Living with RA / Managing RA Archives | Page 12 of 21 | Rheumatoid Arthritis Warrior

10 Funny Things I Tell Myself about Living with RA

March 11, 2011May 15, 2018 Kelly O'Neill 113 Comments Humor with RA, Invisible Illness

Funny things I tell myself about RA (UPDATED) Living with RA can make you feel like an alien since you’re the only one around you enduring what you do. Often, I talk to myself while trying to get through the day. I try to be encouraging, but sometimes the funny things I tell myself are just silly. 1....Continue reading 113 Comments » Read more

Resistance to Rheumatology Treatment: Blog Carnival #3

February 28, 2011May 15, 2018 Kelly O'Neill 9 Comments Blog carnival, Psoriatic Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis natural cure, Rheumatoid arthritis treatment

Would anyone oppose rheumatological treatment? A recent column in a California newspaper prompted a response from rheumatology patients and parents of juvenile rheumatology patients. There are 61 comments already on my post Don’t Take Those Meds for RA or Juvenile Arthritis, plus a handful of comments on the original article. Danielle, a mom who writes about...Continue reading 9 Comments » Read more

Fighting Rheumatoid Arthritis Depression

February 25, 2011May 15, 2018 Kelly O'Neill 42 Comments Emotions and Rheumatoid Arthritis, Tips for living with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Often, I get letters from Rheumatoid Arthritis patients struggling with depression. I always encourage them to consider the options of counseling or medication since there’s no way to know how serious their depression may be. It’s heartbreaking. We hope that most of the time we can avoid serious depression, but patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis or...Continue reading 42 Comments » Read more

Sleep Quality Affects Disability in Rheumatoid Arthritis

February 17, 2011May 15, 2018 Kelly O'Neill 16 Comments Research on Rheumatoid Arthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis disability, Rheumatoid Arthritis sleep

The relationship between Rheumatoid Arthritis, sleep, and disability A small study in 2009 confirmed “Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) negatively affect women's sleep.” It’s no surprise that Rheumatoid Arthritis impacts the sleep of many patients. Most patients could tell you why: pain, medication side effects, and emotional frustration or depression about chronic illness, chronic pain, and...Continue reading 16 Comments » Read more

The Hypochondria of RA Pain: Do I Smell an Elephant?

February 10, 2011May 15, 2018 Kelly O'Neill 31 Comments History of Rheumatoid Arthritis, Living with chronic illness like RA, Pain Tolerance / RA Stoicism, Rheumatoid arthritis pain

Hypochondria is an elephant in the room with RA pain The elephant house was always my favorite place at the zoo. We always knew when we were near it …by the smell. So, how can an elephant creep into a room? They don’t exactly tip-toe. Maybe what happens is that nice people don’t discuss certain things, so no...Continue reading 31 Comments » Read more

10 Commandments of Chronic Illness

January 24, 2011May 15, 2018 Kelly O'Neill 76 Comments Inspiration for living with RA, Living with chronic illness like RA, Tips for living with Rheumatoid Arthritis

I hate cute little tips for chronic illness It bugs me when I’m frequently asked in interviews what quick tips I’d give to those who are newly diagnosed with an illness like RA. I feel like saying, “Sorry, there aren’t any tips that would make it easy to live with RA because RA is hard.” On...Continue reading 76 Comments » Read more