Superhero Wall Of Fame
Add your name to RA Guy's Superhero Wall of Fame!
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Name:
Age:
Superhero Type:
Superhero Experience:
Superhero Powers:
Superhero Headquarters:
Rheumatoid Arthritis Guy
Adventures of a superhero on his journey through chronic pain and debilitating inflammation
Add your name to RA Guy's Superhero Wall of Fame!
Copy and paste the following template for easier posting!
Name:
Age:
Superhero Type:
Superhero Experience:
Superhero Powers:
Superhero Headquarters:
This is me, Rheumatoid Arthritis Guy. Most people who pass me on the sidewalk have absolutely no idea that I am a superhero.
*Hair loss is a common side effect of DMARDs, or disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs.
I am in my mid-30's. I am often told that I am too young to be Rhuematoid Arthritis Guy. Word to the wise, superheroes come in all ages.
Some days are great. I leap over tall buildings in a single bound.
Other days are not so great. I struggle just to get out of bed.
These are my adventures.
*Hair loss is a common side effect of DMARDs, or disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs.
I am in my mid-30's. I am often told that I am too young to be Rhuematoid Arthritis Guy. Word to the wise, superheroes come in all ages.
Some days are great. I leap over tall buildings in a single bound.
Other days are not so great. I struggle just to get out of bed.
These are my adventures.
Name: RA Guy
Age: 36
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Guy
Superhero Experience: Almost five years.
Superhero Powers: Living with RA, writing this blog, design, photography, cooking, organizing this league of superheroes.
Superhero Headquarters: San Francisco & South America
Name: Sara, aka Single Gal with RA
Age: 30
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 2 years
Superhero Powers: Living with RA all by myself, writing a blog/column, being a comic strip character, traveling the world, baking, supporting the work of contemporary artists in a capitalist world
Superhero Headquarters: New York City/Baltimore
Name: Jules (alias CharmedOne)
Age: 42
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Mom
Superhero Experience: 4 years and counting
Superhero Powers: Living with RA-but not suffering from it, writing a blog, spreading the word about good blogs, Super Wife, Super Mom, Super Daughter, crafting and staying positive
Superhero Headquarters: Kentuckiana
Name: Cathy
Age: 41
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: Five and a half years
Superhero Powers: Fighting the evil forces of RA medication free, blogging about the ups and downs of RA and alternative medicine among many other things, informing the world of the wonders of homeschooling two children, a wife (pretty amazing one too if you ask me), a woman learning to appreciate who she is, and much much more. More of my powers are realized each and every day.
Superhero Headquarters: Chicago Suburbs
Name: MissDazey
Age: 67, and counting
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal aka Dizzy, Your RA Super Humor Hero
Superhero Experience: 40 years
Superhero Powers: Making my life count for something more than RA,OA and being old. Encourager, cheerleader, shoulder to lean on for young people with arthritis and RA. Listener for the older crowd who have arthritis and RA. We are survivors of many thing including ails and pains.
Superhero Headquarters: Missouri Ozarks.
Name: ms. mur
Age: 49
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis DIVA! LOL...
Superhero Experience: 2 years
Superhero Powers:DRAMA MAMA, 'multi media artist' (ok, I have ADD...I do a little of this, a little of that...),putting a smile on peoples faces,writing, baking cookies and spreading the word about my arch nemisis...the disease of Rheumatoid Arthritis!
Superhero Headquarters: Apopka, FL
Name: Helen
Age: 25
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 23 years!
Superhero Powers: Living a full, active, happy life with RA, scoliosis and cardiomyopathy, and approaching my health issues with a positive outlook
Superhero Headquarters: Ontario, Canada
Name: Martin
Age: 42
Superhero Type: Caregiver Guy
Superhero Experience: 5 years.
Superhero Powers: Cheerleader, good listener, patient, lots of hugs to give, enjoying one day at a time.
Superhero Headquarters: California
Name: Laurie
Age: 52
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 6 years
Superhero Powers: Cheerleader,dispenser of ((((HUGS)))) Mom to 2 grown boys and 3 felines. Blogger wannabe. Nurse by profession, medical researcher by necessity. Knowledge is POWER! Traveller on the RA journey, meeting new superheroes every day.
Superhero Headquarters: Orlando,FL
Name: KS Grammie
Age: 58
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 7 years
Superhero Powers: Husband of 40 years, Wonderful kids and grandkids! CABG X6 survivor!
Superhero Headquarters: KS
Name: Vicki C
Age: 41
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 14 years
Superhero Powers: Single mom of three superkids who manages to juggle soccer hockey baseball and golf schedules around flares, infusions and therapy, Restoring order in the kingdom is the primary objective of my "job" -- disabled stay at home mom/taxi driver...hehe.
Superhero Headquarters: Northfield, Vermont
Name: Holly
Age: 30
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 9 years
Superhero Powers: 2 kiddies under 3 (who understand that sometimes Mumma can't wrestle!), open to trying every unconventional RA treatment under the sun, supporting my 60 year old mum who has a brand new RA diagnosis and trying to get my pre RA fitness back!
Superhero Headquarters: NSW Australia
Name: A-Harmony
Age: 34
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Tomboy (Gal ;-])
Superhero Experience: 6 1/2 years
Superhero Powers: Wife, Mom of 2 (1 preteen boy and 1 teenage GIRL), does not try to let RA stop her from joining in on everything that life throws at me.
Superhero Headquarters: Wisconsin
Name: Jodi
Age: 32
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: About 1 year
Superhero Powers: Photography, loving to puppies, wife of 10 years (!), loves to explore new cities, speaks Japanese, on this new quest to conquer RA.
Superhero Headquarters: New York City
Name: Cammie
Age: 47
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 3 years
Superhero Powers: Mother of three college age boys, wife of 26 years, mom to 2 dogs, 2 cats, an assorted bunch of fish and any stray that happens our way. Loves to cook and to can Salsas. I love to sew and read books. I Can read, write and speak Spanish. On a mission to control RA and not to let RA control me.
Superhero Headquarters: Arizona
Name: Diane
Age: 48
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis G'MA
Superhero Experience: 31 years
Superhero Powers: Accepting RA as a part of who I am. Finding peace and happiness despite the physical issues. Concentrating on the many joys and blessings in my life. Staying positive and happy is the best medicine!
superhero Headquarters: UTAH
Name: Kelly
Age: 39
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 8 years
Superhero Powers: Making it through each day with RA, Fibromyalgia, Grave's Disease, and Sjogren's syndrome while working full time. It's a challenge that is worth fighting!
Superhero Headquarters: Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania
Name: Alena
Age: 23
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 9 Months
Superhero Powers: Learning how to deal. Balancing life after college, my new career, a boyfriend, friendships, and family - all while maintaining the millennial pace.
Superhero Headquarters: Boise, Idaho
Name: Stephanie
Age: 31
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
SuperHero Experience: 7 months
SuperHero Powers: As of now but could change : knowing what i can and can not do. I can take super naps!! I am a wanna be blogger and an ultimate crafter. I can make anyone laugh!!
Super Hero headquarters: Fullerton, Ca
Name: CoastieWife
Age: 26
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: About a year and a half and counting
Superhero Powers: living with RA, learning how to accept RA, cooking & baking, photography as a hobby & stress reliever, being a PROUD military wife, having a wonderful husband, momma to a wonderful furbaby, having a positive outlook on life...more are added everyday as I realize what my mind and body are capable of!
Superhero Headquarters: Astoria, Oregon
Name: Wende
Age: 39
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: Almost two years.
Superhero Powers: Living with RA, working full-time in the crazy hr/telecom world, mother to my three boys, figuring which medical concoction works for now, staying chipper despite wanting to go back to bed, recent subscriber of "arthritis today" which I thought was for "old" people, trying not to get fat, kissing my lovely husband
Superhero Headquarters: Seattle
Name: Tharr
Age: 51
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Guy
Superhero Experience: 6 years
Superhero Powers: Carrying on a semi-normal lifestyle while living with RA. I work a 12 hour shift 4 days a week as a pressman (printing), take care of a 3.5 acre yard, ride off-road motorcycles and workout 4 days a week. Every superhero has a sidekick ...right? My sidekick buddy that helps me is a Great Pyrenees with a mohawk named Frankie. (Frank's photo with his mohawk is on my blog page.)
Superhero Headquarters: Tornado Alley Oklahoma
Name: Lana
Age: 33
Superhero Type: Working Mother (with RA and Fibromyalgia)Who Loves Her Kids and never stops
Superhero Experience: two years
Superhero Powers: Living with RA and Fibro, being a mom, loving life
Superhero Headquarters: NE Ohio
Name: Rayny
Age: 47
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 32 Years with remissions in there
Superhero Powers: Random thoughts, Laughing at the obsurd, Distraction, Working as much as I can. Keeping my sidekick (hubby with fibro) on his toes.
Superhero Headquarters: DFW Texas
Name: WarmSocks
Age: 45
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: Two years
Superhero Powers: Living with ∞itis (RA, etc), blogging, running a home, homeschooling my kids, knitting, gardening...
Superhero Headquarters: Washington
Name: Synovial Sensation
Age: 41
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Mum
Superhero Experience: Diagnosed 2008
Superhero Powers: Epidemiologist (lapsed), nurse (lapsed), swimmer (lapsed), good cook, good company, good enough mother and wife
Superhero Headquarters: London, UK
Name: Kevin
Age: 29
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Guy
Superhero Experience: Diagnosed 2008
Superhero Powers: Work long hours in a warehouse pulling orders, being a dad of a 12, 6, and 5 y/o. Have a great sense of humor when it comes to most things, always good for a few laughs.
Superhero Headquarters: Upstate NY
Name: Purple Scooter
Age: 28
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: DX 8/11/05 (4 yrs ago today!)
Superhero Powers: Tough broad that doesn't let anything get her down!
Superhero Headquarters: St. Paul
Name: Laura
Age: 21
Superhero Type: Fibromyalgia Girl
Superhero Experience: 3 years (Officially? 3 weeks...)
Superhero Powers: Daughter of Diabetes Gal and niece to her sister, RA/FM Gal. Became Autoimmune Girl my freshman year of college and most recently leveled up to FM Girl. Working to support myself and being a student is hard but my will is strong. I'm also glad to be an advocate and voice for people with invisible disease to people of my age group.
Superhero Headquarters: Dallas, TX but relocating to Austin on 8/15/09.
Name: Ashley A.k.a Raandme
Age: 24
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 4 1/2 years
Superhero Powers: Just trying to get my body back in fighting order so I can finish college. I live with and care for my autistic brother. Have more hobbies than there are hours in the day. I love my life. R.A. or not.
Superhero Headquarters: Texas
Name: Mikeymoo
Age: 40
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Guy
Superhero Experience: DX 11/06 (3 Years so far)
Superhero Powers: Ability to smile through it and enjoy the moments.
Superhero Headquarters: St. Albans, UK
Name: Goldie Spawn
Age: 29
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 8 months
Superhero Powers: Ability to make it through the tough times, reffing roller derby when I can, taking care of our 5 pet and a husband!
Superhero Headquarters: Castle Rock, CO
Name: Lisa
Age: 35
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: Over 7 years
Superhero Powers: Working full-time as a nurse, running a home, cooking, being a good wife, friend and daughter!
Superhero Headquaters: Kent, England
Name: Michigan Gal
Age: 63
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal a.k.a. Health Care Gal
Superhero Experience: 52 yrs (started out as Juvenile Arthritis Gal)
Superhero Powers: Super Grandma; A-1 wife; loving daughter; spent 20+ years as a nurse practitioner treating folks with R.A.; gardener; quilter; student; cat lover
Superhero Headquarters: Grosse Pointe, Michigan
Name: Rebecca
Age: 39
Superhero Type: RA Gal
Superhero Experience: about one yr (Diagnosed Oct 2008 but in serious pain since April 2008)
Superhero Powers: Mom of 8 great kids; homeschool; crochet; coupon shopping queen; Wife to one full time construction worker/college student
Superhero Headquarters: Savannah, GA
Name:Lara
age:27
Superhero Type: Lupus +aPL/Fibro Gal
Superhero Experience: 10 years (finally diagnosed in 2007)
Superhero Powers: Supersonic hearing (Can hear any of her 3 children turn over in bed across a house); Super Strength (can amazingly hold 2 toddlers during a flare of Lupus and Fibro pain); Super Hyper-Hyperactivity (can clean house, cook food, care for children all without succumbing to the dreaded Uber Fatigue)
Superhero Headquarters: Garfield, NJ
Name: Nat
Age: 31
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: Nearly 15 years.
Superhero Powers: Regularly uprooting myself and moving around the world; multilingual; musician; knitter; eternal student; EFL Teacher (just started full-time work again after a couple of years off).
Superhero Headquarters: Brand New HQ in Tunisia.
Name: Jamie
Age: 46
Superhero Type: RA Gal, OA Gal, Sjogrens' Gal
Superhero Experience: 8 years and living
Superhero Powers: Power four wheeler, Mom to a 9 yr. old, wife,
disabled nurse, RA advocate.
Superhero Headquarters: Northern Indiana
Name: Jan
Age: 47
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 2 years
Superhero Powers: Learning how to deal. Mom of a fabulous daughter with Down Syndrome who will always live with me! Worrying..Lot's of worrying. Working 12 hour shifts in the ER on my feet for 13 hours.
Superhero Headquarters: Summerville, South Carolina
Name: Lisa
Age: 33
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis & Fibromyalgia Gal
Superhero Experience: 5 years RA, brand new to fibro
Superhero Powers: Living with RA, writing a blog, Mom of Three Boys, living a God-centric lifestyle, MOPS steering team, Sabbath School teacher, & keeping sane through a lot of uncertainty.
Superhero Headquarters: East Texas
Name: Turtlemom
Age: 67
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis & Fibromyalgia Gal
Superhero Experience: 25 years with fair control and regular flares
Superhero Powers: Excellent wife, good mother, good grandmother; running a business from home; nurse (lapsed); working with service dog; keeping track of 12 grandchildren; keeping sidekick (husband with heart problems and fibromyalgia) entertained; blogging; great sense of humor.
Superhero Headquarters: Metro Atlanta GA
Name: Koddysmum
Age: 56
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis & Fibro Gal
Superhero Experience: 19 years, very severe last 9 years
Superhero Powers: Excellent wife and mom and learning to be an excellent nana,disabled nurse, wonderful mom to 3 pom fur-kids, enjoy gardening, decorating and photography, counting my blessings and staying positive on this unexpected journey with many rocky roads and steep hills to climb.
Superhero Headquarters: Ontario Canada
Name: Rheann, aka RockinRhea
Age: 51
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 20 years of many ups & downs
Superhero Powers: Continue the RA journey refusing to let it ruin my happy life; Mother of two grown children; Licensed Ins Agent, working full time in sales & marketing; Care, love & keep up with my 2 Doberman Pinschers; Care, love & keep up with my husband who started this journey with me only a few months after we married; I have a very large vegetable garden which brings me peace & self-worth; I love to read, swim, cook, bake, and take care of my home. I have a positive attitude & freely share it.
Superhero Headquarters: Mesquite/Texas
Name: Joye
Age: 38
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: nearly 3 years
Superhero Powers: Mum to 3 year old girl and 8 month old boy, great wife, mother, cook, clean, taxi driver, fairygodmother. Going back to work in January... to be a great nurse again.
Superhero Headquarters: Hamilton, New Zealand
Name: Laura
Age: 25
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Twentysomething
Superhero Experience: 6 years
Superhero Powers: Living with RA away from home, camping, understanding kids, making popcorn, expert pinochle player, and dancer.
Superhero Headquarters: Vashon Island, WA
Name: Mia
Age: 56
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid arthritis/lupus gal
Superhero Exoerience: (only dx July 09) around 4 years
Superhero Powers: working full time with children, taking care of family, husband and 2 daughters, dog walker (sometimes) enjoying what I have
Superhero headquaarters: London, England
Name: Wren
Age: 53
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid arthritis gal
Superhero Experience: 22 years
Superhero Powers: Worked full time as a journalist, raised a daughter, takes care of disabled husband, cooks, cleans, shops, gardens, and is a freelance writer and editor. Appreciates the gifts that the world offers each day to those who take the time to look...
Superhero headquarters: Camino, California
Name: RA Fire Guy
Age: 40
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Guy
Superhero Experience: Rookie, just diagnosed
Superhero Powers: Continued service while working as a firefighter and the ability to always make my daughter laugh and smile despite what my body feels like.
Superhero Headquarters: Cleveland, Tennessee
Name: Teresa
Age:51
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 5 years
Superhero Powers: Trying to adjust to freelancing as a graphic designer and photographer.
Superhero Headquarters: Nashville, Tennessee
Name: Barbarella
Age: 43 and a half
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis/Fibromyalgia Gal
Superhero Experience: 3 years (RA) / 15 years (fibro)
Superhero Powers: Feline & Other Animal Communications. No human partner, but living with her 3 Superhero Cats (Spider, Lugosi & Ruby) who she finds tolerate her chronic illness so much better than any human that she has met. Works from home as a web & graphic designer. Hobby (and sometimes paid) photographer (has a couple of photography websites to show off her pictures).
Superhero Headquarters: Lanzarote, Canary Islands (autonomous region of Spain off the West Coast of Africa).
Superhero Website: http://www.themadcatlady.com / http://www.catnipcamera.com
Name: Skye
Age: 22
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: About 6 months
Superhero Powers: Living with RA, College Student, Working at Target, Loves music and photography.
Superhero Headquarters: Inland Empire, California.
Name: Pollyanna Penguin
Age: 41
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal/Fibro Gal
Superhero Experience: Depends who you ask. Officially seventeen months/five months
Superhero Powers: Living with (mild) RA, defying stupid RA-beating suggestions from well-meaning friends with a single squawk, running a small business full time, writing my blog, photography, embroidery, crochet, all sorts of needle-crafts, part-time feline management (three cats, one wonderful hubby who job-shares on the cat front)
Superhero Headquarters: Norfolk, UK (Which I love, love, LOVE!!! ... just wish it wasn't so WET right now)
Name: Peter
Age: 29
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Guy
Superhero Experience: Only eight long years :(
Superhero Powers: Living with RA (mild to moderate these days), educating people that not all people with Arthritis have Rheumatoid...ahem...anyways, working for the Government, chilling with friends, spending quality time with my family.
Superhero Headquarters: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Name: Alecia
Age: 26
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: Just getting started
Superhero Powers: Research, research and more research, saving the world one germ at a time (in the military), killing zombies
Superhero Headquarters: Clovis, New Mexico
Name: GlasgowGal
Age: 38
Superhero Type: Juvenile Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 30, yes 30, years and counting....!
Superhero Powers: surviving 2 hip replacements; being married ; working full time; employing Personal Assistants; getting on with life; cooking; crafting; educating people that disability is not something to be scared of! independence is a state of mind, not a list of tasks to be completed; watcher of Star Trek, especially Voyager
Superhero Slogan: make it so.....
Superhero HQ: Glasgow, Scotland, UK.
Name: RoboJo
Age: 43
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 17 years
Superhero Powers: Being crazy I love to make folks laugh and smile as it's a great medicine, having a bionic knee, hip, screws in feet, waiting on new shoulders and knuckles. Complete and utter geek lover of pooters and video games. Into Goth/Metal/Rock music. Do talks about RA to medical students and generally try to raise awareness.
Superhero Slogan: No I won't fix your computer..
Superhero HQ: Birmingham, UK.
Name: awellsdba
Age: 44
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 3 months that I've known about
Superhero Powers: Being just a little odd... being perpetually young at heart; having a dead guy (cadaver bone) in my 'boo boo' arm; would be <half> marathon walker; being married; being a mom; believing that I can... and making sure that everyone I know knows about RA and knows that WE can.
Superhero Slogan: There are no girl toys, there are no boy toys, there are JUST toys... (RoboJo... I can SO relate... I'm a total geek too... dba stands for database administrator... and I'm the mom of a kind of goth)
Superhero HQ: Central Texas
Name: Andy
Age: 40
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Guy
Superhero Experience: since Feb 2009
Superhero Powers: working full time and being a waterman ! my ability to mind surf as I can,t physically , YET !
Superhero Slogan: LOVE THE OCEAN , IN IT , ON IT OR UNDER IT
Superhero HQ: Perth , Western Australia
Roz
Name: Rosalyn
Age: 39 and a half
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 3 years
Superhero Powers: Enjoying every single day as you never know what life will bring, smiling through that Enbrel sting, learning about myself through travel and introspection, keeping weight on this body and running when my right foot will allow it!
Superhero Slogan: Enjoy..
Superhero HQ: San Jose, California
Name: Jill
Age: 42
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 20 years
Superhero Powers: Mother of two gorgeous and brilliant children (boy - 13, girl - 12) and one 3 year old Yorkie who sits on my lap and comforts me on my bad days. Owner of two titanium shoulders, with cadaver bone grafts, one fused wrist with metal rods, one foot with screws, the other foot -soon to be fused. Fatigue fighting and staying healthy are two Superhero Powers that I need work on. Close relationships with several amazing doctors/friends!
Superhero Slogan: One day at a time
Superhero HQ: Medfield, MA
Name: Lim
Age: 38
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 4 years
Superhero Powers: Mother of two active boys(10 & 8)
working full time, loving husband, fatigue and high tolerance toward pain
Superhero Slogan: Take it easy
Superhero HQ: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Name: Candi
Age: 22
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 10 years
Superhero Powers: Juggling a Uni degree with "aunty candi" duties and the prospect of joint replacement whilst keeping a smile on my face. Sitting at home while my friends go out and party/shop/be normal, continue living my life when I just want to amputate my body from my head and put it on Jessica Alba's body....
Superhero Slogan: Keep smiling :)
Superhero HQ: Victoria, Australia
Name: Sunita
Age: 41
Superhero Type: Psoriatic and Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: Almost two years, but hard to say exactly.
Superhero Powers: Being a scientist, dealing with bent fingers, convincing NHS that I need anti-TNF therapy, getting anti-TNF therapy and have it revolutionize my physical being,abandoning walking stick...not knowing how long it'll last, smiling in the face of adversity, drawing, painting, cooking. My cat Rosie.
Superhero Headquarters: London. UK
Name: Shweta
Age: 26
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Basher
Superhero Experience: Six n a half years
Superhero Powers: A Law School Graduate....smiling, having fun and simply being fabulous...no matter what!!
Superhero slogan: Each day is a chance to say that I am not scared!
Superhero website: http://www.croppinghead.blogspot.com/
Superhero Headquarters: All over India
Name: Theresa
Age: 46
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 2 Years
Superhero Powers: Getting up and going to work each day, taking care of my family and feeling pretty well and praying to stay that way.
Superhero North Texas
Name: Ariel
Age: 18
Superhero Type: Spondyloarthropathy Gal
Superhero Experience: 1 year
Superhero Powers: Full-time college student at a university. Big/little sister, and soon-to-be aunt. I'm a teenager living life to the fullest; no matter what my disease sends my way. Artist and writer, even on days when my hands hurt almost too badly to pick up a pencil. I've overcome my fear of needles with Enbrel. Also, raising awareness about all types of arthritis.
Superhero slogan: With each new day come challenges with bring new adventures and build strength.
Superhero Headquarters: Houston, TX
Name: Sarah Beth
Age: 24
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 10 Years
Superhero Headquarters: Northern Virginia
Superhero Powers:teaching, photography, loving my husband, and toughing out life without medication so we can get preggers.
Name: Dannaliz Segrera
Age: 34
Superhero Type: RA Gal
Superhero Experience: 4 years
Superhero Headquarter: Miami, FL
Superhero Powers: Pink Energy that allows me to go back to school, work as a consultant, start dancing again, continue walking on the beach, taking long drives with hubby, and finally getting out of bed in the AM, getting dressed, bathing and walking without assistance.
Name: Christina
Age: 36
Superhero Type: RA mom, wife, student
Superhero Experience: 20 years
Superhero Headquarter: New Orleans, Louisiana
Superhero Powers: Fighting fatigue to keep going. Pouring from a gallon of milk, by using the edge of a table or countertop. Using a supercool electric toothbrush, because a regular one hurts to hold.
Name: Charron
Age: 42
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis & Fibromyalgia Gal
Superhero Experience: 4.5 years RA, 2 years Fibro
Superhero Powers: Positive Thinking, Great Sense of Humour, Fighting Fatigue, Taking one day at a time
Superhero Headquarters: Ontario, Canada
Name: Swin (aka squirelly666)
Age: 38
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Guy
Superhero Experience: 18 months
Superhero Powers: Losing weight, despite the Prednisolone, stopping the painkillers before I get addicted.
Superhero Headquarters: Lancashire, United Kingdom
Name: Morris (Van Landschoot)
Age: 22
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Guy
Superhero Experience: 9 months
Superhero Powers:refusing extra painkillers, studying in the week and working as a waiter in the weekend with my collegue RA
Superhero Headquarters: Gent, Belgium
Name: Kirsten (kirbir)
Age: 22
Superhero Type: RA Gal
Superhero Experience: 18 years
Superhero Powers: only taking otc drugs, managing pain through meditation, working my butt off and hopefully getting my phd
Superhero Headquarters: Madison, Wisconsin
Name: Lene
Age: 47
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 43 years
Superhero Powers: Organizing pretty much anything, seeing the funny even in the dark, writing, photography, being positive
Superhero Headquarters: Toronto, Canada
Name: Rachel
Age: 40
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal Extraordinaire
Superhero Experience: 21 years
Superhero Powers: Ability to make a pun about just about anything (it's called Pununciation Disorder); love my friends and family, still working (though wish it wasn't so hard to wake up in the mornings), love my crazy cat Willow, and wish that I had the time and energy to write that novel that's been banging around in my head for years. One titanium knuckle, every limb decorated with delightful scarring from operations to straighten and fix limbs/joints, awaiting my first hip replacement. I am also a superhero because I survived two burst brain aneurysms 4 years ago - with no damage, unlike the RA. So hoorah for all of our superhero powers!
Superhero Headquarters: Melbourne, Australia.
Name: Bailey
Age: 15
Superhero Type: Spondyloarthropathy Gal
Superhero Experience: Diagnosed today, symptoms for 3 1/2 months
Superhero Powers: Academics (I want to be a rheumatologist), staying happy through everything (including giving up sports), taking painful Humira shots, and loving life(:
Superhero Headquarters: Texas
Name: Terri
Age: 44
Superhero type: RA Gal
Superhero Experience: 35+ Years
Superhero Powers: Invisibility and positivity cloak; a more than full time exec at a fortune 500 that keeps a smile on her face and can find the silver lining in any situation; spurred on by the faces and love of two small grandchildren that remind me of what really matters in life - staying strong and positive so I can enjoy them for years to come
Superhelo Headquarters: Western Suburb of Chicago
Name: Seeking Solace
Age: 42
Superhero Type: RA Gal
Superhero Experience: 10 years
Superhero Powers: Former attorney practicing in the toughest area of law there is...family and matrimonial law. Currently a college professor corrupting young legal minds at an undergraduate college. Loving wife to the world's greatest husband/caregiver and mom to the world's coolest dog.
Superhero Headquarters: Elsewhere in the Southeast
Name: ChileKat
Age: 62
Su0erhero Type: RA Gal
Superhero Experience: 16 years
Superhero Powers: Upbeat and nearly always smiling and happy. Work full-time and love it. I have 3 fabulous grandchildren who love me to bits and are my very heart and soul. RA will not take that away from me!
Superhero Headquarters: Bellevue, Nebraska
Name: Laura
Age: 29
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 1 year
Superhero Powers: Communicating how I'm feeling and what I'm going through to the people in my life, without guilt. Not being afraid to tell my non-loved ones (co-workers, aquaintances) that I have RA, and explaining what it is so that they might better understand me.
Superhero Headquarters: New York City
Name: Missy
Age: 21
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: Beats me. I got diagnosed 5 days ago.
Superhero Powers: Living with RA. Working full time. Loving my baby sister "Hermanita" (Spanish version of "Sis" - pronounced like air-mon-eat-ah). Learning to speak Spanish. Gardening (when I can).
Superhero Headquarters: Utah & Arizona
Name: Tammy
Age: 30
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: Not too much yet, diagnosed just over 2 months ago, still learning how this works.
Superhero Powers: Taking care of my 1 and 3 year old boys and a husband with massive heart problems. Learning how RA works and fighting it in my mind and body.
Superhero Headquarters: Milwaukee, WI
Name: Carla
Age: 29
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 14 months
Superhero Powers: Learning to live with RA, Positive thinking, Telling people about RA, Loving life, My pets, Finding the right
treatment so I can go back to work, My very understanding partner and friends, My walking stick and wheelchair.
SuperheroHeadquarters: Cairns, Queensland, Australia.
Name: Danielle
Age: 17
Superhero Type: Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 3 years
Superhero Powers: Living with RA, coping with non-understanding people around me, helping others, hoping
Superhero Headquarters: South Africa
Name: Arlene
Age: 41
Superhero Type: Autoimmune Gal
Superhero Experience: 8 years
Superhero Powers: Living with Fibromyalgia, RA, IBS, CFS, and anemia, working as a full-time high school English teacher and a mother of 6 children, coping with people who lack understanding about the degree of my pain and how debilitating it can be at times, helping others, and thinking positively
Superhero Headquarters: Victoria, Texas USA
Name: Claire
Age: 28
Superhero Type: RA adventurer
Superhero Experience: 7 months
Superhero Powers: Ultra runner turned weightlifter when possible - even if the weights have to be strapped on when the grip strength isn't there! Martial artist who's figuring out how to practice from an occasional wheelchair. It's cane-fu. Super powers of patience recently learned, mainly used to explain RA. New powers also include the ability to work full time whilst really just wanting a job in a sleep lab.
Superhero Headquarters: Birmingham, UK.
Name: Lori
Age: 44
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 3 Years
Superhero Powers: Learning to live with RA and my new "needs". Learning that medication is a "need" now. No more missed doses. Learning to make exercise a "need" now. The wrong kind does do harm. Learning to eat specific foods is a "need" now. Learning that I "need" help in that catagory. Learning I need help with not being so afraid of the future RA has for me.
Superhero Headquarters: Florida
Name: Mariellen
Age: 50
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 8 years.
Superhero Powers: Learning to live with pain. Loving my active life in spite of this stupid disease. Counting my blessings and thanking God for each and every day.
Superhero Headquarters: Atlanta, Georgia
Name: Mark
Age: 56
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Guy
Superhero Experience: 10 years.
Superhero Powers: Living with pain and major fatigue.
Superhero's Superhero: My granddaughter, Presley.
Superhero Headquarters: Deltona, Florida
Name: Lizz
Age: 30
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Working Mom
Superhero Experience: Almost 3 years.
Superhero Powers: Having patience with the people around me trying to understand my disease, Learning my new limitations and learning how to not let them limit me!
Superhero's Superhero: Any one who lives with pain and still carries on!!!
Superhero Headquarters: McCleary, WA.
Name: katgirl
Age: 39
Superhero Type: rheumatoid arthritis gal
Superhero Experience: 14 years
Superhero powers: loving life in so much pain, patience with understanding and explaining RA, self-forgiveness when I have to do less than I'd like, laughing, laughing, laughing!
Superhero's Superhero: Tim King & everyone who keeps on keeping on with pain and fatigue.
Superhero Headquarters: Oakland, CA
Name: R.J.
Age: 27
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Guy
Superhero Experience: 8 years
Superhero Powers: playing guitar, writing songs I sing only for me and close friends and family, teaching 2nd grade at an international private school in the Middle East, having the energy to wake up at 5AM every morning to teach 22 needy 7 year-olds life-long learning skills, writing a blog about my travels and experiences abroad.
Superhero Headquarters: Kuwait City, Kuwait and Seattle, WA (for summer vacations)
Name: Rosie
Age: 53
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Widowed Lady
Superhero Experience: 15+ years
Superhero Powers: Living with RA, Psoriasis & Fibromyalgia. I love to paint with acrylics and enjoy photography. And adore my grandson who's 2 and brightens my day more than anything else can. Learning to except that I may not be able to work much longer and trying to figure out what will I do if disability don't kick in quick enough. One thing for sure, the pain reminds me that I'm very much ALIVE. Counting my BLESSINGS.
Superhero Headquarters: New Orleans, LA. (Meraux, LA.)
Name: Bonnie
Age: 60
Superhero Type: rheumatoid arthritis gal
Superhero Experience: 3 years
Superhero powers: Wonderwoman Nana of 6 incredible grandchildren whom I adore, proud mother of 2 fantastic grownup children, Flea Market junkie, treasure hunting at thrift store maniac, collector extrodinaire, techno freak, lover of learning, Facebook fanatic finding old friends galore and Farmvilling myself to death, avid reader and online searcher for RA information and waitng for THE CURE! Most of my RA days are not so bad at all, taking MTX and occasionally prednisone for flare ups, ignoring any pain until it gets too bad to ignore any longer, going on about my life as best I can, keeping my glass half full rather than half empty, looking forward to warm weather. I have been working in education for a number of years until I lost my most recent position at a college via the underground, beaurocratic railroad I didin't know existed until then. Finished a Master's Degree in educational technology in May 2010 in an attempt to find a better paying job which has been elusive since my graduation. My age does not help with that situation, but I keep looking and applying to positions all over the warm parts of the US. Anyone need a brand new educational/instructional technologist?
I don't like having RA, but it has not changed me all that much. There are some things I can't do very well any more, but that's okay - my daughter, bless her heart, comes over to help me out 2 days a week and I get the pleasure of her company and that of her 2 little ones when she is here. My husband does not understand that I now have some limitations and still expects me to be able to do things I used to do with ease, which I can't always do. He does not "get" RA at all and is not willing to educate himself about this disease no matter how many articles I print out for him to read. That's the hardest part of having RA for me, family not getting it and not trying to learn and understand what goes on in this body of mine. Right now I am doing pretty well except for some pain in my left hip joint, some parethesia in my fingertips (maybe a B-12 deficiency), huge Vitamin D deficiency for which I am taking massive doses extra D (I have a hard time dealing with the cold we've had this winter and don't got out much when it is freezing out there, thus the lack of D), and perhaps a pinched nerve in my lower back that tends to make my left foot and leg go numb at times. But heck, I'm almost 61 and doing okay for an RA gal - no use to complain, it could be much worse. I also have Osteo Arthritis which began at an early age after losing an argument with a horse and ending up on the ground knees first. Three scopes and 2 knee replacements later, the knees are in much better shape than they have been for many years. It seems as though the RA can no longer get inside those knees, but it does sometimes flare up around them. However, it can no longer keep me from being able to walk since the joint is now metal - HA! I win! For anyone considering knee replacemnt, I can't recommend it enough. It is a very painful procedure, but the pain is easily managed and eases off pretty quickly. Physical therapy is a must to get back as much movement and walking ability as possible - yes, that is painful, too - but well worth the effort in the long run. I have been cane free (mostly) since a few months following the last knee replacement. I would not recommend having both knees done at the same time - it's much too painful, and very dangerous to do that as the surgery alone can lead to killer blood clots - and we don't want that!
I have 2 wonderful little dogs that adore me, a feeling that is entirely reciprocated - I love my little dogs! And added benefit to me is that they help keep my feet warm on the sofa when it's chilly in the house - much better than a blanket or heating pad could ever be! The only real complaint I have is that standing at the sink to wash dishes when I have to can be painful without taking breaks every so often - it tends to make my lower back hurt a lot, which has begun to be affected by the RA more than it was before.
I am not a complainer at all, so if anyone hears me moan or burst out with an OUCH! occasionally, they know something actually is hurting me quite a lot. They do then become empathetic and understanding. Maybe I should start complaining more often - you think that would help them understand what RA and living with it is all about?
Neverthe less, I am in pretty good shape with RA right now. My Rheumatologist wants me to begin Orencia infusions to try to aleve the pain in my right foot that RA is causing, making it difficult to walk at times with shooting, knifelike pains when I've been on my feet too long. I'll try it, but if any of you has had experience with Orencia, I'd appreciate a post somewhere to share your knowlege of the treatment and outcome from it. Thanks so much for doing that.
Meanwhile, life is pretty darned good right now. I hope it is for you as well. RA stinks, but we don't have to let it run out lives, we need to let it know who is in charge here and make sure that is US!
Superhero Headquarters: Harleyville, SC (near Charleston)
i'm Dan. Have had R/A since 1982. I work part time when able driving a Tour Bus. Times like last week make life difficult. All joints are involved. I live alone and don't like asking for help but sometimes just need too.I to love it when someone say's your to young to have Arthritis. I say tell that to the kid's that have this miserable illness.
Name: Brooke
Age: 30
Superhero Type: Autoimmune Gal
Superhero Experience: Just Starting with RA, Other Autoimmunes since 2001 and before
Superhero Powers: Mommy to the best kid ever, Ability to escape death-defying medical crisis, Making broke-down and pathetic look good since 1999.
Superhero Headquarters: Michigan, USA
Traveling Southern Girl
Name: Carol
Age: 54
Superhero Type: RA Lady
Superhero Experience: 8 years
Superhero Powers: Still working as PR director for a national hospital company and traveling as much as possible with my wonderful hubby
Superhero Headquarters: Wylie, Texas, USA
Name: Gisela
Age: 59
Superhero Type: RA
Superhero Experience: 2 years
Superhero Powers: Teaching at a small liberal arts college and not missing one day of work.
Superhero Headquarters: St. Paul, MN
Name: Jamie
Age: 44
Superhero Type: RA Gal
Superhero Experience: 3 years
Superhero Poweres: Sign Language interpreter working with deaf students in grades K-12, also interpreting for the Deaf at church and in various settings. My husband is Deaf and I have a son getting ready to graduate from High School and go into the Marines.
Superhero Headquarters: Lubbock, Texas
I was diagnosed with RA in 2008. I have moderate to severe, probably more severe because of the rate at which RA affected me. Within 1-2 months of being diagnosed I was using a cane to walk and could barely get around. I still went to work every day, but in a great deal of pain and limited mobility (which made it difficult to do my job as an interpreter). Thank the Lord the medications I take does help keep it under control, Humira and Methotrexate. I have complete mobility now, but still suffer the occassional flare ups, but nothing like I did before. Right now I am experiencing a lot of neck pain that I had not had before, so we'll see how I deal with this. I try not to let RA bother me, but I must admit there are times when I hurt, or ache (the kind that you really can't describe, but you know its there) that I want to cry and wonder if it will get worse. At tmes I do worry about the future and what is in store for me, but this usually only happens when I have a bad day; otherwise, I don't dwell on it. I like this website and so glad I found it. I put the link to the 60 Second Guide to RA on my Facebook page and I hope that my friends and family will read it and finally understand that this is not your "normal" arthritis that grandma or Auntie Jane suffers from, it is far different from that, and that my stiffness and aches and pains are not like your aches and pains. So hopefully they will get a better understanding of RA.
Name: Nicolette
Superhero Type: Juvenile Arthritis Gal/ Spondyloarthropathy Gal
Superhero Experience: 2 years officially diagnosed but it's really more like 7 years
Superhero Powers: Being on swim team and color guard even though the doctors said I wouldn't be able to, being able to get through weekly methotrexate treatments, and getting through a solid 7 year flare with no remissions or breaks.
Superhero Headquarters: USA
Name: Joseph
Age: 22
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Guy
Superhero Experience: Eleven years since diagnosis.
Superhero Powers: Not sure I have any.
Superhero Headquarters: Dudley, United Kingdom.
Name: Sherry
Age: 59
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis,Lupus, Sjogrens(show-grens), Peripheral Neuropathy, Spondylitis, and Clinical Depression.
Superhero Experience: Diagnosed in 1998, symptoms were mild at first, flares consisted of achy joints, fatigue, low grade fever. Then in 2000 I walked into the tornado, and it flattened me. Guess I thought things would always be the same. Not!
Superhero Powers: Having the smarts to get to a MD pdq, When I hear the tornado coming! Didn't do that one time, woke up in ICU with a intubation tube in my throat. I had been there three days,
after an overdose of sleeping pills. I am sorry, and I'll never do it again, but I never thought I'd do it the first time. I found a great psychiatrist that helped me understand the chemical changes in the brain when you have chronic disease, I am on Meds,and I do call her immediately, if I feel out of control at all. SOoo,I guess useing the phone is my super power!!!
Superhero Headquarters: Southeastern shore of NC, USA
Name: Kary
Age: 39
Superhero Type: R.A.w/sjogrens
Superhero Experience: 24 years
Superhero Powers: living with r.a. and it's deformities, fatigue, taking care of my family (3 kiddos), baking:), cooking, managing to exercise and eat right (even though I love my sweets:)) Still wishing I could make some people understand some days I just can't do as much as I'd like~
Superhero Headquarters: Willowick (Cleveland), OH
Name: Delia
Age: 48
Superhero Type: Caregiver spouse to RA Superhero
Superhero Experience: Hubby was diagnosed 10 years ago
Superhero Powers: Patience, patience, patience
Superhero Headquarters: California
Name:Denus
Age: 34
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Gal
Superhero Experience: I've had RA since i was 5yrs old
Superhero Powers:I've been living with the deformaties and the fatigue for years but i dont let it stop me...i'm a single mom of two beautiful kids and a nurse and i wil continue to fight this illness with all have for as long as i can
Superhero Headquarters:New Jersey
Name: Kaitlin
Age: 18
Superhero Type: JRA & fibromyalgia gal
Superhero Experience: 4 years
Superhero Powers: Finding the strength to entertain my 9 month old baby brother. Trying to stay positive. NOT laying in bed all the time even though I am so tired. Getting threw the day without sleep. Being able to continue my day even though I could scream from the pain. I am unbreakable ;)
Superhero Headquarters:Sweet Home Alabama
Name: Tracey
Age: 35
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Gal
Superhero Experience: 22 years
Superhero Powers: Resilence, and managing to look ok despite being wonky and slighty deformed!
Superhero Headquarters: Kent, United Kingdom
Name: Geraldine
Age: 47
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid, Stills Disease
Superhero Experience: 18 years
Superhero Powers: Loving all creatures big and small
Superhero Headquarters: Minnesota, USA
Name: Nan Hart
Age: 57
Superhero Type: RA Gal
Superhero Experience: 15 years (yeah that sucks!)
Superhero Powers: Being absurdly and at times, annoyingly positive
Superhero Headquarters: Rutland, Vermont
Name: Berni Sumegi
Age: 25
Superhero Type: RA Gal (Previously: JA Gal)
Superhero Experience: 12 (JRA and RA)
Superhero Powers: Making fun of bad situations :)
Superhero Headquarters: Budapest, Hungary
Name: Star
Age: 35
Superhero Type: RA/Fibro Gal
Superhero Experience: Diagnosed in 2003, still not well controlled
Superhero Powers: Seeing the potential joy in everyday
Superhero Headquarters: Philadelphia, PA
Name:Lexy
Age:36
Superhero Type: RA GAL
Superhero Experience: Diagnosed in May 2010
Superhero Powers: Painfully working 25 hours every week while caring for a large family.
Superhero Headquarters: Mobile,AL
Name: Marissa Hormell
Age: 16
Superhero Type: Juvenile Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 14 years
Superhero Powers: Enjoying Life, Laughing, Loving.
Superhero Headquarters: Kennerdell, PA
Name: Peppermint Patty
Age: 58
Superhero Type: RA Gal
Superhero Experience: Diagnosed in 2000, eleven years ago
Superhero Powers: wife, mother, grandmother; working 20 hours a week as a fundraiser for a non-profit; trying to accept that I cannot do what I used to do BUT can still do alot and thankful for that. Blessed with a wonderful family, great friends and a very supportive church family.
Superhero Headquarters: Lancaster County, PA
Age: 43. Age at diagnosis: 35.
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 8 years
Superhero Powers: wife of 3 boys, work on my feet 8 x 40. The feat of doing things that have become difficult and somehow managing most of the time.I am also an avid crafter. Scrapbooking, cross stitching, etc. Just went through having my right foot completely re constructed. Hopefully in a month I am waling again and not on wheels! Wrists, shoulders, knees, feet, ankles, and any other joint that decides to join the battle!
Superhero Headquarters: Harlan, Indiana. Suburb of Fort Wayne, Indiana
Name: Heather Scherrer
Age: 33
Superhero Type: RA
Superhero Experience: 6 years
Superhero Powers: Mom to two, heartbreaker to many. Professional swearing machine, and people watcher.
Superhero Headquarters: Pacific NW
Name: Missie Bird
Age: 39
Superhero Type: RA Gal
Superhero Experience: 9 yrs
Superhero Powers: I can twitter faster than the speed of light, I make a better BBQ than Bobby Flay, My mom powers rival that of June Cleaver, I swear better than any trucker I know and my pop culture knowlege is mindbending.
Superhero Headquarters: Lafayette, IN.
Name: Kate
Age: 22
Superhero Type: RA Gal
Superhero Experience: 12 years
Superhero Powers: Being a WSU alumni (GO COUGS!), enjoying the beautiful Pacific Northwest, and getting a one up on my disease instead of the other way around!
Superhero Headquarters: The always lovely, Port Townsend WA
Name: Sa'idah
Age: 29
Superhero Type: RA Gal
Superhero Experience: almost 1 year
Superhero Powers: Prayer, Family and Friends that care, Love, Cooking, never believing in the word "incurable"
Superhero Headquarters: Washington, DC
Name: spencer
Age: 42
Superhero Type:rheumatoid arthritis guy
Superhero Experience: 5 years
Superhero Powers: not letting it drag you down
Superhero headquarters littleport,cambs uk
Name: Diego
Age: 3 años
Superhero Type: rheumatoid arthritis guy
Superhero Experience: 1 año y medio
Superhero Powers: hacer feliz a mi familia, jugar sin importar nada más, sonreir siempre, hablar sin parar, mirar en lo profundo del alma de las personas, dar abrazos que te dan profunda paz y te alegran el corazón
Superhero Headquarters:Lima Perú - Sudamerica
Name: Dadwithra
Age: 37
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Guy
Superhero Experience: 7 years
Superhero Powers: Dad, husband, writer, translator, belief in exercise, wish the Force could be used to banish RA...
Superhero Headquarters: Amersfoort, the Netherlands
Name: Rising Phoenix
Age: 38
Superhero Type: Tattooed Rheuma-gal ;-)
Superhero Experience: 12 years
Superhero Powers: Mum, wife, friend jewellery maker, Fab Xbox gamer, love of family, friends and nature. Loving & accepting what I have (except RA!).
Superhero Headquarters: Cornwall, UK
Name: Jan
Age: 60
Superhero Type: RA Gal
Superhero Experience: diagnosed May 2011
Superhero Powers: Love of learning, especially (now) RA. Also, sharing what I learn through blogging and teaching. Learning to accept the present moment.
Superhero Headquarters: Corpus Christi, TX
Name: Joan
Age: 49
Superhero Type: Super Teacher (with RA)
Superhero Experience: 2 years
Superhero Powers: Kicking RA's a$$, mom, wife, lover of corgis, teacher of English to 13 year olds.
Superhero Headquarters: Oklahoma!
http://www.prairiegyrl.com
Name: Gisela
Age: 59
Superhero Type: RA
Superhero Experience: 2 years
Superhero Powers: Being in remission (kind of)
Superhero Headquarters: St. Paul, MN; originally Augsburg, Germany
Age: 54
Superhero Type: RA, Osteo
Superhero Experience: 13 years
Superhero Powers: Love to learn, traveling with ra, blogging, Mom, Wife, Gramma, Auntie, believing that the glass is always half full and laughter truly is the best medicine.
Superhero Headquarters: Wilmington, NC...until the next possible move
Name: Stephanie
Age: 26
Superhero type: RA Gal
Superhero experience: 13 months
Superhero powers: Teaching high school, coaching soccer, working out to keep active, running on very little sleep, laughing a lot
Superhero headquarters: Orange, Tx
Name: Missyb
Age: 39
Superhero Type: RA chic
Superhero Experience: 9 years
Superhero Powers: Living life to the fullest, having a sense of humor, beach bum, and lover of animals
Superhero Headquarters: Flagler Beach,Fl.
Name: Bunyip
Age: 39
Superhero Type: RA Gal
Superhero Experience: Have lived with RA for 8 years but have watched my mother who has had RA since I was 5 so have dealt with RA for many years.
Superhero Powers: "denial" it gets me through some days, having a warped sense of humor, loving and living life to the fullest.
Superhero Headquarters: Echuca, Victoria, Australia, Earth
Name: Kelly "Kel" Bolden
Age: 34
Superhero Type: OkRAgUy
Superhero Experience: 8.5 years
Superhero Powers: "Steriod Strength"......just lokie Popeye and his spinach, when I take my Prednisone I am invincible. You combine those with all my pain pills....MOVE OVER Superman. Unless I am fighting my nemesis "Sir Flash Flare", I am down for the count and the battle is over.
Superhero Headquarters: Tulsa, OK USA.
Name:Tamara S. Vasquez
Age: 24
Superhero Type: Fabulous RA Gal! :-)
Superhero Experience: 6 yrs!!
Superhero Powers: Live,Love and definitely laugh...I have RA, RA does NOT have me! I have a life to live regardless of the pain, Single momma of two beautiful boys, full-time employee for a preschool!
Superhero Headquarters: Alvin,TX
Name: Mary Joly
Age: 51
Superhero Type: RA gal
Superhero Experience: 6 years
Superhero Powers: Wife, mother, mema and sister. Get up everyday no matter how hard it is and make the best of my day. Try to spread the truth about autoimmune diseases....now if I could just get people to listen!!! And helping my daughter and son in law run our very fun dog business.
Superhero Headquarters: Massachusetts
Name: Amanda Gibson
Age: 25
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 15 years diagnosed, sufferer for 23 years.
Superhero Powers: Mom to 2 cats, studying to be a teacher, currently web developer. It's my hope to one day work with superheroes of all different sorts at the elementary level.
Superhero Headquarters: Twin Cities, MN
Name: Brandy de Cusack
Age: 46
Superhero Type: Seronegative rheumatoid arthritis - depending on which day of the week it is.
Superhero Experience: Over ten years apparently but the disease really started to kick in over the last three years. Firm(ish) diagnosis two years ago.
Superhero Powers: Working, writing horrific gore and sci-fi, photography, organic gardening, dressing up as movie characters and supervillains (!) to scare people for charity
Superhero Headquarters: UK
Name: Meghann Holcomb
Age: 31
Superhero Type: RA Mama
Superhero Experience: 18 months
Superhero Powers: mom to 3 kiddos, knitter, super fast bookworm. Trying to find away to manage my life with RA.
Superhero Headquarters: massachusetts
Name: Tia Canadian
Age: 22
Superhero Type: J.R.A.
Superhero Experience: 7 years
Superhero Powers: I love to cook with my adapted tools. I'm a university student juggling intense school work with the pain and fatigue of J.R.A.. I keep a Positive Mental Attitude about my disease. I'm addicted to tattoos and Monty Python films. Excitedly looking forward to my first full hip replacement. Hoping to one day to help Superheros as a physician. I live with a great team of Superheros; my parents and brothers.
Superhero Headquarters: near Montreal, QC, Canada.
Name: MamaNym
Age: 36
Superhero Type: Psoriatic Arthritis Mama
Superhero Experience: Many years, but recently diagnosed
Superhero Powers: Mama to 5 unschooled kids, childcare provider to up to 4 more, volunteer extraordinaire, advocate, and activist ... striving to find balance between being and doing, between taking care of others and taking care of myself - and doing it all with a sense of humor.
Superhero Headquarters: Bristol, CT
Name: IR
Age: 27
Superhero Type: Psoratic Rheumatoid Arthritis (knees, hands, feet)
Superhero Experience: 7 years
Superhero Powers: Active electronic musician that is classically trained by the Royal Conservatory of Music, Canada. I'm also pretty much a geek. I've been into computers since I could walk. I have college training as a network administrator, technician and security analysis. I run a few websites on top of that.
Superhero Headquarters: Ottawa, Canada
Name: Gail Utz
Age: 42
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Woman
Superhero Experience:1 month officially, unofficially 10 years,
Superhero Powers: Super mom of 3 and wife. Home heathcare provider until recently. Being a wildlife rehabber, Fighting RA with my magic lasso, Working on being an RA blogger to help spread awareness of this disease.
Superhero Headquarters: Virginia
Name: Dannie
Age: 45
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Chick
Superhero Experience: 2 months diagnosed, been living with chronic pain for years, ignoring it and hoping it will heal itself.
Superhero Powers: Snarky little witch, Dog Trainer and Wordpress Wizard. Working almost full time
Superhero Headquarters: New Zealand
Melinda
49
Rheumatoid Arthritis , plus four other forms and a birth injury
diagnosed 25 plus years , however; had from a teen
Cooking , baking , Author of self help arthritis cookbooks
Tampa Florida, Gulfport Ms,
Name: Melissa
Age: 30
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis, secondary Sjogren's Syndrome & bilateral hip bursitis
Superhero Experience: "Officially" diagnosed end of June/11, diagnosed in February/11 by GP. Been in pain from bursitis for nearly four years, RA pain for about a year. Dry eyes & mouth that is greatly annoying (I need to drink upwards of 15 cups of water/day to help the dry mouth).
Superhero Powers: I can work 40+ hours a week and then have enough energy to make it back to my apartment to fall into bed and sleep 9 - 10 hours! ;) Sometimes I can manage to knit, enjoy activities outside of the apartment and spend time with friends. On most days I can laugh at myself and what I'm no longer able to do and that helps as much as my meds sometimes I think! When I can't get out of bed on weekends from working all week I watch a lot of documentaries. :)
Superhero Headquarters: The lovely Maritimes (east coast of Canada) with it's extremely wacky weather which frequently makes my RA worse but I love it here!
Name: SKRDad
Age: 43
Superhero Type: RA, FM
Superhero Experience: 5 Years and counting...
Superhero Powers: Work 60+hour/weeks as a Logistics Manager. Father of 3 beautiful children. 16, 13 & 10 years old in order. Coach & on League's Governing Board for my son's soccer team. Band Booster's VP for Daughter #1's Marching Band. Chaperone for out of town Band Trips for Daughter #2's middle school band. Husband to the Love of my Life for the past 17 years and counting... Battle the RA Monster but more importantly work very hard so that Husband and Father define me first...
Superhero Headquarters: Scottsdale, Arizona.
Name: Dr Karen
Age: 52...although some days I feel a tad older (other days younger)
Superhero Type:RA, SLE, FMS, APLS, Celiac,
Superhero Experience: Since 1994
Superhero Powers: I have a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, work as a Shrink specializing in Depression and PTSD, and, of course, CHRONIC ILLNESS! I am a single mum of a 16 y/o w/FMS and a Standard Poodle, Molly, who works with my patients. I write 2 blogs (The Couch Trip and "Shrinking" Chronic Illness both on blogspot), am rebuilding my business website for the 8th time!, I tweet, run a FB Page, and try to keep my social media guilt to a minimum.Helping my daughter w/Macrame to sell for The Girl Effect which is her IB BIG project.I am on Retuxin and recently started Cannabis (about 7 weeks ago - yes I am in a state where it is legal for me) which has made a HUGE difference in pain (BUT eat it, don't smoke it so you get BOTH passes of the medication). I only use it before night so it doesn't interfere w/my practice. It is great (haven't needed breakthrough pain meds since I started as well as other things - write me and I'll explain)
Superhero Headquarters: Denver, Colorado (but I am from DC, VA, NY, OH, IN too).
Name: Kim Byrne (Stmprkb)
Age: 48
Superhero Type: RA and Crohns Gal
Superhero Experience: dx 18 mos ago, still a newbie!?
Superhero Powers: MUST MAINTAIN my POSITIVE ATTITUDE. My goal is to return to work full time as a special ed teacher, Aug 16th. I fear the fatigue will prevent me from being on my A game.. ok, so I need to re evaluate, do I need to be on my A game? I tend to over do, so my A game, may be too high of a goal. I am a dog lover and my black lab has the title of Physical Therapist in the house. She gets me up and moving every day. Whether it be swimming or walking. I was in the competitive ventures of dog sports, but have to let them go.. the dogs seem to love to be with me, competing or not. So, I think this was probably MY GOAL and not their goal! My caregiver, is my wonderful husband, Tom, of 26 years, he is in the learning curve with me, and has taken over a lot of the house chores, he is a retired FF. He is totally in to taking naps, and never complains! I am honored to be on the Superhero Wall of Fame!
Superhero Headquarters:West Palm Beach FL in the pool!
Name: Nikki
Age: 21
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 12 years, officially diagnosed at age 9
Superhero Powers: Studying criminal justice in college, working as a legal assistant and bearing through the pain I wake up to every day to reach my goal of graduating and becoming a paralegal. Also accepting the fact that heels will never be a part of my ensomble!
Superhero Headquarters: Vienna, Virginia
Name: Sally
Age: 29
Superhero Type: JIA/RA
Superhero Experience: Diagnosed 20 odd years ago.
Superhero Powers: Living and growing up with JIA. Went to uni with JIA, did a masters with JIA....erm...did lots with JIA. Worked as a music teacher for a year after graduating but I had to stop because of my arthritis. So now I still sing a bit and knit a lot. I also work voluntary for arthritis care as and when I can. I’ve just had my 3rd joint replacement and waiting for a date for my 4th but life it good.
Superhero Headquarters: Staffordshire, United Kingdom.
Name: Faris
Age: 20
Superhero Type: RA/Fibro
Superhero Experience: 17 months
Superhero Powers: Still a great cook/seamstress/musician...when I'm able. I'm a lot more valuable then this disease has made me feel.
Superhero Headquarters: alberta, canada
Name:Dawn
Age: 36
Superhero Type: Think I'm going to save the world with my Sarcoidosis and Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms Girl
Superhero Experience: Pulmonary Sarcoidosis and spreading since October of 2008...Newly diagnosed Rheumatoid Girl..Summer 2011
Superhero Powers: Can still barely do my own housework, have my BSN in Nursing and will be going back to online college for a degree in political science to lobby for animal rights, autoimmune disease funding and research, starting a recommended exercise program, spread faith and hope when I can, try to find the humor in situations, take care of my animals, empathy for others and try to reach out when I can.
Superhero Headquarters: Audubon, Iowa
Name: Sally Farrington
Age: 45
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: dx just 4 mos ago
Superhero Powers: Christian Mom to 3 amazing daughters, Oma to a genius 2 year old, able to homeschool, coach volleyball, cook, scrapbook, & crochet for short bursts of time, amazingly talented at naps and making sarcastic remarks.
Superhero Headquarters: Fayetteville, NC
Name: Jenny Pettit
Age: 25
Superhero Type: Sjogren's, Localized Scleroderma, Fibromyalgia, Dysautonomia, Raynaud's
Superhero Experience: 10 years (since diagnosis)/23 years (symptoms)
Superhero Powers: Health Activist for "invisible illnesses" doing online and IRL (in real life) activism on my own and with others, also run my parish youth group and - my most amazing power - hanging onto my job as an auditor (didn't think I could do it when I was in school)! Also married to wonderful caregiver.
Superhero Headquarters: Philadelphia, PA
Name: Cat
Age: 37
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 2 months
Superhero Powers: Being an awesome mommy and wife!!
Superhero Headquarters: Scotland
Name: Spoonie Chic
Age:30
Superhero Type:Wonder Woman (lyme,RA,fibro -to be continued)
Superhero Experience:jumping leaps and bounds since 2010 to find the right doctor to hopefully get the better treatment.
Superhero Powers:Belief in God! Seeing the positive in situations,keeping stress to a bare minimum, loving people that don't understand autoimmune diseases.
Superhero Headquarters:my couch
Name: Angella
Age: 46
Superhero Type: Psoriatic arthritis girl, fibro girl and ostoerthritis girl
Superhero Experience: Pain..Fatigue...Life changing...Feel like the tin man...Rheumatologist thinks I hit the arthritis jackpot...isolation...professional pin cushion...did I mention PAIN!!
Superhero Powers: My sidekicks-my son,sister,my therapist and my rheumatologist. invisibility-able to say no ans stay "invisible" if my body says so.
Superhero Headquarters:the "dungeon" a meditative little place in my basement where Hemlock(my son's black cat) and I go to chill. There is music, candlelight and a chair. also a cot if the chair is not so welcoming.
Name: Jules (aka juleeme)
Age: 42
Superhero Type: RA Gal and Caregiver Gal (with a smattering of other illnesses)
Superhero Experience: 20 years (RA), almost 2 years (Caregiver)
Superhero Powers: Patience, writing, design, photography, sarcasm, caregiving, did I mention patience? In my pre-RA-flaredom, I was a technical writer, graphic designer and web designer with a penchant for painting, making jewelry and crafting stained glass. Also I enjoyed yoga, camping and hiking.
Superhero Headquarters: North Carolina
Name: Katie
Age: 19
Superhero Type: RA College Student
Superhero Experience: 12 years (JRA started when I was 8, and graduated to RA)
Superhero Powers: College student with a wonderful boyfriend, family, friends, turtle, and puppy.
Superhero Headquarters: My college dorm, or my house.
Name: Jackie
Age: 32
Superhero Type: Woman with RA and food allergies
Superhero Experience: 15 years
Superhero Powers: Wife of 5 years, mother to our energetic and strong-willed toddler son, caretaker of our cat and aquarium fish, cook, piano player, music lover, nature lover, hiker/walker, and traveler. Walked a half marathon (13 miles) 4 years ago and hope to try it again someday. Still learning to live through the ups and downs with RA as naturally as possible---diet, exercise, and alternative medicine, but occasionally resorting to over-the-counter pain relievers. Not interested in prescription drugs and their side effects! Still working on my attitude and trying to stay positive. It is very challenging being a mother to a young child who can't understand what I go through everyday and how hard it is to keep up with him! Patience is also hard to have when you're hurting. Lucky to have a very understanding and supportive husband to help with childcare duties (especially doing the heavy lifting)---He's MY superhero!
Superhero Headquarters: Michigan (metro Detroit area)
Name: Autoimmunegirl
Age: 46
Superhero Type: Autoimmune Peripheral Neuropathy, Hashimoto's Thyroiditis
Superhero Experience: 10 + years, 4 years (so far)searching for a diagnosis
Superhero Powers: Ability to say no, I can't do that and not feel guilty that I'm letting someone else down. 40 hr week IT professional, Mother of 3 (21, 16, 11); Co owner of catering business, amateur photographer, dog owner, Temple webmaster, Temple Board member. Usually just enough energy to get through the week and then do as little as possible on the weekends. Supported by my Superhero FF husband and children, who are learning to live with the new me.
Superhero Headquarters: Quincy, Ma
Name: Marie
Age: 53
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Baby Boomer
Superhero Experience: 4+ years and possibly longer???
Superhero Powers: Healthcare professional still working full time - loving my job, but harder every day to commute 1 hr each way/work 8+ hours, keep up with the house, cooking, etc. Recently dx'd with food allergies - wheat/dairy/eggs and learning to adjust to a new way of eating
Superhero Headquarters: Southern NH, USA
Name: Kimberly Collison
Age: 45
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Trooper
Superhero Experience: 2 years 'hands-on' crash-course work experience (&feet&ankles&knees&neck&shoulders)
Superhero Powers: RED HAIR! Tenacity, Determination, will power of a god,Survival skills extraordinaire, embracer of change,life long ability to get what I want- current chapter facing my arch nemisis!
Superhero Headquarters: Temporary quarters Chester, Connecticut- then who knows where is next!
Name: Susan Laswell
Age: 62
Superhero Type: AutoImmune Gal
Superhero Experience: Head and shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes... eyes and ears, a mouth and a... well the nose is still doing well!
Superhero Powers: stubborn as a Missouri mule
Superhero Headquarters: Southern Part of Heaven, NC