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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
#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,…
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…