Five Tips for Better Mental Health with Rheumatoid Arthritis
How do you push back against the sadness, worry, and frustration of living with RA? That’s the first prompt in the 2017 #RABlog Week and today, I’ll share what works for me. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other chronic illnesses aren’t just physical, they affect your mental health, as well. For instance, approximately one third of…
Tips for Wheelchair Travel
I have always loved travelling, still do even though I can’t do so at the moment. But when you use a wheelchair, travelling can have some extra challenges. In my new article for HealthCentral, I share tips to make wheelchair travel easier. Which includes photos from some of my travels! “Having physical limitations does not…
The Invisibility of Pain: The New Ontario Opioid Strategy
Sometimes, sharing the chronic pain voice and perspective on opioids feels like shouting into a gale. But you have to keep trying. Thank you so much to the Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance for the great work they do and for hosting my article about the new Ontario Opioid Strategy and the missing missing voices of…
Too Much Work and a Pile of Books
In the past few months, I’ve gotten really good at limiting how much I was doing. This was after I had to take time off for the second time in six months to cater to a body that didn’t like my stress levels. I’ve learned that when you have PTSD, there is a certain level…
Michael Kuvula & CreakyJoints Team Up to Spread Awareness About RA Through Fashion
This was one of the most fun interviews I’ve done in a while. Michael Kuluva premiered his 2018 Spring/Summer Tumbler & Tipsy collection at New York Fashion Week last Wednesday. And I got to interview him and get a preview of the collection! In a video! I also talk to Seth Ginsberg of CreakyJoints, the…
Breaking the Rules of Being a Chronic Illness Patient: Attitude, Ability and Advocacy
And… mic drop! In my new article for HealthCentral, I get the teensiest bit opinionated about how breaking the rules of being a “chronic illness patient” can actually be good for you. It includes profiles of some fantastic people who are breaking rules all over: “A diagnosis of chronic illness brings a host of new…
Emergency Preparedness, First Rheumie Appointments, and Gluten-Free Diets
Sometimes, my writing and the site production gets a little out of whack. And then flurries happen. To wit, here are my last three articles for HealthCentral: First, and the last kind of timely I ever want to be, a slideshow about what you need to do to be prepared for an emergency when you…
The Frantics and Other Fun at Fan Expo
”I don’t normally tell you what to do,” my friend Andrew said (wise man, for sure), “but Fan Expo may be a challenge for a person in a wheelchair.” He then proceeded to tell me about the massive crowds, the lineups, the crowds, and oh, yes, the crowds. He knows me well, knows I hate…
Ingénue Redux: A Concert with k.d. lang
I did not know that listening to k.d. lang sing Hallelujah was on my life list until last Thursday night at the Sony Centre in Toronto. I’m coming of of a very adventurous weekend. And it all started with a k.d. lang concert. To be honest, I have never been a huge k.d. lang fan….
