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.

A Paradigm Shift in Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Activity? Part 2

October 15, 2011May 15, 2018 Kelly Young 28 Comments Comprehensive RA Care, Measuring rheumatoid disease activity, Research on Rheumatoid Arthritis

In part 1 of A Paradigm Shift in Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Activity, we considered some reasons why better ways of considering RA disease activity are needed. Ideally, three key things should be considered regarding RA disease activity: The patient’s estimation of his disease activity (more here). Appropriate monitoring using available tests (read more here!) A more complete paradigm...Continue reading 28 Comments » Read more

A Paradigm Shift in Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Activity? Part 1

October 13, 2011May 15, 2018 Kelly Young 66 Comments Comprehensive RA Care, Measuring rheumatoid disease activity, Rheumatoid Arthritis symptoms

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis disease activity? People living with RA know it can affect them in unexpected ways that don’t involve joints. Just reading recent comments here, you can see people talking about these effects of RA: Drastic weight loss Frequent low-grade fevers Ruined teeth from dry mouth or autoimmune activity Heart or lung damage Depression Debilitating fatigue Various eye problems Speaking strictly of...Continue reading 66 Comments » Read more

Happy Birthday #Rheum for World Arthritis Day

October 12, 2011May 15, 2018 Kelly Young 6 Comments Rheumatoid Arthritis awareness, Rheumatoid Patient Foundation

Last October 12, I was in New Jersey in on a WEGO Health panel of health activists. But before I got on the plane, I wrote a blog post to share my concept of a #Rheum community online for people interested in Rheumatoid disease and rheumatology topics, beginning with a Twitter hashtag and chat. Over the...Continue reading 6 Comments » Read more

By the Way, I Have RA

October 10, 2011May 15, 2018 Kelly Young 62 Comments Communicating about RA, Doing Projects with RA, Invisible Illness

I have written about the difficulty of disclosing about RA, especially at events like a Mayo Clinic Center Social Media conference. But we haven’t talked much about the other side: When we explain about RA, do people understand? Not so much. In a recent example, I went through three rounds of explanations about why I could...Continue reading 62 Comments » Read more

4 Warrior Events You Won’t Want to Miss!

October 9, 2011May 15, 2018 Kelly Young 1 Comment Rheumatoid Patient Foundation

News about the first RPF exhibit The Rheumatoid Patient Foundation (RPF) is well on its way to making history with our little exhibit booth at the American College of Rheumatology meeting this November! Read some details on the rheum4us website – click here about how you can help! You can learn how to send a video...Continue reading 1 Comment » Read more

Recognizing the Anguish of Depression in Time for Help

October 7, 2011May 15, 2018 Kelly Young 13 Comments Celebrities and Rheumatoid Arthritis, Death and Rheumatoid Arthritis, Emotions and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Negative spaces are only part of the picture I was stirring early in the morning when everything was still gray. Something I saw looked like a fish for a moment. There’s no pet fish here, especially in my room. “Negative spaces,” I heard myself whisper. That’s what is in between the shapes of what is really there....Continue reading 13 Comments » Read more

IOM Pain Report Relieving Pain in America Gets Mixed Reviews

October 6, 2011May 15, 2018 Kelly Young 21 Comments Pain Tolerance / RA Stoicism, Rheumatoid arthritis pain

Institute of Medicine (IOM) studies pain in America This past summer, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) produced a report on the status of pain treatment in America called Relieving Pain in America: A Blueprint for Transforming Prevention, Treatment, and Research. (You can download a prepublication PDF of the book at that link.) The report recommended to...Continue reading 21 Comments » Read more

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Hair Loss

October 4, 2011May 15, 2018 Kelly Young 85 Comments Diet and Rheumatoid Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis symptoms, Side effects for RA medicine

Does RA Disease cause hair loss? Hair loss is one of the things you frequently hear about in the RA community. Patients have two questions: What’s causing my hair loss? What can I do about it? Hair loss can be a side effect of Rheumatoid Arthritis treatment Some DMARDs (disease modifying antirheumatic drugs) list hair loss as a possible side...Continue reading 85 Comments » Read more

Rheumatoid Patient Foundation Needs Your Help

September 30, 2011May 15, 2018 Kelly Young 31 Comments Rheumatoid Patient Foundation

I was glad when it started raining today – it’s proper to rain when you cry. The Digital Patients’ Bill of Rights Things are happening fast. The E-Patient Connections conference was fantastic. The day before, I participated in the Digital Patients’ Bill of Rights meeting. I haven’t written about it yet, but you can read about...Continue reading 31 Comments » Read more

The Path of Mercy in Medicine: A Tale of Two Doctors

September 28, 2011May 15, 2018 Kelly Young 12 Comments e-patient, Patient advocacy, Talking to doctors

Physicians enjoy a unique position in our society with unique opportunities to make a difference in others’ lives. With that powerful role, they can choose between a path of mercy and a path of nonchalance. They can be a tool in the hands of God or they can just be a tool. There was the woman...Continue reading 12 Comments » Read more

Living with (RA) Rheum Disease Is Already Multitasking

September 26, 2011May 15, 2018 Kelly Young 18 Comments Communicating about RA, Living with chronic illness like RA, Patient advocacy

Where have you been girl? As this post goes up, I’m in a chair with an IV getting my second Rituxan IV infusion. It’s hard to write about myself, but I really need to keep you informed about what’s going on. Couldn’t someone else report about it for me? None of my kids were willing to...Continue reading 18 Comments » Read more

News Flare! 1st Rituxan Infusion! WebMD Award! and More!

September 15, 2011May 15, 2018 Kelly Young 35 Comments e-patient, Patient advocacy, Professional patient, Rituxan for Rheumatoid Arthritis

First Rituxan infusion Monday, I spent 8 hours with an IV for my first Rituxan infusion. It took a longer time for various reasons, but it seems I did fine. So far my only noticeable side effect has been a fierce headache. Still. It’s difficult to describe how grateful I am for those who sat with me...Continue reading 35 Comments » Read more

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Thanks for visiting this unique site full of information and encouragement to fight Rheumatoid Disease. You'll find hope, humor, and a helpful online community. I'm Kelly & I'll be glad to show you around if you'll click right here.

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