Announcing a new RA
public service announcement
Please watch my second-ever RA public service announcement,
below! My mom always said to “make it short and sweet”—well this is short and
serious. But hopefully you’ll feel the passion of my heart:
1) For people to recognize rheumatoid disease is more than
arthritis—it’s a serious disease.
2) For people to recognize early testing...Continue reading 1 Comment »
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Testing the imaware™ RA Test Kit
Why I did an RA test
kit—when I already know I have RA / RD
In the video below, you’ll see me use the imaware™
RA test kit live. This video is my sincere, unrehearsed attempt to show how
to use the test kit. I thought it would be easier for people if they felt
intimidated about pricking their own...Continue reading Make a Comment »
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Possible Rheumatoid Arthritis
Our family’s testing for possible rheumatoid arthritis
This article is part 2 to RA Runs in Families.
My
daughters and my friend’s family members were being tested for possible rheumatoid arthritis. The imaware™
at-home RA test checks for three antibodies that occur with RA / RD and
asks other questions related to RA diagnosis. When the RA test reports are
ready,...Continue reading 3 Comments »
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RA Runs in Families
RA runs in families: Part 1
I’ve always heard RA runs in families
I have always said that the people you meet when living with
this disease—or because you do—are the greatest side effect. That’s one of the
things I would not change even though I hate rheumatoid disease. Some of my best
friends connected with me first through RAW...Continue reading 14 Comments »
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RA Surgery — 10 Questions Answered
This week I had my second RA surgery, after 13 years of
living with severe, unrelenting rheumatoid disease that does not respond to
medications other than steroids. I definitely asked my surgeon lots of
questions. But, this second time, I knew even better what to expect by what I
had learned last time. I hope these Q and A...Continue reading 15 Comments »
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Seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis Is Hazy
What does seronegative
rheumatoid arthritis mean?
Seronegative rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a topic that brings a lot of confusion for the public, people living with rheumatoid disease, and sometimes even medical professionals. Put simply, seronegative is a term used to when there is an absence of an antibody that is usually found with a certain disease.1 The...Continue reading 14 Comments »
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Early RA Screening Matters
Real hope in early RA
screening
Every day my email box and social media streams are filled with “exciting” news of promising RA breakthroughs and so-called cures. But rarely is there news that I know will make a difference—either to investigators studying rheumatoid disease (RD) or to people living with RD (PRD). Today, with regard to early...Continue reading 5 Comments »
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Prevent RA Just Like Cancer
Could methotrexate prevent RA?
Several studies presented at the American College of
Rheumatology’s (ACR) Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago last fall are
investigating how to prevent RA. One poster in particular, from the Netherlands’
group, presented startling results as they re-analyzed data from the PROMPT
trial. They concluded that a one-year course of methotrexate
could prevent RA or delay its development.1
I...Continue reading 7 Comments »
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Rheumatoid Disease Awareness Expands
Years ago, texts with my daughter MK prompted me to dream of billboards for rheumatoid disease awareness. Wouldn't it be incredible to lay out the truth for people to see as they just drove by? I have a huge surprise for you if you have just a moment for rheumatoid disease awareness memory lane.
It’s #RheumDay—a...Continue reading 20 Comments »
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RA Bone Mineral Density Predicts Mortality
RA bone mineral density may be another indicator of the mostly hidden disease activity of rheumatoid disease (RD). Investigators studying patients in Texas have made some landmark observations.
RA bone mineral density may be associated with mortality
A session at the most recent scientific meeting of the American College of Rheumatology explored how RA bone mineral density...Continue reading 5 Comments »
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10 Perfect Gifts for Chronic Illness with Gift Guide
Special gifts for chronic illness
RA Warrior already has a popular gift guide: 21 Gifts for People with Rheumatoid Arthritis. But in the past couple of years, I’ve found and tried so many new things—several given to me by loved ones! So I’m choosing some of the best ones to recommend to you in this new...Continue reading 5 Comments »
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A Plateau in RA Treatment Progress?
A patient’s look at RA treatment progress
In this provocative guest post, RA Warrior welcomes Dana Symons, who asks whether we’ve reached A Plateau in RA Treatment Progress. If you’re like me, you’ll wonder why other news outlets haven’t asked these questions. But first, Dana is the talent behind many RD awareness graphics provided by the...Continue reading 8 Comments »
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