My LupusMy symptoms started when I was 21yrs old. I had just gotten married and was working one of my dream jobs. I was first diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Then I...Reactions0reactionsComments9 comments
The Perfect FriendI left my rheumatologist office one day so empty inside, so alone with my own body, defeated, sad, and mostly abandoned by life. It is hard when your doctor wants...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
What Is Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease?Undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD) is a term given to an autoimmune disease affecting the connective tissue. Autoimmune diseases occur when your body’s defense system, the immune system, is too...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
My Ever-Changing NormalWhen you graduate high school there’s this feeling that the whole world is available to you and to all of your dreams. Shortly after I graduated in 2004 at 18...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
The Unlikely Story of a Lucky Diagnosis, Part 2Editor’s note: This is the second article in a 2-part series. The first is “The Unlikely Story of a Lucky Diagnosis, Part 1” I was diagnosed with stage 4 lupus...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Post-Activity Stiffness and Psoriatic ArthritisPlease do not take this as the standard stiffness all of us with psoriatic arthritis usually experience first thing in the mornings. I want to talk more about being active...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Age of Lupus Symptom Onset vs. DiagnosisNot only do symptoms of lupus vary widely, so does the length of time that symptoms stay present. Symptoms such as brain fog, seizures, alopecia, and rashes may show up...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Ask The Advocate: How PsA Impacts Daily LifePsoriatic arthritis can change how you live your life every single day. This condition is the center of the wheel that outreaches to all different aspects of life: physical and...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Finding a Good RheumatologistPeople who have chronic health conditions like ankylosing spondylitis (AS) or other similar diseases might be advised by their regular doctor or primary care physician to see a specialist known...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
4 Ways I Advocate For Myself At The ER or Urgent CareAs someone living with lupus, there are times you have an urgent matter that needs immediate attention. When your doctor is not available to see you, the ER or urgent...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Steroid Cream for Scalp?Hi Ava, You mentioned steroid cream for scalp. Can you tell me more about that? Thanks JoAnn...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
What Does Life With Lupus Look Like In 5 Years?Looking at Facebook on my phone, I see a post that reads, “What would you do if you had a glimpse for one hour of where your life would be...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
The (Virtual) Doctor Is In! Sharing Telehealth ExperiencesAs the COVID-19 pandemic continues, telehealth is being used by more and more people. Telehealth is also sometimes called telemedicine or virtual care. Whether you have been using telehealth for...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Brain Fog: The Impact of RA on Mental FunctioningResults from the 2019 RA In America Survey showed that 61 percent of survey participants living with RA experienced brain fog within the last month of taking the survey. Along...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Living With Fibromyalgia And ASWhen you live with ankylosing spondylitis, the pain is constant. Not to mention the brain fog, extreme fatigue, stiffness, trouble sleeping, and more. Many people who live with AS also...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
“But You Don’t Look Sick”The thing about living with a sometimes-invisible disease is that it sort of feels like it's you against the world. You're living with this secret, this shadow, this double-life —...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Social Distancing Spurs Telehealth SurgeThe technology needed for virtual healthcare has been around for decades. But virtual care has not been widely used in the United States until recently. The recent public health emergency...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
4 Self-Advocating TipsWhen suffering from such a mysterious illness, you are often required to see multiple doctors that specialize in different things. I can definitely get a little messy at times. This...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
At-Home Devices That Can Monitor Your HealthAt-home monitoring can help you better manage chronic health conditions. It can also aid in your recovery after medical procedures. Using this technology, you can regularly record your health data...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
It Is Hard to Have Fun in the Sun With LupusThroughout my life, one of my all-time favorite sensations has been feeling the warmth on my skin from rays of sunshine. I love feeling warm from head to toe. Growing...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments
