A letter from a fellow warrior reminded me of something I’ve been wanting to blog about since last summer. Today was technically my last day in the clinical trial. They were supposed to call me to check once more for adverse events because it’s day 210. Everything happens on a certain date. Day 1 for me was the long and unforgettable intake day when a nurse went over my 3” thick medical record. I could write a book about the ten minutes we spent with the doctor in charge of the facility after we’d been with the nurse three and a half hours. But I’ll just tell you four words of it:

“It’s just pain, right?”

Without examining me, reading my chart, or letting me finish speaking, he met me and judged my case. There was no pause for an answer. It was a statement in the form of a question. It was a verdict.

My “answer” has been on the tip of my tongue since then: “No.”

No, it’s not just pain. My own chief complaints include disability, six years of almost daily fevers, fear for my kids, and fear of earlier death. Pain from Rheumatoid is dreadful and in its own class. But let’s look at why even the pain itself is not “just pain right.”

But even the pain is not “just pain”

Another day, another patient, another kind of doctor… Here’s the letter.

“My story is happier now. A combination of Enbrel and Plaquenil helped but certainly brought me nowhere near the 70% return of function. My rheumatologist told me that I just wasn’t where he wanted to see me and hoped I would still get. He wanted better things for me. For many reasons, I had been refusing anything specifically targeting the pain, but he convinced me to try a prescription-strength NSAID.

I have a high tolerance for pain and I hadn’t wanted to take anything that would put further stresses on my body. However, once I began taking the medication, things changed. I hadn’t realized how pain was impacting my sleep and how very sleep deprived I was. I hadn’t realized how much energy was sapped while my body coped with the pain, even when I consciously pushed the pain aside. I didn’t know how many activities I was missing because the pain had frozen me and sapped my energy, keeping me in bed for hours each day. I just hadn’t known how the pain was impacting me.

It’s made a tremendous difference. Yes, the more medications I take, the more side effects I might accrue. I’m not back to ”normal,” my husband reminds me after a day when we’ve had some hilarious bean-burger and spinach-dip throwing episodes when I tried to cook and ended up slinging food I was trying to lift with a spatula or stir with a spoon. Still, it’s so much better that it is scary, and I’m sure you know what I mean. I’m scared I’ll go back.

I wasn’t being stoic and valiant dealing with the pain without medication. I was being dumb. Needlessly dumb.”

Thanks to M. for letting us print part of her letter. She’s fighting so bravely to get as much of her life back as possible. And her doctor has performed brilliantly. What a wonderful example of how it’s supposed to work and how we can see that pain is not “just pain right.” No.

Postblog: Years ago, one of my sons once had an impolite response to dumb questions. If the question didn’t even dignify a “no,” my son said, “N.” Since Day 1, I’ve looked for the right nickname we could use for this fellow, the polar opposite of M.’s good doctor. Maybe someday I can tell you more about it, but it only took 209 days to name him Dr. No.

Recommended reading

• More articles about pain tolerance with RA / stoicism
• Preclinical Rheumatoid Disease: There Are No Joints in the Lungs
• RA Reality Versus “The Lie”
• Patient’s Rebuttal to RA Pain Catastrophizing Claims
• Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain in the Twilight Zone

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Bruce Jancin, staff writer for Rheumatology News wrote about one part of that Thursday in Airways Abnormalities May Represent Preclinical Rheumatoid Arthritis.

“Increasing evidence suggests that RA is smoldering in the lungs during this preclinical stage, which can last a decade or more. Indeed, bronchiole-associated lymphoid tissue may actually be the site where tolerance is broken and RA-related autoimmunity and systemic inflammation are generated, according to Dr. William F.C. Rigby, professor of medicine and professor of microbiology and immunology at Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, N.H…

“‘If methotrexate can be used to prevent the vascular complications of atherosclerosis, why can’t we use it to prevent RA? There is now [a National Institutes of Health] clinical trial proposing this. Because once the joint gets targeted, damage can happen very, very quickly. Many people have erosions on x-ray after only weeks of symptoms,’ the rheumatologist observed.

“He credited the discovery of the existence of a lengthy preclinical seropositive phase of RA to landmark studies involving U.S. military personnel with centrally stored blood samples that were available for many years prior to their being diagnosed with RA (Ann. Rheum. Dis. 2008;67:801-7). The existence of this years-long preclinical lag time has since been confirmed in multiple other populations.” (Emphases added.)

Preclinical RA in research and the real world

One week ago in Houston I had lunch with a patient from Denver explaining that close to her home investigators are studying preclinical RA by locating people with positive antibodies who do not yet have joint symptoms. Families like these want to know whether relatives (twins in this case!) will be affected.  I described the strategy to observe what happens with RA before joints are affected. Four days later, we read the RN article.

The Colorado researchers have been screening and conducting interviews with first-degree relatives of RA patients and obtaining blood samples at community health fairs during the past few years learning to identify early RA and preclinical RA. According to Jancin, the earlier Armed Forces study demonstrated that the serologic profile method (anti-CCP and/or two or more rheumatoid factor isotopes) is 96% reliable for identifying RA before inflammatory arthritis is evident. We’ve examined possible triggers to Rheumatoid disease and you can see the advantage of being able to follow people who do not yet have diagnosable RA symptoms.

Airway disease exists prior to inflammatory arthritis symptoms

CT scans showed 77% of 45 preclinical RA patients experienced a form of airway disease. Only 31% of the antibody negative control group showed airway abnormality, but 12 people with early RA (diagnosed less than one year) were similar to the antibody positive pre-RA group.

Significantly, “none of the seropositive preclinical RA subjects with CT lung abnormalities had any evidence of synovitis of their joints on MRI, indicating that RA isn’t smoldering preclinically in their joints for a long time prior to the time they show up in a rheumatologist’s office with joint symptoms.” In order to determine where RA disease begins and how to arrest it, we must look outside the joints as these researchers are. “These findings suggest that the lung may be an early site of autoimmune-related injury, and potentially a site of generation of RA-related autoimmunity. Further studies are needed to define the mechanistic role of lung inflammation in the development of RA” (from abstract for Airways abnormalities and rheumatoid arthritis-related autoantibodies in subjects without arthritis: Early injury or initiating site of autoimmunity?)

Postblog: We’ve known that joints are where Rheumatoid disease ends up, but not likely where the disease begins. My unique vantage point, listening to the voices of so many people with this disease, has compelled me to advocate for research and treatment which considers the entire disease. We have yet to find the sine qua non of Rheumatoid disease. But the future is rapidly arriving when we’ll look at this elephant with our eyes wide open. Or at least each blind man’s voice will be heard.

Important related posts:

• ACR REF Rheum Research & Courage That Won’t Back Down
• What Causes Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease to Trigger?
• Can We Treat the Whole Person or at Least the Whole Disease?
• We Refuse to Be Mislabeled: Updating Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) to Rheumatoid Autoimmune Disease (RAD)

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My endocrinologist was so excited about my attending the ACR in November and winning the WebMD award in December and it’s really fun to share after being a patient there for several years! However, there is some confusion that comes from these events. Doc commented recently about being glad my RA is better so that I can do these things. Did someone forget to tell my disease?

How do I even answer such comments? Yes, with help, rest, and medication, I can sometimes go somewhere and look “normal” for a few hours. But I could not even walk sometimes in Rochester and Chicago. It was just like being in labor how I forced myself to shuffle along from seat to seat. I was in agony much of the time during those trips. It took weeks to prepare and weeks to recover. Just last week (YES, FEBRUARY!) we caught up on laundry from that time away.

Yesterday, we went to Tampa to speak to a large group of patients at a museum. It was dark in there, but I promise that was me. It was a long day, getting up at five a.m. because we had to drive across the state before the program. But it felt like a great victory to make it through the day for several reasons: It takes days of preparation for me to do something like this. Every other ball has to drop. Blog posts aren’t written. Emails aren’t answered. Calls aren’t returned. Slides are created. Facts are checked. Points are memorized. Literature is printed. The briefcase is packed. Map copied. Clothes cleaned, pressed, and laid out. Of course it was all worth it – especially finally meeting Emily and her family! And we forgot to get a photo together – when will I learn this lesson?

Katie Beth took a day off studying calculus yesterday to be aide, videographer, and driver. After the event, I shuffled with Roo around the museum a little, mostly sitting on benches. You know how it is when you force every single step? Yes I sat on the floor a few times in the gift shop because there was no seat. When we got home, I handed out my souvenirs and lay down while Katie Beth fixed us something to eat. And you guessed it – I fell asleep without dinner.

I can do this once in a while, but not as a regular pace. From my vantage point, I KNOW that we are not all the same. Some have it easier than I do. Many have it worse.

I lived about 40 years of almost normal health most of the time. I know the difference. I haven’t had a “pain-free” moment in over six years. I don’t talk about it most of the time and most people assume joints only hurt when I mention them. Apparently we get used to pain because I seldom mention pain until it passes a 7 or is affecting over a dozen joints at once. Usually, the disability concerns me more than the pain. For example I knew better than to hold the microphone with my left hand yesterday because it would cause a hand cramp in front of everyone. My right hand can’t hold it at anyway because the first two fingers don’t bend enough anymore.

It IS all worth it and I chose to do it. But wouldn’t it be great if people didn’t assume RAD is gone just because I refuse to whine about it?

A few important announcements:

Check your email!

Last month, many of you sent an email to register for a survey with Find a Cure Panel to earn a $25 donation for the Rheumatoid Patient Foundation. We’ve received notice that the survey will be sent soon by email. It is important that you fill out your survey as soon as possible and remind your friends to do likewise. This should only take you about 15 minutes and only the first 200 entries will be accepted.

T-shirt birthday coupon!

My own birthday is Tuesday and I’ll try to post something fun to celebrate. Meanwhile, our t-shirt manufacturer is celebrating their birthday right now with coupons for us. See all the styles and sizes in our t-shirt store here. See codes below.

Coupon Code: GiftsforMe
Discount: $10 off an order $40+
Coupon Code: GiftsforYou
Discount: $20 off an order $75+
Coupon Code: GiftsforAll
Discount: $35 off an order $100+
Disclaimer: Please enter coupon code before completing checkout. Must have the minimum subtotal to qualify for savings. Discount is applied to the base price and does not include taxes, shipping or additional charges. This offer may not be combined with other offers. Coupons valid until 02/21/2012 11:59 pm Mountain Time.

Can you come make Sweet Memories with other warriors?

How often have we heard how wonderful it would be for lots of us to meet together in person? Watch this video and read 5 reasons you’ll want to attend the Sweet Memories gathering in Texas coming up in a few weeks!

Central Florida Meet-up!

One more thing! Our Central Florida group is having lunch at Jason’s Deli in Orlando – click here for map next Saturday at 2 p.m. You can RSVP by email to Kelly AT rawarrior.com if you like.

Recommended reading

• Ways we’re so much alike: Can We Find Similarities with Rheumatoid Arthritis?
• Reasons we’re so different: The Immune Fingerprint and Rheumatoid Disease
• Why we’re never alone: The Mouse in My Pocket: We Are Not All Alone

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Many view Rheumatoid disease as something less than what it is and that leads to outrageous minimizing of facts related to it. Unfortunately, that is even done by many who have been charged with researching or reporting concerning the disease.

Over the last three years, I’ve communicated with those who do not have RA using as little emotion as possible because as an RA patient, I felt vulnerable to a cruel Catch-22 of this disease: the worse we portray the disease to be, the more it is assumed that it’s an exaggeration. Here on the blog, I’ve covered accusations of low pain tolerance and catastrophizing about a disease that can supposedly be treated by diet or lifestyle changes (see recommended reading below for some examples).

What is the big deal about RA?

This disease is a big deal to a significant percentage of patients who’ve lost physical abilities, careers, and relationships.

RA is a big deal to caregivers whose lives are also forever altered.

RA is a big deal to a majority of patients who live with extraordinary daily pain.

RA is also a big deal to many of us who have lost family members to it. Over the past few years, we’ve also seen loss in our community although it’s often played down partly because we don’t want to scare others. However on January 23 a warrior some of us knew, Cathy Russell, passed away and her family has asked that her memory be honored by contributions to the Rheumatoid Patient Foundation (Los Angeles Times obituary).

RA Warriors are people who often fight for every bit of life they enjoy. Some fight to get out of bed or be able to dress or eat. Others fight to keep jobs to provide for their kids. They do all this with few accommodations and in the face of a collective shrug from a world who thinks the disease is no big deal.

Warriors like Cathy are intelligent, sensible, and brave. They choose to fight a disease that often causes dangerous conditions such as infection, heart or lung disease, lymphoma, anemia, or spinal cord instability. Yet they fight with treatments which have their own additional risks.
RA is certainly no big deal to those who are deceived about it as Judi Ketteler was back in 2009. Her article in Woman’s Day drew hundreds of calls, comments, and letters to the editor from us. We’ve covered many similar articles. My friend Carlo showed me another one on Twitter yesterday morning that certainly depicts the ignorance often described by commenters here. We are used to it, but we are also aware of the damage it does.

I realize some will be turned off because they prefer to hear about “Woman’s Day RA,” an easy going kindler gentler version of RA that has a happier ending. However, I’d like to see the real RA cured. And that’s not going to happen as long as it’s no big deal.

Note:  Although the editors at Woman’s Day did not withdraw their position in response to our many letters, comments, and calls, there was a happy ending with Judi.

Recommended reading

• Rheumatoid Arthritis Natural Treatment: The Beachcomber Article
• Do Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Have a Low Pain Threshold?
• Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain Is Not Our Only Pain
• “25 Years in Arthritis” – an Article on Rheumatoid Arthritis by ABC News
• Rheumatoid Arthritis Joint Damage Preventable with Lifestyle Changes?
• Patient’s Rebuttal to RA Pain Catastrophizing Claims
• Woman’s Day Rheumatoid Arthritis Article: A Video Appeal

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Let’s look at some simple examples. Think about the various ways which different immune systems (in different people) respond to a bee sting.

• One person has a feverish red lump for a week.
• Another person goes into anaphylactic shock.
• A third person is perfectly well with no perceptible symptoms.

Someone was once amazed to discover that each person has a unique fingerprint. Later it was shown that we each also have a unique voiceprint, iris scan (eye fingerprint), and of course DNA sequence. Truly, the closer we’ve looked the more uniqueness, we’ve found.

Turning to our immune systems, consider the differences in the ways each person in a family responds to a simultaneous cold virus (yes, a virus can mutate).

• They have measurably different levels of fever.
• They have varying degrees of congestion.
• The cold lasts a varying period of time.

If our immune systems are unique, it should not surprise us that we do not respond in identical ways to stimuli. This produces the variety we see with response to allergens in the environment or sensitivities to foods, of course. Our “immune fingerprint” is a plausible, albeit simple, explanation for this diversity.

When a disease like Rheumatoid prompts the immune system to accelerate its activity and malfunction by treating tissues in the host body as targets to be destroyed, we would not expect the results to be identical in each person.

• They have differing patterns of swelling, tenderness, stiffness, pain, or weakness, fever, fatigue, redness, or rash.
• They have dissimilar patterns of disease activity: constant versus flaring; a few joints versus all joints.
• They have varying degrees and types of destruction in joints or organs.

The “immune fingerprint” is also one way to understand the differing responses people have to immune-altering treatments. A minority has an excellent response to current treatments, some do not respond at all, while some enjoy remission. It would seem to be ridiculous to imagine that only certain patterns of expression of the “immune fingerprint” are considered valid patterns of immune disease activity, whether it’s “conspicuous swelling” (another new term, two in one day!), CRP, fever, or something else. Of course, the hundreds of comments on just the posts linked below, and tens of thousands of others by our readers demonstrate the effects of the “immune fingerprint” with RA.

One final thing: I received a coupon this week to share with you. You can use it on anything from the RA Warrior t-shirt store here through Feb 7, 2012!

Coupon Code: Premium$10
Discount: $10 off all orders over $40+
Coupon Code: Premium$25
Discount: $25 off all orders over $100+
Disclaimer: Please enter coupon code Premium$10 or Premium$25 before completing checkout. Must have the minimum subtotal to qualify for savings. Discount is applied to the base price and does not include taxes, shipping or additional charges. This offer may not be combined with other offers. Coupons valid to 02/07/2012 11:59 pm Mountain Time.

Recommended reading

• Rheumatoid Arthritis Swelling, Take Two
• Courses of Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Rheumatoid Arthritis Swelling: My Confession
• Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis Versus Mild Rheumatoid Arthritis

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The other BIG program of AI is the annual national gathering of people with autoimmune diseases like RA, JRA, and AS. Here’s my report with pictures from last year’s G4 event. This year, I’ll be participating by presenting about being an e-patient and becoming involved in our own healthcare decisions.

I’ll give you 5 reasons to consider attending Sweet Memories G5!

Just PICK ONE!

1) I really want to see you there!  Meeting other warriors there will probably be the highpoint of my trip! Apologies to organizers Vince and Peter!

2) You might learn something! After all, they’ve worked for months to create stimulating programs!

3) Spending time with other people living with the same issues as you will help you feel encouraged, inspired, and empowered to fight on to have as much of life as possible!

4) Learn more about the Rheumatoid Patient Foundation (RPF) at our exhibit.

5) You’ll make sweet memories that will last a lifetime! If you come, you’ll pick this for number 1!

Details on Sweet Memories AI Gathering in Sugar Land Texas March 9-12

The Gathering will take place in Sugar Land, Texas at the Sugar Land Marriot in Town Square. Themed “Sweet Memories” the conference will showcase educational awareness with fifteen sessions from which to choose. The topics will include addressing parenting, nutrition, therapy, communication, and relationships, just to name a few. As an added bonus, Arthritis Introspective encourages its attendees to bring their spouses, caregivers, significant others, friends, and family to an educational track created specifically for support systems. The National Gathering also includes numerous social activities in order to strengthen the relationships of those attending.

Click here to learn more about the hotel, the schedule, or to register now.

EASY way to earn donations for the Rheumatoid Patient Foundation:

DON’T FORGET! If you registered to complete the brief anonymous survey to earn a $25 donation to the Rheumatoid Patient Foundation, PLEASE keep an eye on your email and be sure to complete your survey as soon as you receive it! Please also remind any friends who may have registered for the survey too.

Recommended reading

• I Want My Life Back
• RA Reality Versus “The Lie”
• Gathering Support for RA

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I was in the familiar context of my pediatrician’s office – 6 years with 5 kids – that’s 30 years of service. And I was experiencing the familiar feeling of having someone make inaccurate statements about Rheumatoid disease. However, experiencing the two things together was entirely unfamiliar – and unacceptable.

I successfully suppressed my tearful desire to tell the guy how wrong he was. Care for my son’s hand – or health – does not depend on him, so arguing would be pointless. However, three things became crystal clear:

(1) No doctor can know everything about everything. But there’s one thing that makes ignorance unacceptable: arrogance. A doctor needs to know that he doesn’t know things, so he can continue to learn. Arrogance makes a doctor ineffective, unless he knows everything.

(2) I will not tolerate my son having the incompetent medical care that I’ve had. Remember my mother of a patient voice? If my son needs rheumatological care, he will see a professional that knows more about Rheumatoid disease than he does. It’s long been reported that general practitioners lack knowledge about RA.

 (3) It emphasized the great need for the work that the Rheumatoid Patient Foundation (RPF) has begun. As the RPF clarifies to the world the facts about Rheumatoid disease, people in many situations can experience less of such devastating ignorance that can cause confusion or delays in treatment. Erroneous notions about Rheumatoid disease obviously interfere with appropriate care decisions. We have a big opportunity to help the RPF help patients, but we have to hurry! Please read below!

But first, I know you’re curious, here are a few of the facts the fellow had wrong:

1. If an ankle, or knee, is swollen, “it has to be swollen here in this spot.”
2. “It would hurt and be more stiff in the morning” if it were RA.
3. An x-ray would help determine whether it’s RA (at this early stage).
4. Genetic testing gives no help in determining whether it’s RA.

Take a Survey & Raise Funds for RA Awareness – Hurry, This is a Limited Time Opportunity!

We need your help! Last year, the Rheumatoid Patient Foundation (RPF) was formed as the first and only non-profit with the sole purpose of improving the lives of people with Rheumatoid Arthritis. We have a great fundraising opportunity coming up soon, but we need to act fast!

Find A Cure Panel specializes in patient research for rare and serious diseases including RA–and they have an upcoming 15 minute anonymous online survey for those with RA and on medication.

If you complete the survey, FACP will donate $25 to Rheumatoid Patient Foundation.

If you would you like to participate, please contact FACP at info@findacurepanel.com
and put “FACP RA Survey/RPF” in the subject line.  This will pre-register you to receive the survey, which should be available next week.

Here’s the kicker: there are only 200 survey spots available and other organizations are competing for the funds. Please help us raise money for RA Awareness by pre-registering for this survey – the opportunity won’t be there for long! Thank you in advance for your support and helping the RPF continue to make an impact!

Recommended reading

• An important post about the Rheumatoid Patient Foundation on Dan’s blog!
• How Much Does Patient Testimony Matter?
• General Practitioners Need Basic Rheumatoid Arthritis Information
• Reliable Sources: Orencia Cough Side Effect & Notions of e-Patients
• Who Are e-Patients? A Simple Explanation

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It seemed that changing the name of a disease is a decision that’s not in the realm of patients. We can’t do that. It’s a job for organizations. With money. Who already control things. Which are not working well for patients… hm.

What changed my mind?

1) You did.

Spending > 60 hours a week communicating with other people with Rheumatoid disease impacted converted me.

Without my encouragement, people continued to press the idea that the name change is necessary. There’s no way I could count how many people have told me that they see a name change as a key part of the awareness solution. I’m certain it’s a vast majority.

For a smile, click to see Nancy and I discussing how Rheumatoid Arthritis could become Rheumatoid Autoimmune Disease – and my talking with Tanya and Valeska about creating a foundation for Rheumatoid that would be the RA foundation people have dreamed of  – and a few days later, Julie encouraging people to use RAD instead of RA.

2) The facts convinced me.

The fact is that Rheumatoid is not a type of arthritis. Arthritis is one symptom of Rheumatoid disease.

As I objectively studied the problem, I pulled apart threads like tangled yarn. Examining the origins of the confusion about Rheumatoid disease leads to clear conclusions about what must be done to correct it. The word “arthritis” is one unambiguous thread. My learning process included writing > 600 articles for this site and other publications. For a quick overview, click here to see the list of 57 articles labeled Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness.

3) An RA / RAD foundation: the Rheumatoid Patient Foundation.

A few say we must first spend our energy convincing other organizations that they must change their ideals or goals to align with those of Rheumatoid patients and give us what we need. Do people with other conditions or causes wait to be given whatever change they need? No, they demand it.

A year ago, we created the Rheumatoid Patient Foundation which represents Rheumatoid patients themselves. Momentum was tremendous during our first year and people are eagerly telling us they want to help more! That support will only grow as people learn of the tremendous plans the Board of Directors has for the coming year. You are wanted and welcome to join us! Click here to read how to play a part right now!

More support for the name change of Rheumatoid Arthritis

While I could list links to comments, and quote emails and blogs advocating the name change all day long, I urge you to read about a rheumatologist’s plea to change the name of RA, Response to An Identity Crisis for RA by Dr. R. Franklin Adams. OK, here’s just one more remark supporting changing RA to RAD from e-Patient Dave deBronkart with an important point of grammar!

What’s next for RAD?

The RPF is bringing fantastic ways to make impact with the name change and for you to help make a difference! Please follow the RPF now by clicking here and here so you will not miss anything! We can all participate in creating the awareness of Rheumatoid Autoimmune Disease / Rheumatoid Arthritis that we’ve all longed for. You’ll be able to join in incredible events coming up including a video contest, RAD petition, and more!

Recommended reading:

• Hear My RA Interview on KISS FM!
• What Can We Do About the Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness Problem?
• Woman’s Day Rheumatoid Arthritis Article: A Video Appeal
• Use the RA Info button for accurate awareness: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Information
• Rheumatoid Arthritis Natural Treatment: The Beachcomber Article

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Pollyanna gets a bad rap

It’s stunning to me how some things are construed as opposite of what they are. Somehow Pollyanna has become synonymous with sounding dismissive and detached. We all know people who dismiss serious problems that have no easy answer. “Don’t worry, it’ll work itself out” or “I know you’ll find a way.” That’s nothing like the Pollyanna I know and love.

Who says Pollyanna was a stranger to adversity who glossed over problems with trite remarks?

Pollyanna gave attentive, perceptive responses to others’ dilemmas because her father taught her the glad game to cope with the misfortunes that plagued her: she lost her mother at an early age and lived in poverty without toys, siblings, or playmates. When her Christmas gifts consisted of cast-off items deposited into a missionary barrel such a pair of crutches, Pollyanna’s daddy taught her to earnestly look for something to be thankful for. Even with crutches for Christmas, her wise father pointed out how glad they could be that she didn’t need them.

If you’ve read the book, you know that Pollyanna soon loses her only advantage in life – her wonderful father. Coping with the loss and honoring his life, she pursues thanksgiving at every inconvenient opportunity. She determines to prove that silver linings are the rule and not the exception.

Gratefulness is always good, but inconvenient thankfulness is a higher calling

What’s inspiring about practicing thankfulness when circumstances are favorable? Not so much.

The more dedicated you are to it, the more meaningful gratitude is.

We can almost always find something to be thankful for – and we should. But when we have to search for it, it’s even sweeter – and more inspiring.

Easy to be thankful for right now

• Friends who stand by me
• A GP who is attentive to infections
• My kids’ health

Silver linings (The Glad Game)

• Seeing  my kids are compassionate people aware of others’ needs because of my illness
• Getting to travel to exciting places just because of RA
• Having a unique vantage point to do RA research and help others

What’s on your lists?

Recommended reading

• Be Your Own Counselor with Rheumatoid Arthritis
• You’re Not Lost and Michael Bublé Video
• All I Want for Christmas Is My CRP
• RA Reality Versus “The Lie”

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Look what I found on my dresser when we got home from Chicago last night!

The new WebMD magazine with yours truly in it! You can click on the images to enlarge and read the text or read the story on the WebMD Health Hero honorees page.

The WebMD Health Hero award was a big surprise when I first heard about it on Facebook a few weeks ago. The magazine publisher requested that I quickly hide a blog post where I mentioned it. So, I had to keep it a secret.

You can read a bit of the story behind Kelly winning the Health Hero Award on the blog at the Rheumatoid Patient Foundation site, rheum4us.org.

Read or print the PDF version of WebMD Health Hero Award article – click here.

Recommended reading

• Courses of Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Rheumatoid Arthritis Hand – Safe Handshake
• Response to An Identity Crisis for RA by Dr. R. Franklin Adams
• An Introduction to the Genetics of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

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