Invisible Illness Archives | Page 3 of 7 | Rheumatoid Arthritis Warrior

Rheumatoid Arthritis Fatigue Is Not Just Being Tired

August 30, 2012May 14, 2018 Kelly O'Neill 78 Comments Invisible Illness, Rheumatoid arthritis fatigue

Recurrence of Rheumatoid Arthritis fatigue A couple of days ago an old friend came to visit: Rheumatoid Arthritis fatigue. All of a sudden on Monday afternoon, it felt like it was 2 a.m. and I should be in bed. It looks like it may want to stay over for awhile. At first, I thought I was just...Continue reading 78 Comments » Read more

Rheumatoid Arthritis Severity Scale (RASS) Affecting Treatment Decisions?

March 16, 2012May 15, 2018 Kelly O'Neill 16 Comments Invisible Illness, Rheumatoid Arthritis test

Could the RASS Affect Treatment Decisions Dollars? A reader asks about doctor’s ratings of Rheumatoid disease being required by third-party payers (insurance companies, etc) presumably to justify spending related to Rheumatoid disease treatment. She wrote: “according to my rheum today there is a lot of pressure by the insurance companies to having every patient rated using...Continue reading 16 Comments » Read more

I’m Not All Better, Just Too Polite to Whine; Yet Victory Is Still Sweet

February 19, 2012May 15, 2018 Kelly O'Neill 43 Comments Invisible Illness, Rheumatoid arthritis support

Please don’t miss the news at the end of the post! I had to put A LOT on one page since it’s been a few days! My endocrinologist was so excited about my attending the ACR in November and winning the WebMD award in December and it’s really fun to share after being a patient there...Continue reading 43 Comments » Read more

By the Way, I Have RA

October 10, 2011May 15, 2018 Kelly O'Neill 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

10 Funny Things I Tell Myself about Living with RA

March 11, 2011May 15, 2018 Kelly O'Neill 113 Comments Humor with RA, Invisible Illness

Funny things I tell myself about RA (UPDATED) Living with RA can make you feel like an alien since you’re the only one around you enduring what you do. Often, I talk to myself while trying to get through the day. I try to be encouraging, but sometimes the funny things I tell myself are just silly. 1....Continue reading 113 Comments » Read more

Nuclear Bone Scans for Rheumatoid Arthritis or Scintigraphy

February 2, 2011May 15, 2018 Kelly O'Neill 40 Comments Invisible Illness, Measuring rheumatoid disease activity, Nuclear bone scan

Bone scans for Rheumatoid Arthritis that “Lit up like a Christmas tree”! Several patients have told me stories of having a nuclear bone scan (scintigraphy) that made a difference in their diagnosis or treatment. We know how much a reliable imaging tool is needed measuring disease activity for either reason. I’ve read about different versions of...Continue reading 40 Comments » Read more

Winter Solstice Lunar Eclipse: Was the Moon Really Red?

December 21, 2010May 15, 2018 Kelly O'Neill 7 Comments Invisible Illness, Measuring rheumatoid disease activity, Space

What would a lunar eclipse on the solstice be without my beloved camera? I pulled my thickest Redskins blanket over my head and went to sleep on the sofa with all of the lights on. The lunar eclipse on the winter solstice was a once in a lifetime event I would surely not miss. When I...Continue reading 7 Comments » Read more