inevitable, joint replacement is a viable treatment option for many people with RA when the effects of joint damage is no longer being adequately managed by other...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Would You Like Something with that RA, Ma'am?You’d think all the problems that rheumatoid arthritiscauses—the pain, disability, fatigue, fevers, and that general, all-around cruddy feeling—would be enough. Unfortunately, you’d be wrong. It turns out there’s a whole...Reactions0reactionsComments22 comments
Onset of RA in the UKShortly after the new millennium began I set off to study abroad at the University of Oxford in England. I was a 22 year old college senior, and the world...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
Testing, Testing, 1, 2, 3“Well, your tests look good.” I don’t know how many times I’ve heard this, but if I were to take a guess I’d start by multiplying the 14 years since...Reactions0reactionsComments61 comments
Rituxan - Our Other RA CaregiverIt’s been eight years now since Lisa was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, and in that time, I’ve learned a thing or two about how to provide her care and support...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Morning MiseryI am not a morning person. I pretty much hate mornings, actually. Even before I had RA, I was always happier and more comfortable being a "Night Owl" and getting...Reactions0reactionsComments63 comments
Doctor Knows Best . . . or Does He?We all know that, as with all professions, doctors are not created equal. Ranging from excellent to mediocre to having their medical licenses revoked, physicians all bring different levels of...Reactions0reactionsComments8 comments
Why Are RA Drugs So Expensive?A recent report noted that prescription drug prices rose 13 percent last year. Most of the increase in costs is attributed to specialty drugs designed to treat chronic conditions.Rheumatoid arthritis...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
Vitamin D: The Sunshine Hormone and RAToday is a glorious, sunny day. Sure, it’s still cold. Brrrrrrrr. But more than one living creature in our household is finding treasured sunny spots in which to lie and...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
A Hoarse of a Different ColorAbout 3 years ago, my voice started getting hoarse now and then. I’d be talking to someone, just minding my own beeswax and boom — suddenly, I was croaking. It...Reactions0reactionsComments45 comments
The Pregnancy DecisionI have always loved children. When I was a child myself I carried around baby dolls and stuffed animals swaddled in blankets. At the age of eight years old, I...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments