Rib Clicking/pain...I was diagnosed in May of 19 and am still trying to get my RA under control since we haven’t been able to find the rights meds so far. I’ve...reactions3repliesSymptoms
"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 Times...Recently, 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 Affection...Do 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 Rheumatologist...People 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 Arthritis...Please 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 Life...Psoriatic 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 Functioning...Results 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
Why don't my blood test results match how I feel?...I was diagnosed with RA in 2010 and for the most part felt pretty controlled until the last year or so. Usually my test results match how I feel, but...reactions4replies
Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosis = Reality Adjustment...I 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
COVID-19...I’ve battled RA now since 2003. Just as cases were being reported in Washington state of the COVID-19 virus, I was in the midst of moving cross-country from Washington to...reactions7comments
The Avoidable Unavoidable Ugliness of Pity & Chronic Illness...Pity. 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
Always waiting for results.......Today I am especially nervous, as I have my annual mammogram in 20 min. Why I’m nervous? Well, my mom and gram had breast cancer at about the age I...reactions1reply
Love Your Feet...In 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
Is it normal to have increased exhaustion when tapering prednisone?...My Dr is tapering me down off of prednisone. I feel a small increase in my pain, but the exhaustion is as bad as it was before taking the meds...reactions5replies
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
Does RA/RD and its immunosuppressant medications alter COVID-19 testing results?...reactions10replies
Are there rheumatologists that have experience in oncology or treating cancer patients?...Hi. I'm looking for a rheumatologist in the Los Angeles, CA area that specializes in treating cancer patients with autoimmune diseases. Managing RA and colon cancer I have RA x...reactions8replies
At Least I Have an Explanation...At least I have an explanation of what to call my problem, RA. I am 74 years old. For several years, I had joint pain that took turns in different...reactions3comments
