Archive for the ‘For the newly diagnosed’ Category
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The Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosis Mystery
Mysterious flares For me, a Rheumatoid Arthritis diagnosis was a very long process. From the teen years on, sudden painful flares attacked my hands, feet, hips, and shoulders – only I had no idea they were called flares. The whole process seemed rather comical, like a scene from a Dick Van Dyke episode: healthy girl [...]
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Newly Diagnosed Rheumatoid Arthritis Map
Lately, I’m getting more mail and messages from the newly diagnosed. Rheumatoid Arthritis is such a complicated diagnosis to handle. There is so much to figure out, I’ve often joked that we ought to get a degree and little letters after our name: RA. Answering emails and messages is an enjoyable part of my day [...]
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Where Is the RA Help Button?
What, There’s No Easy Button? Once a blogger I know mentioned how easy it would be to write a Rheumatoid Arthritis help blog. “Just write the tips you learned that make it easy to live with RA.” I just said, “Thanks.” Of course, he did not realize that living with RA is difficult. And that [...]
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Meeting the New Rheumatoid Arthritis Specialist
11 Things you might bring with you to the new Rheumatoid specialist: Person: Bring someone to serve as a witness who also provides moral support. Choose someone who believes in you and will back you up one hundred percent. For example, choose someone who has seen your disease at its worst. Discuss in advance the [...]
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20 Tips for Managing Your Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment
Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis as a partner with a Rheumatoid Arthritis specialist I’ve answered so many questions from RA’ers who are unsure why their rheumatologist makes certain decisions. Why does she/he prescribe a certain Rheumatoid Arthritis medicine? When do I need that test? Should RA’ers cooperate blindly with the doctor? Or discretely refuse to comply? [...]
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21 Things to Know About Finding a New Rheumatologist / Rheumatoid Arthritis Specialist
What to look for in a rheumatologist: Asks questions, listens for answers. Makes eye contact. Shakes hands gently. Education is recent or up to date. Attends American College of Rheumatology (ACR) meetings every year or so. Encourages patients to become informed, educated about RA. Welcomes friend or family member as an appointment companion. Views you [...]
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Is there a blood test for Rheumatoid Arthritis? Part 1
Yes and no. There are at least four. But, actually, there is none. Allow me to explain… Do the Rheumatoid Arthritis tests pass the tests? What are the tests? 1) Rheumatoid Factor For the last few decades, Rheumatologists have relied heavily enough upon the Rheumatoid factor test that it is part of the American College [...]
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Can I Delay Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis? part 2
Is it safe to delay Rheumatoid Arthritis treatment? If you re-phrase this question six different ways, and search using Google, you will get a lot of good information about why Rheumatoid Arthritis treatment should NOT be delayed. So, I guess that’s the Google-vote. But most of us do not make decisions based upon a Google-vote. [...]
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