Blog Articles About Health

Switching to Biosimilars for RA, Part Two: My Experience as an ‘Outlier’ Trying (So Far) 3 Biosimilars

In April 2023, I received a letter from the Ontario government with information about the new biosimilar switching policy. I had until the end of the year to switch from the biologic medication I take to treat my rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to a biosimilar. I did my best to be hopeful and believe it would…

Read More

You May Have to Switch to a Biosimilar for Rheumatoid Arthritis. Here’s Why.

In March 2023, I received a letter from the Ontario government. It informed me that a biosimilar switching policy was now in place. People like me who receive  funding from the government to pay for Biologics for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Crohn’s disease, and other forms of autoimmune disease were given until the end of 2023…

Read More

When RA Comrbidities Get in the Way

As part of Talk Over RA 2023, I prepared several video sessions on subjects related to living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). One of these was a video on RA, comorbidities, and how to balance treatment and coping skills. This video was based on deep research, as well as my own lived experience. Watch the video…

Read More

Becoming empowered to act as a partner in the process is an important part of living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) but can take years to learn on your own. In this post, I share information about how to learn the skills you need and share tips on how you can use empowerment in your next appointment with your rheumatologist. A smiling black woman is explaining something to her female doctor. text: Talk Over RA: How to Feel Empowered with Your Rheumatologist by The Seated View

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…

Read More

COVID-19 and RA: What to Pack in Your Hospital Go-Bag

Living in the middle of a pandemic while being high risk is the most scared many of us have ever been. When you have rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and are taking an immunosuppressant medication, there is a double whammy of risk. We have to consider what might happen if we need to go to the hospital…

Read More

Boundaries Start with U: Protecting Your Health with RA

It was my nap that taught me about boundaries and my role in maintaining them. Years ago, my rheumatoid arthritis (RA) progressed to the point that I needed a daily rest to manage fatigue and pain. And that’s when I banged hard up against other people’s preconceptions. “It must be wonderful to have a nap…

Read More

I Tried CBD Oil for Chronic Illness and Pain. This is What Happened

As the war on opioids continues to restrict prescription pain medication, those of us who live with chronic pain are looking for alternatives that will help us to continue living our lives. CBD oil is one option. It has had a profound impact on the pain caused by my rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia and surprisingly,…

Read More

Patterns are Key with Chronic Illness Or The Mushrooms Did It

Updated April 14, 2021 When you live with an unpredictable chronic illness such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), fibromyalgia, migraines, or any of a multitude of conditions that play havoc with you every day, figuring out triggers — things that make your symptoms worse — can be an important part of improving your life. Also feel…

Read More

The Healing Touch: How My Mother Took Away My Pain When Nothing Else Could

“That pain you had… For a mother to see a child with that kind of pain, is so terrible.”  — My mom, Birthe Andersen I have had juvenile arthritis since I was four years old, which means this condition and I recently celebrated (?) 50 years together. For most of that time, there were no…

Read More

Can Green Smoothies Improve My Chronic Illness?

Image description: A glass with a green smoothie surrounded by apples and kale. This post may contain affiliate links. Thanks for supporting The Seated View! I have joined the green smoothie craze. The universe presented me with several pieces of information, plus one sudden craving for All.The.Greens! that together got me going. I’ve received a…

Read More

11 Tips to Deal with Nausea with Chronic Illness

Updated March 29,2020 Queasy. Green around the gills. Nauseated. If you have rheumatoid arthritis (RA), there’s a very good chance you know nausea. For that matter, anyone with autoimmune arthritis or other types of chronic illness probably knows it, too. Between the effects of the condition itself and the medication to treat it, most of…

Read More

Preventing Chronic Disease in Women

38% of American women live with chronic disease. That’s more than the 30% of men and is rising. On top of that, six out of the top 10 causes of death in women are chronic diseases — often preventable. My two-part series on chronic disease in women and how to prevent them, even when you…

Read More