Dazed and Confused...Hello all a little over a month ago I went to the doctor because I was extremely fatigued and I had mild joint pain in my fingers, wrists, and ankles...Reactions0reactionsComments1 repliesNewly Diagnosed
Mourning What Could Have Been...It seems that no matter how long I have rheumatoid arthritis, the grieving process never ends. Fifteen years ago, at the age of 22, I was given the news that...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
27, Pregnant, and Diagnosed with RA...I was diagnosed with RA at the age of 27. I then found out I was pregnant two weeks later. My RA got WORSE with the pregnancy instead of going...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Love Conquers All...Hi, my name is Bridget. I'm 43 yrs old. I have a beautiful daughter who is 2 yrs old for whom I am truly blessed & after a year of...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
One Spouse's View...I myself do not have RA, but my wonderful wife does. I had heard of RA for many years and knew some people who suffered from RA, but it was...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Just Diagnosed (finally)...Thanks to some of the advice from this website, I finally got the strength to find a new rheumatologist. She hardly had to examine me before she knew for certain...Reactions0reactionsComments1 repliesNewly Diagnosed
Community Thoughts: How Much Do I Share About RA?...Inspired by writer Kelly Mack's questions in a recent article:"I struggle with the question: how much do I share about my RA? How much can others handle? How much do...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
very tender skin...Hi - apologies if this has been covered - I can't find a topic that describes this. ( I have a fairly recent diagnosis of RA - symptoms that slowly...Reactions0reactionsComments6 repliesSymptoms
Seminal Moments...We’ve all had those seminal moments – instances where everything after that point changes. Maybe it was that moment when you knew you wanted to get married – or divorced...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
I Can Do This!: RA Affirmations...We all know the little blue engine that pulled the train up the mountain by saying to itself, “I think I can. I think I can.” It turns out that...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
The Words We Use...What’s your first thought when someone tells you they’re sick? What if they say they’re chronically ill? I ask this because describing such things to others is full of potholes...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments
What's up Doc?...Among the many ongoing decisions associated with wisely managing Rheumatoid Arthritis, arguably the most crucial one is who to turn to for treatment. First you must decide which medical professional...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Can't Keep It I Don't Give In Away...Hello, I am Diane. I was diagnosed with RA 20 years ago. Little did I know then the battles I would fight; the ones I would win and the ones...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
The Hows and Whys...I’m a regular user of Twitter--I love being able to talk to other people who share my interests or, in particular, people like me who cope daily with chronic illness...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
When I Get That Feeling I Want... Arthritis Healing...The stage was set for a romantic evening. The kids were spending the night at grandma’s. The house was blissfully empty and quiet, with the whole evening ahead of us...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments
Finding the right balance...One of the many challenges we face as we move through the years managing a chronic disease like RA, is finding the balance between being vigilant about our health and...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Mommy, My Knee Hurts...Growing up, I learned early on that some families are plagued with health problems. When I was five years old my sister was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes, and our...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Understanding the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)...If you – or someone you love – live with a chronic illness, you may eventually need to take time off from your job to focus on a health issue...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
I felt defeated but I know this setback will help me in the end...My RA recently took a turn for the worse in my knee, but I am still fine. The only real impact is that I can no longer walk very far...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
RA and my Religion...If you would have asked just three short years ago if my RA got in the way of me practicing my religion I would have said no. But in the...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments