Autoimmune diseases Archives | Rheumatoid Arthritis Warrior

Hydroxychloroquine Uses: 10 Facts

April 15, 2020 Kelly O'Neill 4 Comments Autoimmune diseases, Rheumatoid arthritis treatment

This is my second article addressing the current COVID-19 crisis. You’ll also want to read and share 10 Facts: Coronavirus & Autoimmune Disease. Today we explore the medication crisis being created by the epidemic. I have followed most of these facts as they unfolded in news reports and on Twitter, but I’ve tried to document...Continue reading 4 Comments » Read more

10 Facts: Coronavirus & Autoimmune Disease

March 21, 2020April 14, 2020 Kelly O'Neill 9 Comments Autoimmune diseases, Living with chronic illness like RA

What about coronavirus and autoimmune disease? If you are actually sick with coronavirus and have an autoimmune disease, please call your doctor and follow her / his advice about whether to continue your usual medications and whether you need specific medical care. Part of the reason that there is no cure yet for diseases like rheumatoid...Continue reading 9 Comments » Read more

Livedo Reticularis & Rheumatoid Arthritis: Nothing Rash about It

January 15, 2013May 14, 2018 Kelly O'Neill 86 Comments Autoimmune diseases, Rheumatoid arthritis complications

Does livedo reticularis have anything to do with Rheumatoid disease? Livedo reticularis is a purplish-colored lace pattern under the skin. There is no raised or itchy rash on the surface of the skin, but the light and dark areas resemble a net-like pattern. The causes and treatments for livedo reticularis are not fully understood, however it...Continue reading 86 Comments » Read more

Can Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Get a Flu Shot? 15 Facts on Vaccinations & Autoimmune Disease

January 8, 2013May 14, 2018 Kelly O'Neill 50 Comments Autoimmune diseases, Preventive Care with Rheumatoid Arthritis

I’ve had pneumonia, the flu, H1N1 virus, and Norovirus – it’s not a pretty picture with RA... 1. Do vaccines work as well in Rheumatoid Arthritis patients? New study shows vaccine protection may rapidly decline with anti-rheumatic drugs such as methotrexate and TNF inhibitors. A new study published this week in Arthritis Research & Therapy showed that...Continue reading 50 Comments » Read more

The Immune Fingerprint and Rheumatoid Disease

February 4, 2012May 15, 2018 Kelly O'Neill 26 Comments Autoimmune diseases, Research on Rheumatoid Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis symptoms

I’ve made up another term because I haven’t heard of anything suitable: “immune fingerprint.” It occurred to me that while we talk about how the disease Rheumatoid Arthritis (or Rheumatoid Autoimmune Disease) affects us, one key to understanding disease activity may be considering how we affect the disease. If a disease disrupts the immune system, causing...Continue reading 26 Comments » Read more

Lipstick & Luck: Feeling Fabulous with Rheumatoid Autoimmune Disease

December 12, 2011May 15, 2018 Kelly O'Neill 47 Comments Autoimmune diseases, Communicating about RA, Rheum Disease in the Media

If we try, will we feel fabulous with Rheumatoid Arthritis? Feeling and looking fabulous with RA sells well, but how much can lipstick help? Most people living with Rheumatoid Arthritis have felt the sting of someone suggesting we don’t need to be as sick if we would only try _____. Hearing this can seem harsh, especially...Continue reading 47 Comments » Read more

Adding RA to the SSD Compassion Allowances List?

March 18, 2011May 15, 2018 Kelly O'Neill 26 Comments Autoimmune diseases, Patient advocacy, Rheumatoid arthritis disability

Hearings receive testimony on RA & other autoimmune diseases Hearings were held yesterday, March 16th, about adding some autoimmune diseases to a list of conditions deemed disabling enough to be given specific consideration and hopefully quicker Social Security Disability approval. The list, called the Compassionate Allowances List currently includes 88 conditions. This week’s hearing was the 7th...Continue reading 26 Comments » Read more