I just attended my third American College of Rheumatology/Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals Annual Meeting in Washington DC.  I attended as a cofounder of IFAA (International Foundation for Autoimmune Arthritis).  While there, I had the opportunity to speak/interview researchers, industry leaders, and other member of non-profits as a part of ACT Live (learn more about A... Continue Reading →

 My hand looks deformed.  It hurts to use it and aches when it's still.  I'd say it is an 8 on a 1-10 pain scale.  My ankles, knees and hips are also hurting.  Nothing severe (probably a 5 out of 10 on a scale), but enough to make me limp and struggle with stairs. Three... Continue Reading →

If you have kept up with this blog, you've guessed by now that things have been pretty difficult lately.  Flaring with pain, fatigue, swelling and just overall blah has taken it's toll on me.  I admit I got pretty down about everything.  The worst part is all the stress I am feeling trying to get... Continue Reading →

not me.... When you have autoimmune arthritis, there are days you feel good and days you feel pretty bad day.  Today was a bad day.  My joints are flaring so much that I seem to have lost my knuckles and gained an extra ankle... I woke up and felt stiff and sore and had a... Continue Reading →

Today was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad pain day.  Why?  Because my pain level is almost unbearable.  My fatigue level is almost overpowering.  It's almost amusing how hard I work just to be able to keep working.  Over the years, I've spent so much time and money trying new therapies to reduce some my symptoms while increasing... Continue Reading →

I love having the opportunity to be apart of RA blog week.  Not only does it encourage me to focus on my experiences with RA, but it also gives me a chance to read blogs by other patients that give me great perspectives Thanks to Rick Phillips at RADiabetes for the invitation. Some blogs that I really... Continue Reading →

Nine years ago:  I remember the day my rheumatologist recommended that I begin taking a biologic drug.  I freaked out.  I felt like it meant that my disease was getting so bad that I had no choice.  I knew little about biologic drugs and thought it was a "last resort".  This was before I knew... Continue Reading →

I've written previously on this topic.  I became a patient advocate in 2009.  From that point, I began to learn the ins and outs of insurance, medicine, pharmaceutical companies, doctors, etc.  I previously had no interest in learning about these things, but like most people with chronic illness, I learned thatI had no choice.  Prior... Continue Reading →