My Name is Lene, and I’m at High Risk for COVID-19
My rheumatoid arthritis puts me in danger of developing serious complications from COVID-19. It’s a really scary place to be. In my new column for HealthCentral, I talk about what it’s like and! interview the amazing Molly Schreiber, who co-founded the #HighRiskCOVID19 campaign that’s making a real difference: “Just about the only comforting news we…
What Accepting Your RA Really Means
It took me a long time to know that acceptance isn’t something you arrive at and stay there forever more. It’s something you work on, all the time. In my new column for HealthCentral, I talk about how I do that: “Let’s say you found an old lamp at a flea market and it had…
Failure-Proof Your Goals for 2020
Sometimes, little things can create big changes. My new column for HealthCentral shares tips on how to change your life: “Last year, an article I wrote for HealthCentral inspired me to create a new way to improve my life and achieve my goals (despite the overwhelming mountain of stuff that comes with living with rheumatoid…
How to Make RA Treatment Decisions With Less Stress
Rheumatoid arthritis and medication go hand in hand. But… what about the horror stories about side effects? How do you balance the fear of what might come with the meds with hope for remission? Read more in my new column for HealthCentral: “The ads make it look easy—you can create a wonderful life of walking…
Rheumatoid Arthritis Will Change Your Life. It Doesn’t Have to Ruin It.
What about your dreams when you get a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis — do you have to give them all up? In my new column for HealthCentral, I muse on future, expectations, and moving forward. “When I was a little girl, I had high-flying dreams and they had very little to do with my juvenile…
My RA Made Me Do It: 10 Really Great Things About Having RA
Photo description: a girl dances with a rainbow-coloured umbrella on a black and white backgriound. Credit: Dan Park Living with rheumatoid arthritis is a dance on roses — there are plenty of thorns. In my new Made with RA column, I flip it. Can I find 10 reasons to be grateful for RA in my…
A Very Personal Take on RA
I am SO excited! I have a brand-new role at HealthCentral: columnist! The Powers That Be are giving me free reign to be opinionated about what matters to how you live with rheumatoid arthritis and chronic pain. My first column is live now: “It’s time to move on. But thankfully—because I hate change—I’m not going…
The Incredible Pain-Killing Powers of Orgasm
No one talks about how RA affects your sex life. So I will (and have in the past, as well). In my latest article for HealthCentral, I look at the magical painkilling powers of orgasm: “When you’re managing the crushing fatigue and painful joints that come with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), sex is often one of…
Why Your RA Doctor Needs to Know About That Annoying Dry Cough—Now
This was one of the most difficult articles I have ever written. The systemic effects of rheumatoid arthritis can be really scary to read about. Interstitial lung disease is one of them. There is a huge temptation to stick your head in the sand, but it’s so important that we don’t. Being proactive can protect…
5 Meditation Tips for Beginners
Meditation is a great coping tool when you live with RA and other types of chronic illness, but how do you get into the habit? I tried meditating for 30 days and shared some tips in my latest articile for HealthCentral: “When you’re looking for ways to cope with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), sooner or later,…
I Am Not a Burden Because of My Chronic Illness
There is no maximum number of ‘asks’ when it comes to needing help from a loved one, so why does it often feel uncomfortable to make yet another request? I explore what it’s like to feel like a burden when you need help and what to do about it in my new article for HealthCentral:…
At-Home RA Test Could Be a Quicker Path to Treatment
One of the biggest challenges in having rheumatoid arthritis is simply getting diagnosed. In my new article for HealthCentral, I look at the pros and cons of a new at-home diagnostic test for RA: “Many people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) experience difficulties in getting a diagnosis. The lag between first appearance of symptoms and the…