Welcome to a special blog carnival with this theme: How Do You Keep the Disease from Taking Over?
How will I ever summarize all the inspiration and passion of the wonderful posts contributing to this carnival? It will make great coffee break reading for the rest of this week, so bookmark this page until you’ve read...Continue reading 23 Comments »
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Don’t Give Up
If it weren’t so debilitating, I’d be ok
Maybe it’s the pain, but today I felt weary. Sara’s words resonated: “My doctor shrugged it off after the blood test. If the pain in my hands wasn’t so debilitating then I would be ok, but I’m still kind of worried.” The left side of my cervical spine...Continue reading 60 Comments »
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Same, Same But Different
Symptoms are like snowflakes: the same, but different.
We see patterns in Rheumatoid disease and say, “See, I’m not alone.” Yet, we also see that no two people are exactly alike because of what I call the immune fingerprint.
Explore both our similarities and our differences with eighteen newly added RA onset stories! Your stories of how...Continue reading 5 Comments »
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An Event Especially for Gathering Encouragement
You’re not alone
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times, “You’re not alone” with this disease. So many of us share experiences. And yet, we hear frequently about the loneliness that Rheumatoid disease creates. Community is a tremendous remedy and it’s what brings many warriors here time after time. Hearing “you’re not...Continue reading 15 Comments »
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Hang 10: Is the Jury Still Out on Rheumatoid Arthritis Feet?
This is part 2 of a series on RA feet. Yesterday, I conveyed my skepticism about failing to “count” Rheumatoid Arthritis forefeet when measuring disease activity.
“Individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) experience debilitating foot pain and deformity, which in turn contributes to the substantial physical disability well-documented in this population. More than 70% of all individuals...Continue reading 29 Comments »
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Forefeet and the DAS28: a Healthy Dose of Skepticism
Study concludes forefoot (toe) joints unnecessary to determine disease activity.
“Forefoot joints were frequently affected on an individual level, but did not significantly improve the measurement range or precision of 28-joint counts in patients with early RA. From a measurement perspective, reduced joint counts are appropriate for use on a population level. The contribution of assessing...Continue reading 29 Comments »
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Anyone Else Lose Time Thanks to Rheumatoid Disease?
I lost another week. Anyone know where I put it?
Seems like the left side of my cervical spine had an inflammation party this week. I ended up with some swelling that pinched the nerve going down the back of my arm and pushed a rib out near my shoulder blade. The orthopedic doc figures it...Continue reading 8 Comments »
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What Drives Patients to Get Engaged in Healthcare?
Did you ever forget what you were about to say? Last year when I testified at an FDA advisory hearing, I couldn’t even remember my name. I swear I could feel my heart leaping six inches in front of me. It was unexpected because I’d recited my five-minute speech dozens of times from memory. How...Continue reading 15 Comments »
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When Our Strength Works Against Us
Last month, I called your attention to an article that truthfully presented the reality of Rheumatoid Disease, asking you to thank the site – and many of you commented there. One exchange reminded me of many I’ve seen over the years. Carly made a tricky point that seems like a catch-22 (no-win situation). Norma’s response...Continue reading 44 Comments »
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How Do You Keep the Disease from Taking Over?
Last month, I wrote about the Pursuit of Happyness, with Rheumatoid disease – I love how Chris Gardner (Will Smith) sincerely perseveres through increasing adversities until he reaches the part of his life called “happiness.” How do you pursue your life and your goals when Rheumatoid disease just doesn’t play fair? It can be relentless....Continue reading 68 Comments »
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How Many People Have Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Counting how many people have Rheumatoid Arthritis (UPDATED)
Do we know for sure actually how many people have rheumatoid arthritis? How many are being treated for RA in the U.S.? Or how likely a person is to be diagnosed with RA in his or her lifetime?
Not really. Apparently, it’s a slippery target.
In 2009, Gabriel and Michaud indicated that “a...Continue reading 12 Comments »
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Where the Rubber Meets the Road or What If Only the Cancer in Dave’s Kidneys Was Treated?
Measuring disease activity: where rubber meets the road
Recently a rheumatologist friend told me of needing to prove ACR20 (a measure of 20 percent improvement) in order for a patient to continue receiving a biologic treatment. I don’t know whether it was private or government insurance, but something bothered me about it.
Of course, 20 percent improvement...Continue reading 21 Comments »
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