RA Public Service Announcement Video

March 22, 2019 Kelly Young 1

A video RA Public Service Announcement explains that rheumatoid arthritis is a serious disease, with arthritis as just one symptom. #rheum

Treating RA

Testing the imaware™ RA Test Kit

March 12, 2019 Kelly Young 0

Video of RA Warrior Kelly O’Neill doing an imaware™ RA test kit, giving tips and advice to make the process easier. Kelly reads the report of her results.

Communication and Inspiration

Possible Rheumatoid Arthritis

March 6, 2019 Kelly Young 3

Identifying possible rheumatoid arthritis is one step in a new quest to stop rheumatoid disease from becoming full-blown. Part 2 of RA Runs in Families.

RA Research, Resources, and Rheumatology

RA Runs in Families

February 28, 2019 Kelly Young 14

Evidence that RA runs in families and discussion of family risk of rheumatoid disease and imaware™ at-home RA test to screen for RA.

Treating RA

RA Surgery — 10 Questions Answered

February 18, 2019 Kelly Young 15

Discussion of RA surgery and questions related to surgery in people with rheumatoid disease, including continuation of medications.

RA Research, Resources, and Rheumatology

Seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis Is Hazy

January 31, 2019 Kelly Young 14

Discussion of seronegative rheumatoid arthritis and the criteria for diagnosis of rheumatoid disease. Study shows seronegative disease is as severe.

Trust and Transparency with Disease Activity, Decisions, and Doctors

January 25, 2012May 15, 2018 Kelly Young 23 Comments Guest post on RA Warrior, Transparency & living with RA

I know you’ll love this guest post from Dana as we see the collision of her experience with the disease, the measurement of disease activity by her rheumatologist, and the decision to change treatments. She conveys so well the process of making decisions about disease management. This is the whole reason we want to be...Continue reading 23 Comments » Read more

Laura’s CVS Commercial with Kelly’s CVS and the “a” Word

January 23, 2012May 15, 2018 Kelly Young 40 Comments Methotrexate, Rheumatoid Arthritis awareness

Once upon a time, a family switched insurance companies. Mother went to Target to pickup groceries methotrexate with a $10 coupon. When she went to the counter to pay, the insurance had “denied” coverage for the medicine. In the age of cell phones, mother figured she could cure this problem in a moment right there...Continue reading 40 Comments » Read more

Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness Is about Medical Care, Not Sympathy

January 20, 2012May 15, 2018 Kelly Young 18 Comments Rheumatoid Arthritis awareness, Rheumatoid Patient Foundation, Talking to doctors

My Bear had an appointment to see his terrific pediatrician today again about his swollen finger joints. She was home with a cold, but we waited an hour to see an alternate. The fellow didn’t seem to welcome my questions or opinions. I was in the familiar context of my pediatrician’s office – 6 years with...Continue reading 18 Comments » Read more

5 Responses to Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis with Supplements

January 18, 2012May 15, 2018 Kelly Young 32 Comments Rheumatoid Arthritis natural cure, Rheumatoid arthritis treatment

This is a question that people frequently ask. They’ve been to the doctor and were shocked to receive a diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis and a stack of prescriptions. I was the same way when I first learned about Rheumatoid disease: I wanted to be sure I didn’t have something more easily treated. Hey, I live...Continue reading 32 Comments » Read more

Failed Experiment: Methotrexate & Over the Counter Folic Acid

January 16, 2012May 15, 2018 Kelly Young 47 Comments Methotrexate, Rheumatoid arthritis treatment, Side effects for RA medicine

When I met my first rheumatologist, I left with a handful of prescriptions. One for folic acid. Really? Did I need a prescription for a vitamin? Doc said “to make sure it's enough, yes, it’s a lot more than a daily allowance.” I already knew why over the counter supplements (OTC) are not considered as reliably dosed...Continue reading 47 Comments » Read more

Crossing the Language Barrier of Pain Scales: #Rheum Blog Carnival

January 9, 2012May 15, 2018 Kelly Young 27 Comments Blog carnival, Rheumatoid arthritis pain

If you either live with or study a rheumatological disease, then you know that pain is a ubiquitous symptom and an essential factor in evaluating disease activity. “Pain is a most important indicator of clinical status in rheumatoid arthritis (RA),” Arthritis and Rheumatism. While pain is the most obvious sign that something is not right,...Continue reading 27 Comments » Read more

We Refuse to Be Mislabeled: Updating Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) to Rheumatoid Disease (RD)

January 3, 2012May 15, 2018 Kelly Young 100 Comments Rheumatoid Arthritis awareness, Rheumatoid Disease (RD) better name for RA, Rheumatoid Patient Foundation

Three years ago, I saw Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients insisting that the name of the disease needed to be changed. They argued that until the “a” word is removed from the name, confusion about the disease will continue. When asked, I said that we could not wait around for that to happen; let’s work for...Continue reading 100 Comments » Read more

When Should People Living with Rheumatoid Disease Use a Wheelchair?

December 30, 2011May 15, 2018 Kelly Young 67 Comments Rheumatoid Arthritis awareness, Rheumatoid arthritis disability, Rheumatoid arthritis support

Or give in to using a cane? Or pain medication? Or a handicapped tag? There was an interesting discussion about wheelchairs and canes on my Facebook post yesterday. At the same time, there were a few other discussions going on about pain medicines. There is such a wide range of needs. But there are some things...Continue reading 67 Comments » Read more

Pass the Pickles – and the Croutons

December 28, 2011May 15, 2018 Kelly Young 24 Comments Rheumatoid Arthritis awareness, Rheumatoid arthritis fatigue

Did 2011 seem about four months long? If it were an all-you-can-eat salad bar, I’d want a refund. It went by so fast I think I only got to the pickles. This month I’ve been more sleepy and fatigued than usual. It might be recovery from traveling the last few months. Or it could be this...Continue reading 24 Comments » Read more

Hoping Really Hard: 2 Battles I Fight to Win

December 20, 2011May 15, 2018 Kelly Young 20 Comments Encouragement for living with RA, Rheumatoid Patient Foundation

Two things I’ve been hoping for with all my heart, so I’m doing all I can If you’ve been reading my blog long, you know I talk about hope as a verb – something you do. Hope is not something that some lucky people just have. When you’re actively hoping, you’re probably doing as much as...Continue reading 20 Comments » Read more

Keeper or Loser: I’m Not Giving Up, But What Do You Think?

December 17, 2011May 15, 2018 Kelly Young 141 Comments Professional patient, Talking to doctors

Warning: this is one of those rare personal posts specifically about my life, but I thought it was relevant to share. We have two endearing names for rheumatologists which I’ve coined over the years: rheum doc and The Wizard. Rheumatologists are the doctors who decide not to sneak out Osler’s infamous back door. I always give...Continue reading 141 Comments » Read more

Living With RA

Treating RA

The Real Rheumatoid Disease

Communication And Inspiration

Research, Resources, And Rheumatology

Welcome to RA Warrior!

Let's Pin Together!