Talk Over RA: How to Feel Empowered in Conversations with Your Rheumatologist
Seeing a doctor is a stressful experience. There’s only a short time in which to convey your concerns and questions and your doctor has their own list of issues to cover. Becoming empowered to act as a partner in the process is an important part of living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) but can take years…
Talk Over RA: How to Track Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms and Monitor Treatment Progress
“How have you been since your last appointment?” If you’re anything like me, this question from your rheumatologist instantly causes your mind to go blank. When I don’t have a clear picture of my health, it gets in the way when I try to Talk Over RA with my medical team and affects my rheumatoid…
Balancing RA and Fibromyalgia
I’m one of the almost quarter of people with RA who also have fibromyalgia. In my new column for HealthCentral, I share how I manage these two chronic pain conditions: “IT WAS A kind of pain I had never felt before, even in my then 30+ years of living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This was a…
Why Catastrophizing Hurts Rheumatoid Arthritis Care
In my new column for CreakyJoints Canada, I share a different perspective on the concept of catastrophizing: “The pain that accompanies rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can be overwhelming and life-changing. Learning how to cope with pain, whether intermittent or chronic, is an essential part of creating a good life with RA. It is important to build a team…
Made With RA: Asking ‘Why’ Can Get You the RA Life You Want
It’s natural to have questions about your rheumatoid arthritis. In my new column for HealthCentral, I explain why those nagging questions you have for your doctor (or yourself) are worth asking out loud: “WHY? IF YOU have children, chances are that word starts a little twitch around your left eye. It’s the favorite word of toddlers…
Made With RA: A Case for Identifying As ‘Disabled’
Could coming out as disabled help you live a freer life with RA? My new column looks at the benefits of identifying as a person with a disability: “DO YOU CONSIDER yourself disabled? Our perception of being disabled tends to be limited to needing a mobility aid, such as a wheelchair, and some wonder whether…
Made With RA: Know What Could Level-Up Your Life With RA? A Pet.
My latest column for HealthCentral talks about the benefits of pets when you have rheumatoid arthritis and shares tips for what you need to consider before getting an animal: “MY LAP HAS been the domain of quite a few animals over the years. Some enjoyed the cuddle only for a short time, while with others…
How to Set (and Respect) Boundaries Live to Better with Chronic Illness
Boundaries can be an important part of mental health and when you have a chronic illness, they are an essential tool to maintain your physical health. But what are boundaries, exactly, and how can they help you create a better life with chronic illness and pain? In this post, I share some of my insights…
Let’s Redefine “Lazy” for Chronic People
We get a lot of judgements when we rest — from others and ourselves. But when you live with rheumatoid arthritis, rest is actually a very active state. In my new column for HealthCentral, I look at what people with chronic illness do when they rest: “EVERY DAY I fight a battle against my body: It…
Dismantling Your Inner Ableism to Live Better with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Systemic ableism is ingrained in our society and we internalize those messages. In my new essay for CreakyJoints in Canada, I share tips on how to start dismantling your own internalized ableism to create a much better life with chronic illness: “It was productivity that got me. Or rather, yet another instance of overdoing simply everything…
10 Ways You Can Show Support for People Who Are (Still) High Risk
The pandemic isn’t over for those who could get the sickest from COVID. Here are some ways you can show up for them: “SO MANY PEOPLE have celebrated going back to normal after COVID restrictions lifted, but did you know that a lot of us are still on lockdown in many ways? As many as 7…
It’s Time That Chronic Illness and Disability Become Election Issues
In my new essay for CreakyJoints Canada, I talk about why and how to make issues like mask mandates, pharmacare programs, and affordable accessible housing front and center during this year’s Ontario and Québec polls: “All over Canada, mask mandates, capacity limits, and all other protective measures have been lifted as the country collectively hit…