Blog

Lene Andersen breaks down how to keep yourself from ending up with an RA flare because you overdid it … again.

How to Actually Pace Yourself With RA

On the couch, flaring because you overdid it AGAIN? Yup, been there. In this column for HealthCentral, I break down how to keep yourself from overdoing it over and over again: ““Pace yourself.” This is the magic solution to all my woes of trying to live my life while managing rheumatoid arthritis (RA). At least, it’s…

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Lene Andersen interviews Daniel P. Malito for Chronic Journeys. Image shows a split screen - Lene is on the left and Dan is on the right, Both are smiling.

February 2021 Chronic Journeys with My Guest Daniel P. Malito

On the latest episode of Chronic Journeys, I talk to Daniel P. Malito about growing up with juvenile arthritis, stretch marks and opioids! Get Dan’s book So Young: A Life Lived with Rheumatoid Arthritis. This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on the link and make a purchase, I may receive a small…

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Side-effect risks can be downright terrifying when you’re trying new RA therapies. Deep breath. Lene shares how she keeps her balance.

How to Make RA Treatment Decisions With Less Stress

Side-effect risks can be downright terrifying when you’re trying new rheumatoid arthritis therapies. Deeeep breath! In this HealthCentral column, I share how I keep my balance: “The ads make it look easy—you can create a wonderful life of walking on the beach with your beloved and a golden retriever by simply treating your rheumatoid arthritis…

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DEK: “Tips for how to create a chronic illness and disability emergency preparedness kit.”

Emergency Preparedness with a Chronic Illness or Disability

Updated April 20, 2024 Big and scary emergencies are thankfully rare occurrences, but when they happen, those of us who live with chronic illness and disability may have challenges that others don’t experience. Part of your emergency plan will be the same as your healthy and able-bodied neighbours, but you will also need to make…

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The pandemic has made it clear that we must change how the healthcare system provides support to seniors and people with disabilities.

When apathy is deadlier than COVID-19

The pandemic has had a devastating impact on long-term care homes. In this article for the new publication Nature Aging, our team of four Canadian women who’ve created Disability Equity in Health looks at the factors leading to this situation: “Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, many have disregarded worry since the virus “only kills old and…

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A book and a cup of mulled wine and twinkle lights

How to Have Happier Holidays With RA

The holiday season is wonderful and the holiday season is really hard when you have a chronic illness. This year, give yourself the gift of better mental health and fewer flare days by keeping this season simple. Learn how it my new column for HealthCentral: “Joy to the world, the holidays are almost here! It…

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A woman is lying on a couch, taking a nap

Rest Is Not a Four-Letter Word

The neverending fatigue of RA and other types of chronic illness permeates our days. k”Get more rest” they say… but how? In my new column on HealthCentral, I look at RA fatigue and innovative ways to get the rest you need so much. “I’m tired, all the way into my aching bones and my sluggish…

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A fountain pen lies on top of an open notebook

How I Use Gratitude to Live Well With RA

Let’s pull no punches: living with rheumatoid arthritis is really difficult. Figuring out how to create a good life nonetheless requires a lot of coping skills. In my new column for HealthCentral, I share what works for me. “Gratitude. It’s a lovely concept, trotted out for the Thanksgiving table and inspiring Instagram posts in beautiful…

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A blue street sign says Follow Your Dreams

RA Will Change Your Life. It Doesn’t Have to Ruin It.

Does rheumatoid arthritis mean you have to scuttle your dreams for the future? I think you know my short answer to this, but… let’s dive into the details in my new column for HealthCentral: “When I was a little girl, I had high-flying dreams and they had very little to do with my juvenile arthritis,…

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The Best Thing You Can Say or Do When Someone’s in Pain

Living with chronic pain is incredibly difficult. It’s invisible, which means that in order to be understood, you have to tell people about it and that’s when you hit another barrier. How do you put into words something that is pure sensation and unlike anything the average person has experienced? But on the other side…

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#TalkOverRA: Pro Tip to Help Your Rheumatologist Understand Your Pain

One of the defining characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is pain. It can run the gamut from mild or temporary to severe and chronic, caused by active inflammation or damage to the joints, exacerbated by overdoing it or not moving at all. Living with unpredictable pain is incredibly difficult — because (obviously) it’s deeply uncomfortable,…

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2021 Calendar: The Best of The Past 12 Years

Meet my new 2021 calendar: The Best of the Seated View! BEST OF The Seated View 2021 Calendar by TheSeatedView October is one of my favourite times of the year and it has nothing to do with the seasons — I am a fervent spring and summer fan. But October is the month where I…

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