The New RA Criteria: An Interview with Dr. Gillian Hawker
This is a very cool time in the field of rheumatology: “One of the many exciting recent developments in the field of rheumatology was last year’s development of new criteria. There’s been much discussion of these criteria here on MyRACentral so to learn more, I interviewed Dr. Gillian Hawker, who was part of the working…
What You Need: Planning Your Future with RA
It’s January and that means my inner planner has come out to play. This week, I inflict it on the hapless users of MyRACentral: “There you are, a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis ringing in your head and a prescription for scary sounding medication in your hand. You been told that this disease cannot be cured,…
Progress in RA: A Decade of Hope
The annual review post. Yeah, I went there: “The new millennium started with the scare of Y2K – remember that? Everyone was convinced the sky would fall the minute the clock ticked over at New Year’s, but thankfully nothing happened. For people living with RA, the new millennium didn’t look much different, but the seeds…
10 Things to Do for 2011 and Beyond
The annual planning for the future has started on MyRACentral: “December of any year is traditionally the time where media of all kinds focus on what has happened in the past 12 months and if you read my Month Ahead post, you know that’s coming. However, just to mess with tradition, I’m starting my posts…
Depression and Living with RA: an Interview with Merely Me
I did an interesting interview with one of the otehr Community Leaders at MyRACentral this week: “Depression can be a normal part of living with rheumatoid arthritis. Whether it is depression that comes attached to a diagnosis or the worry and sadness that accompanies a flare, chances are you may become acquainted with this state…
Planes, Trains and Automobiles: Traveling with RA
The holiday theme has started and over on MyRACentral, I write about RA and traveling: “‘Tis the season. The start of holiday celebrations, for gathering with family and friends and that means traveling. Whether you’re driving to the other end of the city, taking the train to the next state or flying across the country,…
Knitting Back Together: Your Relationship and RA
Picking up on the relationship theme on MyRACentral: “‘Your illness is your family’s illness.’– Mea McNeil When we make a commitment to someone we love, whether by formal vows or private promises, we hear that thing about it being for better or worse, but no one really expects the worse part. And then it happens…
Adaptation: Learning to Live with RA
The change in seasons has prompted musings on life changes at MyRACentral: “Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans. – John Lennon No one ever plans for a chronic illness, writing down “develop rheumatoid arthritis” complete with hearts enthusiastically dotting the I’s on their list of things to accomplish in life….
Telling It Like It Is: Pain Awareness and Rheumatoid Arthritis
September’s National Pain Awareness Month in the US and I got on the barricades on MyRACentral… “‘Are you in pain right now?’ ‘Yes. I am always in pain.’ I was talking to someone about RA and when she asked me this question, I felt a strange inner shift. It took me a while – several…
Rheumatoid Arthritis, Pregnancy & Parenthood
Not having wee ones of my own, I had no idea. I received information about a new book dealing with pregnancy when you have RA and it looked like something we should review for MyRACentral. I interviewed the author – a lovely woman named Suzie from Perth, Australia – and found out that there is…
Hard Conversations: When RA Affects Your Work
The shoulder has ripples and I talk about work, at work… “‘Can you work at all?’ I was in the middle of my two weeks off to heal, hadn’t shown any signs of healing yet and was talking to a friend about how I felt, sharing my worries about what it meant for afterwards. For…
Preparing for Your First Appointment with a Rheumatologist
This week on MyRACentral, I get practical: “There you are, on the sidewalk outside your doctor’s office, a referral to rheumatologist in your hand, your doctor saying I think you may have rheumatoid arthritis ringing in your ears and somehow, the world is tilting a little. Nevermind possibly facing the rest of your life with…