LIVING LIFE AND LEARNING ALL I CAN ALONG THE WAY
Here we are. February 2, 2024. Rheumatoid Awareness Day. As I type this, I am sitting in the waiting room at my rheumatologist’s office. Only, it’s not “my” rheumatologist’s office anymore. You see, I had been going to the same doctor for over 16 years. He’s the one who got me to a healthy place…
One of the topics that was prevalent at this year’s ACR Annual Scientific Meeting was the concept of Treating to Target. This approach to rheumatology care involves identifying treatment goals for patients with rheumatoid disease and modifying treatments when the goals are not reached. For instance, if a patient is started on methotrexate to treat…
For quite some time now, the online #rheum community has been creating their own language, including made up words and terms to describe our experiences with rheumatoid disease. Quite often these terms are punny and mildly humorous. Other times, these terms are downright hilarious. As I’ve already stated that I believe laughter is often the…
Last November, I spent a weekend in Chicago and was able to attend a brief part of the American College of Rheumatology’s Annual Scientific Meeting which was being held there. I spent a day working in the Exhibit Hall on behalf of the Rheumatoid Patient Foundation (RPF), met other patients with Rheumatoid Disease that I…
The story of the Sed Rate Saga continues. I wish I could say this was the ending, because it would be a happy one. I went to my rheumatologist’s office last week Monday and he gave me a lab order to get some more blood work done. The last time we had checked my Sed…
I recently had somebody tell me that I should do a blog post about what it means day-to-day to live with rheumatoid disease. And, I immediately thought: that’s a good idea! Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) or Rheumatoid Disease is a chronic autoimmune disease whereby the body’s own immune system attacks healthy tissues. This leads to joint…
This month marks 10 months now that I’ve been on Humira. Overall, it has worked great, and I have not experienced any side effects. It was a little rough getting started, but I really feel like I have continued to make progress since March and feel the best I have in a long time. I’m…
Hockey games can definitely induce Raynaud’s… For about as long as I can remember, my fingers have turned white when exposed to cold. My toes, too, actually. Sometimes the entire finger or toe; sometimes just part of it. They usually get at least a little numb, too. Sometimes it lasts for just a few minutes,…
I don’t like to think of myself as a forgetful person, but sometimes I am. When it comes to taking medicine, I can usually get into a routine and keep it going without forgetting very often. Of course, this is easier under a couple of conditions: 1) When the medicine is taken daily, 2) When…
I am past due for a RAD update, so here it goes: I had my last appointment with my rheumatologist in June, shortly after I returned from vacation. Since the beginning of March, I’ve been slowly but steadily improving, with my rheumatoid arthritis symptoms becoming less severe and less frequent. The only real persistent symptom…