The Real Rheumatoid Disease Archives | Page 5 of 11 | Rheumatoid Arthritis Warrior

The Real Rheumatoid Disease

Does It Matter Whether Rheumatoid Arthritis Affects DIP Joints?

Kelly Young 64 Comments ,
Arguments in rheumatology which are critical for patients Certain issues need to be settled in order to improve patient care for RA. Some things that have been “understood” or taught for years are wrong. These issues lead to inconsistencies in the practice of doctors who care for RA patients. Some of those issues have been taken head-on here...Continue reading      64 Comments » Read more

Behind the Scenes Video: Patient at a Social Media Conference

Kelly Young 4 Comments , , ,
Telling it like it is. On camera. It’s uncomfortable. It's very hard to talk about harsh pain. Why does pain seem so embarrassing? I even gave birth in quiet agony a few times because of that. 3 aspects of RA that are difficult to discuss It’s hard to talk about pain, so most of us are pretty private...Continue reading      4 Comments » Read more

A Paradigm Shift in Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Activity? Part 1

Kelly Young 66 Comments , ,
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

By the Way, I Have RA

Kelly Young 62 Comments , ,
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

Can We Find Similarities with Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Kelly Young 53 Comments ,
Very often with Rheumatoid Arthritis, we emphasize our differences. It helps the newly diagnosed to get over the shock of living with a new symptom every day. It helps explain a fickle disease that is quite unreasonable and undemocratic in its attacks. But what about our similarities? Common threads and similarities in Rheumatoid Arthritis As Bob...Continue reading      53 Comments » Read more

Response to An Identity Crisis for RA by Dr. R. Franklin Adams

Kelly Young 55 Comments , ,
Recently, I read an article in The Rheumatologist (preceding a new PR campaign by the American College of Rheumatology), “An Identity Crisis for RA: A few suggestions to bring rheumatic disease the recognition and respect it deserves.” I strongly recommend that you read the article since I cannot quote it entirely here. It was written...Continue reading      55 Comments » Read more

RA Reality Versus “The Lie”

Kelly Young 116 Comments , ,
When everything looks normal but it’s all wrong Countless times I’ve said that I would gladly be wrong about RA. I’d gladly be delusional instead of this sick. I often say “If only I actually were crazy. Then, I could take medication and at least believe I felt better.” Of course it’s a facetious remark, but...Continue reading      116 Comments » Read more
Cocoa fire truck - strange RA symptoms post

Do You Have Strange RA Symptoms?

Kelly Young 329 Comments ,
What are the strangest symptoms you’ve had since the RA onset that you think are related to the rheumatoid arthritis / disease? For some, strange RA symptoms like fevers, weight loss, and laryngitis turn out to be perfectly accepted historical symptoms of RA that patients just aren’t told about. However, sometimes people ask about unusual symptoms that I...Continue reading      329 Comments » Read more

Inflammation and Thomas the Tank Engine

Kelly Young 37 Comments , ,
Today, my Roo is six years old. Saturday, I went shopping with Mary Khris to buy supplies to create a little Thomas the Tank Engine party. Since I can’t draw characters with icing any more, we look for ways things can be used creatively. I found some lightweight rubber train engines (actually bath toys!) that we...Continue reading      37 Comments » Read more

A Rheum Full of Contradictions

Kelly Young 29 Comments ,
1) There’s “remission” when there’s no remission. A newly published study says more pain is seen with an older conception of Rheumatoid Arthritis remission than with newer more stringent remission criteria. “Disease remission has become a feasible goal for most Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients; however, patient-reported symptoms, such as pain, may persist despite remission.” Remission is...Continue reading      29 Comments » Read more

The Now-I-Understand Abbott Suit for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Kelly Young 33 Comments , ,
What’s the one thing I’ve said more than anything else over the last five years? “No one understands.” I sigh it quietly. I mutter it under my breath. I exclaim it loudly in frustration. I struggle to say it through tears. But I don’t think I’ve ever blogged it. Who doesn’t understand? The professional people I associate with...Continue reading      33 Comments » Read more
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