Let the sunshine in...Here in the northeast we really treasure our summers because they come and go far too quickly. And this past winter was an especially long and difficult one so that...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Why I Won’t Be Walking For RA...May is both arthritis and lupus awareness month. But while I’ll be trying to spread awareness behind the scenes, I won’t be participating in walks for either disease. Why? There...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Coping with Disaster at College...During high school I worked really hard—physically and academically—towards the goal of going to college. My parents encouraged me every step of the way, fully expecting that although I grappled...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Kids Get Arthritis Too! July is Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month!...What do you think comes to mind when most people hear the word arthritis? Do you think the average person picture someone like me – a young mother who has...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Managing Other People’s Perceptions About RA...From the youngest age I can remember, I knew I was different because people looked at me differently. The cause was my juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. I looked sick—often pale, limping...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
Heels from Hell...I should know better by now. I wear sneakers or comfortable shoes daily, but of course I had to push the envelope for my cousin’s wedding. Bloated, uncomfortable and angry...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments
Celebrex...I have been taking celebrex 100 mg now for about 4 months it's been a help to be honest but the last 2 weeks the pain is back and worse...Reactions0reactionsComments2 repliesTreatment
Professional Perspective...Being a newcomer to rheumatologic illness does not mean I am inexperienced. In my professional life, I am a primary care physician, board-certified in internal medicine, and working on becoming...Reactions0reactionsComments15 comments
The RA Pregnancy Chronicles: The Post-Birth RA Flare...The RA Pregnancy Chronicles is a series of posts that share my experiences being pregnant while living with RA. This post was written during Week 32 of my second pregnancy...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
I hate RA...I am so tired of this horrible disease. Every time I'm feeling better and think I can handle it, BAM! More PAIN! So frustrating! Still learning and trying to figure...Reactions0reactionsComments5 replies
Does Not Adhering To Medication Regimens Make You A Bad Patient?...For most of us, prescription medications, whether oral, injectable, or intravenous, are key to treating RA. Some of us are lucky enough to find a medication that works, and then...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Do You and Your Doctor Agree on the Severity of Your RA?...We’d like to think that medicine is cut and dry and always based upon objective science. We get a blood test, take a drug, and get better. But most diseases...Reactions0reactionsComments9 comments
Disease and Disability...Since I’ve had rheumatoid arthritis for more than 35 years now, I have accumulated a lot of physical damage from this disease. A lot of my joint deformities, contractions and...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Time to Renew!...This time of year brings with it a sense of renewal thanks to the budding landscape that I see each day. I truly feel a sense of starting fresh in...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
You Know You Have RA When . . ....We know that the typical signs and symptoms associated with a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) include joint stiffness and swelling as well as a number of positive laboratory test...Reactions0reactionsComments11 comments
10 Common RA Symptoms...Nearly 1,000 people participated in the 2013 Rheumatoid Arthritis in America survey telling us about their initial RA symptoms as well as the most common and frequently experienced symptoms. Learn...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments
The RA Pregnancy Chronicles: RA Friendly Baby Gear...The RA Pregnancy Chronicles is a series of posts that share my experiences being pregnant while living with RA. This post was written during Week 18 of my second pregnancy....Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Beer Reduces RA Risk for Women?...A new study published in Arthritis & Rheumatology has recently come out claiming that beer can help reduce the risk of women getting rheumatoid arthritis. Really? Beer? This sounds a...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Another Weather Rant...I know, I talk about the weather a lot on here, but the truth is, it really impacts my RA in a negative way. I know that there are some...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Release the Hounds!...One of my persistent complaints about being a chronic disease patient most of my life is the lack of coordination of my care. Looking back, I think my parents began...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments
