Jo Johnson...My name is Jo Johnson and I’m a Seattle girl who was lived in Boise, ID for 40 years. In May 2017, at age 57, I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid...
What 20 Years of RA Have Taught Me...I recently had my 20 RAnniversary, having now lived two decades with a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis/rheumatoid disease. A reader reached out and shared that she is 22 years old...Reactions0reactionsComments37 comments
The Hazard of Becoming My Own Doctor...The year 2020 has been many things, and for people with RA, it has been a year when timely medical care has often been challenging. This year, my every six-month...Reactions0reactionsComments7 comments
Gain and Loss with Rheumatoid Arthritis...At the end of every year, I like to take the time to reflect on the things that I’ve gained, the things that I’ve lost, and everything in between. Since...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Rheumatoid Arthritis Should Give Up...I took middle school Practical Arts. It was required for all 7 graders in my school system in the 1960s. The curriculum consisted of four classes in a 9-week rotation. There was...Reactions0reactionsComments9 comments
Monica’s Tips for Staying Healthy...One thing I’ve always been proud of is that I rarely got sick. I mean “normie” sick like the flu, colds, and other gross illnesses. I mean, sure, I ended...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments
Can a Blood Test Predict Treatment Response in RA?...A recent study suggests that laboratory tests may be helpful in predicting which patients with rheumatoid arthritis will respond to disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Common DMARDs include medications such as...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments
COVID-19 Vaccinations For People With Autoimmune Conditions...Update: As of August 13, 2021, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends an additional dose of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine for people who are moderately to...Reactions0reactionsComments9 comments
Do Assistive Devices Help or Hurt with RA?...This is a question I have pondered on for years and my opinion is that it depends entirely on the purpose of the device and how long you need to...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Waiting and waiting with pain...Hi, following up on my November 4th story. After my first October 28th injection of Simponi, I was to decrease my prednisone by 0.5mg two weeks later, which I did...Reactions0reactionsComments9 comments
Needing Advice....Soooo.... going to be a long first post, lol. I came down with Covid November 22 and was quite sick with it for about 2 weeks. I was just starting...Reactions0reactionsComments4 repliesNewly Diagnosed
Mrs Nicola Bevis...I come from a family of RA sufferers. My mum and my older sister have it. My younger sibling hasn't been diagnosed. I was told they weren't sure I had...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Organizations who assist with co-pays if your meds aren’t covered by insurance?...My insurance won’t cover at home injections for Orencia. My doctor believes they cover infusions, but there is still going to be a large co-pay....Reactions0reactionsComments1 repliesInsurance & Disability
Are there bad side effects for infusions to treat RA?...I have been taking Orencia by injection for years. Works great for me! Due to insurance changes, I may need to switch to infusions....Reactions0reactionsComments2 repliesSide EffectsTreatment
muscle spasms and twitches...I was just diagnosed in April, but have probably had RA for a long time. I have had trouble finding a medication without bad side effects. I recently developed muscles...Reactions0reactionsComments2 repliesNewly DiagnosedSymptoms
Anyone taking hydroxychloroquine gotten COVID?...Also, does anyone feel hesitant about taking the vaccine being immunocompromised?...Reactions0reactionsComments4 replies
My doctor just put me on Humira. Any “heads up” to look for?...He wanted me to start on Enbrel, however, Humira was my prescription plan’s preferred choice....Reactions0reactionsComments3 repliesTreatment
The Day My Meds Didn’t Work...My biologic, Orencia, hasn’t been working at full capacity for many months now. I know this because, at the beginning, I could feel a marked difference in my symptoms the...Reactions0reactionsComments7 comments
Unwinding and Ungrinding...I first saw the term “grind culture” on an Instagram post from The Nap Ministry. I immediately knew what it meant, as I’ve spent decades grinding myself down and celebrating...Reactions0reactionsComments14 comments
