Living

As I write this, my family and I are in the process of moving to a new home. Moving is stressful. It doesn’t matter if it is a planned or unexpected move...

I remember the exact moment when I spotted them. Perfect in every way, I had to make them mine, no matter the cost. Oh, if only they knew their future...

I know when a flare is coming on. I’ve learned to identify the signs sure as I know my birthday or eye color. My hearing goes all wonky. My arms...

Although I have been chronically ill for 17 years, and accepting that I need help or assistance is an ongoing struggle.  I know part of that reason is because of...

For most of my chronic life, I focused on everything I couldn’t do.  My physical limitations won’t let me do this or I can’t do that or I will increase...

Psoriatic arthritis is considered an invisible illness because the public may have a hard time “seeing” our pain, swelling, stiffness, and inflammation. This may be true, but there’s no denying...

I have recently noticed that I have something in common with my eldest cat.  Yes, you read that correctly, a cat.  Pumpkin is so old that we refer to him...

Webster’s dictionary defines jealous as, “hostile towards a rival or one believed to enjoy an advantage.” Based on this definition, why wouldn’t we feel jealous of those who appear to...

There is a reason that the phrase, “Hindsight is 20/20,” is so common. My hearing loss and its link to psoriatic arthritis is no exception. Unfortunately, this particular aspect of...

When I was younger, if someone was saying something that I didn’t want to hear, I thought that if I pressed my hands tightly over my ears while loudly singing...

I was extremely miserable during the first 12 years of my chronic life.  Psoriatic arthritis, fibromyalgia, and a couple of other chronic conditions came close to destroying me both physically...

Normal. What does it even mean? Like everyone else? Like myself? Fitting into some notion of what I am, was, or should be? Not sick. Not tired. Not hurting. Oh...

How many times have you been in the throes of a flare and uttered the following words; “I hate my life”? I was guilty of doing just that for the...

When I was a child, the number one way my parents could get me to do something was simply to tell me that I couldn’t do it. If restrictions are...

The longer I live with chronic illnesses like psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and fibromyalgia, the more I find myself learning about my body.  Some of those lessons have included learning how...

There are a great many difficult parts of living with psoriatic arthritis. There is the pain, joint damage, fatigue, and complications from the medicines just to name a few. All...

Having a chronic condition like psoriatic arthritis may require more doctor visits than the average person.  Because of this my husband and I always opt for the insurance plan that...

Hopeless. Lost. Defeated. Unfortunately these feelings are not uncommon to me. Sometimes they feel like a vicious cycle of emotions when it comes to pass that another medicine not working...

We all know one or two people who fail to consider if what they are about to say is inconsiderate and just blurt out rude or demoralizing comments.  But it...

There are so many devices, treatments, and products designed to help make living with psoriatic arthritis a little easier. Judging when we need to use the different aids can be...