Unusual Postpartum Symptoms: My RA Story2014 was supposed to be the best year of my life. I was newly married and had a baby on the way, due in April 2014. The day for my...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
Exercises and ShouldersI hope 3rd times a charm; As some of you have read, I started on gentle arm/shoulder exercises a while back, but ended up with shoulder pain which radiated down...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Stages Of Grief - Saying Goodbye To Who I Used To BeThe concept of "stages of grief" goes back to the late 60's and the psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross who wrote about them in her book On Death And Dying. She stated...Reactions0reactionsComments8 comments
RA & Fibromyalgia & StressHi there, Since I was 43 years old, I have been struggling with RA and fibromyalgia. I had no idea what I had; I simply knew that I was in...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
RA Beginning: Pain With Slightest MovementExtreme pain with every movement of my body started me on my RA journey. I absolutely dreaded waking up in the morning because I knew the pain I was going...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Sudden onsetThe morning after I had injured my knee, I woke up -- unable to get out of bed. I felt sharp pain throughout my body - like pieces of glass...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
My First SymptomAs a teenager, my skin hurt. No one in my family or their friends had ever heard of this. Of course, this was in the 1970's. Everyone, including my doctor...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Can You Believe It, Eye Infection?In my early 20's I suffered from an eye infection, that wouldn't clear up. The doctors tried different medications to no avail. My sister recommended that I see a new...Reactions0reactionsComments9 comments
This Surprised MeI was working with a young woman who was very worldly. We were chatting one day and I mentioned that my eyebrows had been thinning a lot. She told me...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Managing the MessI'm not a multi-tasker. I don't do anything in a hurry. I prefer a leisurely stroll over a sprint. That my husband will simultaneously wash dishes, cook a meal, and...Reactions0reactionsComments10 comments
Flying to NowhereThere is a sort of sadness one feels when you are doing something for the last time. A sadness so often lacking because we often don’t recognize the last. There...Reactions0reactionsComments16 comments
My RA Journey Continues - IronyIrony. Expected results being the opposite of what is expected. Sometimes serious, often humorous. At least that’s my take on it. Irony is when someone who has a needle phobia...Reactions0reactionsComments9 comments
All of a Sudden, I Needed a Cane to WalkI was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and Sjogren's in 2013. Five years later and living in a different state, I all of a sudden couldn’t walk without a cane at age...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
In The BeginningSuper Bowl Sunday 2023. Right hand blew up so swollen it looked like a surgical glove filled with air. After PCP visits, lots of blood drawn and RA factors showing...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
The RA Journey Continues - Hope DeferredHope. Such a small word. Sort of like the words “sand” or “foot”. Words that can be used in many contexts but usually without much significance. The foot is one...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
My RA Journey BeginsFirst, I want to thank you all for contributing to this website. I’ve found it helpful beyond measure. I’ve spent hours reading through articles, stories, and comments and learned SO...Reactions0reactionsComments11 comments
Methotrexate JourneyI was on Leflunomide and was having breakthrough pain, some mood issues; nothing major. At the time, however, I believed these hindrances to me very significant. So the rheumatologist put...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments
RA Grab Bag GoodiesWell, the RA Grinch has gifted me with another of its' grab bag goodies. About 2 weeks ago it dropped on me like a bolt of lightning. I had been...Reactions0reactionsComments12 comments
A Drug That’s WorkingAfter 6 months trying Taltz…I was on and off struggling to button my shirt. My rheumatologist saw me and said, “That’s over. Going to try Rinvoq.” I started on Rinvoq...Reactions0reactionsComments18 comments
My New Med RuxienceMy current update on my life with RA. So after my 2 infusions of Ruxience about the 2-3 days after I start with the fatigue. I currently am still having...Reactions0reactionsComments7 comments