Living with chronic illness like RA Archives | Page 13 of 14 | Rheumatoid Arthritis Warrior

Holidays with Rheumatoid Arthritis Can Be a Grinch

November 27, 2009May 17, 2018 Kelly O'Neill 31 Comments Cost of activity - usage principle, Encouragement for living with RA, Living with chronic illness like RA

Holidays with Rheumatoid Arthritis can be bittersweet No, I’m not shopping today. If you’ve read the blog a little, you know why. I’m safe at home because Rheumatoid Arthritis has put an end to my Black Friday shopping. Holidays with Rheumatoid Arthritis are different than they were when my aunt gave me that sweet little sign in...Continue reading 31 Comments » Read more

Sympathy and Living with Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms

November 19, 2009May 17, 2018 Kelly O'Neill 54 Comments Empathy and RA, Living with chronic illness like RA

Are there any sympathy rules for living with Rheumatoid Arthritis symptoms? The other night, one of my boys said to another, “I’m not doing that. You do it. I’m sick.” Nothing serious – there have been several courses of cold and flu in my household recently. But, I raised my eyebrow. Of course you can think faster...Continue reading 54 Comments » Read more

The Life of a Professional Patient, Blog #3

October 16, 2009May 17, 2018 Kelly O'Neill 32 Comments Biologics for RA, Living with chronic illness like RA, Orencia (abatacept), Professional patient

My obligatory warning: this post is about the author. My RA news When my Rheumatoid Arthritis symptoms changed from Palindromic to “full blown,” I began using Humira injections to fight RA joint damage and disability. After the first few months, the doctor increased the dose to double the typical prescription. So for a couple of years, I...Continue reading 32 Comments » Read more

Medical Records Tip for Your Rheumatoid Arthritis History: Read the Doctors’ notes

September 22, 2009May 17, 2018 Kelly O'Neill 44 Comments Living with chronic illness like RA, Talking to doctors, Tips for living with Rheumatoid Arthritis

It’s your Rheumatoid Arthritis history As much as you wish you did not, you own your RA. No one wants the fatigue and pain of Rheumatoid Arthritis. However, by default, you are the manager of your Rheumatoid Arthritis treatment. Last time, we peeked into the doctors’ notes of a RA patients. In addition to the hysterical diagnosis stuff,...Continue reading 44 Comments » Read more

Working and Rheumatoid Arthritis

August 31, 2009May 17, 2018 Kelly O'Neill 106 Comments Living with chronic illness like RA, Rheumatoid arthritis disability, Video or podcast

Working and RA: Rheumatoid Arthritis is a thief. It steals so much from our lives. Very often that includes the ability to make a living. There are ripples out from this one issue into every other area of life. Here’s a short list I bet you could add to. Self-respect Standard of living Health coverage Relationships Loss of your productivity to family,...Continue reading 106 Comments » Read more

Old and New Adages for Rheumatoid Arthritis

August 14, 2009May 17, 2018 Kelly O'Neill 4 Comments Humor with RA, Living with chronic illness like RA

Unbreakable Laws? Funny, here we are at the one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. And I haven’t seen it yet; it is pouring. Makes me think of Murphy. Murphy’s Law: If anything can go wrong, it will go wrong. When I was a little kid, my parents introduced me to Murphy and Murphy’s Law. We...Continue reading 4 Comments » Read more