Ready to Try a New Diet for RA? Read This First
Research shows eating certain foods can improve rheumatoid arthritis symptoms for some, but don’t clear out your fridge just yet. In this column for HealthCentral, I share tips on how to change your diet with RA: “I WAS 13 years old the first time a rheumatologist suggested I try adjusting my diet for my rheumatoid arthritis…
Made With RA: Solutions for Opening Nightmare Packaging With RA
Trying to open any package with rheumatoid arthritis hands can be next to impossible. In my new column for HealthCentral, I write about the problem with packaging design and share some workarounds: “AS SOMEONE WHO lives with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), packaging is the bane of my existence. From medication dispensed in childproof caps and blister packs…
How I Use Swearing to Cope with Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain
Coping with rheumatoid arthritis pain takes a toolbox of many different remedies and trips. In addition to the standards, such as medication, heating pads, ice packs, and careful stretching, mine also includes swearing like a sailor. My new essay for CreakyJoints Canada shares my swearing story and tips on how to use curse words to…
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…