Ready to Try a New Diet for RA? Read This First
Research shows eating certain foods can improve rheumatoid arthritis symptoms for some, but don’t clear out your fridge just yet. In this column for HealthCentral, I share tips on how to change your diet with RA: “I WAS 13 years old the first time a rheumatologist suggested I try adjusting my diet for my rheumatoid arthritis…
Made With RA: Solutions for Opening Nightmare Packaging With RA
Trying to open any package with rheumatoid arthritis hands can be next to impossible. In my new column for HealthCentral, I write about the problem with packaging design and share some workarounds: “AS SOMEONE WHO lives with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), packaging is the bane of my existence. From medication dispensed in childproof caps and blister packs…
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…
Balancing RA and Fibromyalgia
I’m one of the almost quarter of people with RA who also have fibromyalgia. In my new column for HealthCentral, I share how I manage these two chronic pain conditions: “IT WAS A kind of pain I had never felt before, even in my then 30+ years of living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This was a…
Made With RA: Asking ‘Why’ Can Get You the RA Life You Want
It’s natural to have questions about your rheumatoid arthritis. In my new column for HealthCentral, I explain why those nagging questions you have for your doctor (or yourself) are worth asking out loud: “WHY? IF YOU have children, chances are that word starts a little twitch around your left eye. It’s the favorite word of toddlers…
How to Set (and Respect) Boundaries Live to Better with Chronic Illness
Boundaries can be an important part of mental health and when you have a chronic illness, they are an essential tool to maintain your physical health. But what are boundaries, exactly, and how can they help you create a better life with chronic illness and pain? In this post, I share some of my insights…
Let’s Redefine “Lazy” for Chronic People
We get a lot of judgements when we rest — from others and ourselves. But when you live with rheumatoid arthritis, rest is actually a very active state. In my new column for HealthCentral, I look at what people with chronic illness do when they rest: “EVERY DAY I fight a battle against my body: It…
Dismantling Your Inner Ableism to Live Better with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Systemic ableism is ingrained in our society and we internalize those messages. In my new essay for CreakyJoints in Canada, I share tips on how to start dismantling your own internalized ableism to create a much better life with chronic illness: “It was productivity that got me. Or rather, yet another instance of overdoing simply everything…
Rheumatoid Arthritis Is Not a Competition: Why the Urge to Compare Hurts Us All
Comparison and competition with chronic illness gets us tangled up in stress and sadness. In my latest article for CreakyJoints Canada, I share my thoughts on this, as well as four ways to start learning how to unlearn the urge and find acceptance in your own rheumatoid arthritis reality: “Comparing yourself to someone else seems…
Do You Have ‘Visible’ or ‘Invisible’ Rheumatoid Arthritis? A Look at the Pros and Cons
Whether or not your chronic illness is obvious to others can affect how you’re treated — and sometimes, how you feel about yourself. I write about the benefits and drawbacks of visible and invisible RA for CreakyJoints Caanda: “One glance at my hands will tell you I have rheumatoid arthritis (RA). They show the classic…
Made With RA: Your No-Drama Guide to Virtual RA Support Groups
Your peeps are out there, you just need to hit the right keys. In this column for HealthCentral, I share tips on how to find the right rheumatoid arthritis support online: “LIVING WITH RHEUMATOID arthritis (RA) can feel very lonely. Since this condition affects just about 1% of the population, it’s rare to meet others with…
Made With RA: Four Times in Life When RA Needs Come First
You’ve trained yourself to push through the pain and fatigue that can come with your condition. But sometimes, it’s OK to let rheumatoid arthritis (RA) be the boss. In this column for HealthCentral, I share four times when your RA should comes first: ““YOU CAN’T POUR from an empty cup.” No matter how often I enjoy…