American College of Rheumatology Archives | Rheumatoid Arthritis Warrior

American College of Rheumatology

seronegative rheumatoid arthritis

Seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis Is Hazy

Kelly O'Neill 18 Comments ,
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      18 Comments » Read more

We Must Celebrate! Your Voice Was Heard, Despite My Limitations

Kelly O'Neill 26 Comments , , ,
Months – actually years – of my life went into the last couple of weeks. It’s a peculiar feeling when it all comes together in a moment. While there are important points to dig into from the annual ACR meeting, we should pause for a moment to reflect on where we are. (A recent Spear...Continue reading      26 Comments » Read more

Sleepless in San Diego

Kelly O'Neill 12 Comments , ,
Each fall, Katie Beth and I travel to wherever the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) holds its annual scientific meeting. Last night, we arrived in San Diego. 1) This is huge. The Rheumatoid Patient Foundation (RPF) is presenting an exhibit in the Exhibit Hall. 2) I’m speaking with two other RPF volunteers in a session on Tuesday...Continue reading      12 Comments » Read more

Gatecrashing: The Story of Rheumatoid Patients at the ACR Meeting

Kelly O'Neill 24 Comments , ,
It’s bedtime here. How about a bedtime story? Once upon a time in Philadelphia- ACR 2009 After being diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis in 2006, I read some articles from reliable hospitals like Johns Hopkins. Sometimes I looked up symptoms online or read patient comments on large websites like Health Central or WebMD. Eventually I entered discussions with...Continue reading      24 Comments » Read more

Where the Rubber Meets the Road or What If Only the Cancer in Dave’s Kidneys Was Treated?

Kelly O'Neill 21 Comments , ,
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 » Read more

Ultrasound for Seeing Invisible Inflammation in Rheumatoid Patients

Kelly O'Neill 21 Comments , ,
I was a bit surprised at the tremendous response to my last post on trying to take the gloves off to talk about some typical things experienced with Rheumatoid disease. Several important conversations arose on the comments page. I always say the comments on this site are another whole blog. I’m blessed with such compassionate...Continue reading      21 Comments » Read more

Helping the Healthcare World Understand Rheumatoid Disease

Kelly O'Neill 23 Comments , ,
The “don’t-miss-the-plane” rush is on. My suitcase is half packed. I have a fever and I’m not washing my hair today because my wrist can’t muster it. Yet, I’m going to get on that plane to D.C.! Why all this bother? I’ve received messages from thousands of precious people telling their stories and how this website...Continue reading      23 Comments » Read more
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