The Seated View Top 5 Posts in 2022
2022 was an interesting year. Here on The Seated View I had a bit of an involuntary blog hibernation as the challenges of life with chronic illness became pretty overwhelming. But in a fit of a well-rested post-holiday optimism, I decided it was time to reawaken this site of mine and what better way to…
In Which I Appear on the ChronicSex Podcast
Most of the time, what I do involves sitting alone in front of my computer and writing down my thoughts, then posting them somewhere and and you read them and sometimes leave a comment. I like this. It suits my introverted nature, yet at the same time it is a two-way conversation. But one should…
Peace in the Mid-Region
Although I’ve been told by the naturopath that acidophilus doesn’t have any side effects (except loose stools if you’re taking too much), I would be remiss if I didn’t recommend that you discuss this with your doctor before taking it.
Real RA: The Benefit of RA Hands
Sometimes, RA doesn’t just take. Sometimes, RA gives. When I still lived with my parents, I was in charge of pies. I’d found the perfect recipe for the crust and loved experimenting with different fillings. Our kitchen wasn’t very wheelchair accessible, so my mother would place the ingredients and tools on the dining room table…
Real RA: The Great Pretender
People with RA lie all the time. How are you? Fine. You? How’s the pain today? Not bad. Are you worried? Not at all. I’m sure everything will be OK. It’s a necessity of life with this damn disease. If you’re honest, not only will your friends and family start avoiding you, but you’ll start…
Real RA: Talking with Your Hands
Updated May 2, 2021 There is a legend in my father’s family. A long, long time ago, a Spanish mercenary supposedly had his way with a female ancestor. Equally supposedly, this explains why families with two children always have one with dark hair and one with blonde hair. Writing it down like that makes it…
Real RA: Opening a Pop/Soda Can
RA hands can make a lot of things difficult, some of them big, some of them small. Sometimes it’s about the jar, sometimes it isn’t. And sometimes, it’s about something as simple as a can of pop. Over time, you develop tricks and workarounds to do what you need to do. Today, I share mine…
Domino Effect
About 10 days ago, I had a bit of a wonky transfer. The person helping me to get from my bed to the chair put her foot half an inch closer to me than it should have been, blocking my left leg from moving and my left ankle twisted. These things happen. My left leg…
Real RA: Blood Tests of Perspective
RA isn’t just about inflammation and your joints. RA is a systemic disease, also affecting muscles, organs and other systems in your body. The first time I learned about that was when I was 12 when it tried to kill me by attacking my heart and liver. The reason there has historically been a mortality…
Real RA: Thinking Makes It So
Some time ago, I saw an image on Facebook about RA. Thanks to my fibro fog, I no longer remember who shared it in which group, but even if I did, I wouldn’t disclose it. Because I am about to vehemently disagree and there’s no need to get flame-y. This is the image And I…
Real RA: Side Effects of the Miracle
Yesterday, as I moved down the street with the first vague sense of woozy pressure building in my sinuses, it came to me that the next post in my Real RA series should be a look at the cost of the miracle. And by the miracle, I mean Humira and everything good and beneficial it…