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...reactionscomments
When Lupus Limits Physical AffectionDo you know what my husband needs? A hug. A reassuring hand on his arm. A gentle back rub. All simple physical gestures, and all too frequently beyond my ability...reactionscomments
Masks Are the New Statement BagSo, here’s the deal, whether we like it or not we are all going to probably need to be wearing masks out and about for a long time. Therefore, we...reactionscomments
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...reactionscomments
What Are Foods To Help Psoriatic Arthritis Inflammation?Do you know what our Mediterranean friends consume in their diet? Throughout history, their baseline has always been vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and beans. Science calls this an anti-inflammatory diet...reactionscomments
Three's A Crowd: Arthritis Was Ruining My FriendshipsA recent flare reminded me that arthritis is far wider reaching than physical pain and limitations alone. Alongside my independence, PsA deprives me of my confidence and interferes with relationships...reactions2comments
Can Cannabis Help With Psoriatic Arthritis?I grew up in the ’60s and '70s, need I say more? Cannabis, also known as marijuana among other names, is a psychoactive drug from the cannabis plant used primarily...reactions6comments
Don't Panic. Listen and Learn.Whenever there’s a large-scale health crisis, the natural inclination is to panic for the well-being of our loved ones with compromised immune systems. The funny thing is, in my experience...reactionscomments
An Unexpected Telehealth VisitIn late April 2020, I had an office visit scheduled with my rheumatologist. I actually considered postponing the appointment because my psoriatic arthritis was being well managed. I really didn’t...reactionscomments
My Experience Treating Psoriatic Arthritis With Medical MarijuanaAround 4 or 5 years ago, my daughter took notice of the number of pills I took on a daily basis. There were two muscle relaxers, two for pain that...reactionscomments
Managing Psoriatic Arthritis and Knee PainPsoriatic arthritis picks its fights in many areas of the body. For me, my neck is the most painful, followed by my back. Most inconvenient, however, is when my disease...reactionscomments
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...reactionscomments
The Strobe Light of Chronic Illness – How Others See Only Small SnapshotsI was watching a cop show the other day and one of those obligatory, “drug addled-club goers rave” scenes came on. You know, the one that shows what Hollywood thinks...reactionscomments
Dry, Cracked, and Very ParchedA few years ago, I presented with blurry vision and a weird sensation of people moving away from me while I looked at them. The best way I can describe...reactionscomments
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...reactionscomments
Living with Psoriatic Arthritis: Imagine IfAs a psoriatic arthritis patient, one of the things I struggle with is feeling like my family and friends really “understand” what my life is like with chronic diseases. Psychologically...reactions9comments
Ask The Advocate: Real PsA Diagnosis StoriesFor those with psoriatic arthritis, the condition can change how you live your life every single day. This condition is the center of the wheel that outreaches to all different...reactionscomments
Sausage Fingers and the Validation I Never Knew I NeededWe live in a social media world. Many of our life-defining moments are posted online for anyone and everyone to see. One of the things I’m most self-conscious about is...reactions22comments
Other Health Conditions Experienced Alongside LupusThe journey to receiving a lupus diagnosis can be a long one. The symptoms of lupus can be nonspecific and overlap with many other conditions. Because of this, it can...reactionscomments
Moving with Psoriatic ArthritisSo, I moved in August. I am at the point in my diagnosis, where I know I need to work a day, rest a day. I do this every weekend...reactions4comments
