Steroids, RA, And The Battle Of The BulgeAs most of us with RA know, steroids can be both a blessing and a curse. For me, they significantly help my pain, but they make me psychotic and they...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments
How To Talk To Your Doctor About SexRecently I have been attempting to start an open discussion about the potentially negative impact living with RA can have on your sex life. If you have experienced these negative...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Dealing With RA is Like Having Another JobOne important thing I learned as a result of having RA is that there is never a dull moment – there’s always some new “adventure” waiting around the corner. The...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
Practical Resolutions for the New YearHow many times have I conjured up grandiose New Year resolutions only to forget about them or just plain give up when February rolls around? Let’s not count, shall we?...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Book Review: “Spiritual Two-By-Fours And Other Wake-Up Calls” By Kimberly RooneyAccording to the Arthritis Foundation, about 1.5 million people in the United States are living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). That means there are actually a lot of us, but seeing...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Managing RA-Related FatigueCommunity Question: Is there a way to treat RA related fatigue? My doctor has not referred me to a specialist but my current treatment of naproxen is not helping with...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
The Need for Better Diagnostic and Individualized Tests for RAThere are several blood tests that rheumatologists currently use to diagnose and monitor rheumatoid arthritis disease activity. Rheumatoid factor (RF) is an antibody identified with RA and other autoimmune diseases...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments
That Thing No One Talks AboutI am the mother of a toddler – my son is now 18 months old and he is a major handful! Luckily, my husband and I have found a great...Reactions0reactionsComments8 comments
Feeling Better by Helping OthersI find it healthy to remind myself when I’m feeling terrible and achy that there are a lot of other hardships in the world beyond myself. While I may struggle...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Brick Walls and Childhood DreamsA month or so ago I watched a motivational TED Talks video at work in my special ed students' "Life Skills" class. Most of the kids were bored out of...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
These Are a Few of My Favorite ThingsWhen my rheumatoid arthritis strikes, when I’m feeling especially bad—it helps me to focus on some of my favorite things. In fact, my worse days are when I need to...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Can vs. Love, Part 2Not too long ago I wrote a post about the challenges of making decisions and sacrifices in life because of RA--Doing What You Love vs. Doing What You Can. I...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Traveling With Refrigerated MedicationsFor many people, holiday plans include some kind of travel. In addition to the ordinary stress and chaos of travel, many of us with rheumatoid arthritis also need to figure...Reactions0reactionsComments10 comments
RA Costs More Than You May Think – Patient Out of Pocket ExpensesBetween June and August of this year, Rheumatoidarthritis.net utilized an online survey to gauge trends in RA patients. The entire survey results, containing over 1,000 patient responses, are available at...Reactions0reactionsComments7 comments
10 Expert Tips on Planning a Great MealOverwhelmed at times trying to figure out what and how to cook dinner? You’re not alone. Planning a fantastic meal doesn’t have to be time-consuming and difficult. These 10 tips...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Top 12 Kitchen-Friendly Gadgets that Will Make Preparing Meals EasierLike to cook but don’t have the time or the energy? Here are some gadgets that will increase your efficiency and make food preparation, eating, and clean up much easier...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
RA Impacts Much More Than Bones and JointsWhen people hear the general term arthritis, they typically think of an older person with joint pain as in osteoarthritis - common wear and tear on the joints. But this...Reactions0reactionsComments7 comments
Being Thankful For RAIt sounds weird. It sounds almost antithetical to say that you are thankful for a chronic illness. But in reality, I am thankful for RA. I wouldn’t be where I...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Being ThankfulOne of my most favorite holidays is Thanksgiving. I love the pure purpose behind it—giving thanks. There’s no confusion with religious tensions or commercial pursuits. Instead we gather with our...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Parenting Amidst the PainI have had rheumatoid arthritis longer than I have been a mom. At times, motherhood has challenged me to the greatest degree possible. I’ve spent countless hours worried, stressed, and physically exhausted...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments