Healing My Rheumatoid Arthritis with Functional Medicine

I am a 32-year-old mother of three children (ages 12, 9, and 7).  I am happily married and a teacher by profession, although I don’t work in the system currently because I am educating my own children at home.   My mother and my paternal grandmother both have or have had rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases.

My symptoms began when I was nine years old but were largely dismissed as “growing pains” by doctors.  By seventh grade, I was wrapping my joints in bandages and forging notes from home to get out of PE because I was in pain.  By 15 I was self medicating with prescription pain killers intended for menstrual cramps.  My mother suspected juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, but the doctors continued to just dismiss it.  I took a lot of pills, missed a lot of school, but was able to pretty much get by.  Honestly, I thought I was normal.  Besides, if I hurt, I could just pop some pills, sleep it off, and be fresh in the morning.  This was how I managed until one fateful day when I was 26.  While lifting chicken out of the oven, my wrist popped.  At the time, it was no big deal; I was used to my joints popping and causing pain.  This time however, the pain did not go away no matter what I did.

Read More: http://flareandbackagain.wordpress.com/

A sick girl’s quest for normalcy.

About

Sometimes the blog will be about nothing.

Sometimes it will be about heavy stuff.

Sometimes it will be a true story I made up.

Stick around and find out.

The blog’s URL comes from a Ray Bradbury quote:

We are cups, constantly and quietly being filled. The trick is, knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out.

About, redux

So. That other “About” page doesn’t really tell that much about me or about why I’m blogging. Still, it’s a link to a former blog, and in a way, a former self; the self that was too self-conscious and still too isolated to blog about my chronic illness. It’s a good reminder of where I used to be; hence. why it’s still up.

But, a little more about me now. I am a twenty-something reporter/copy editor/photographer/jill-of-all-journo trades living with (and sometimes dealing with) psoriatic arthritis, often referred to as PSA. At least by me, anyway. I’ve been working in the business for about 5 years and living with the symptoms of PSA for at least that long. (Coincidence? Hmph.)

I am married, with two furbabies — and don’t ask me if/when I’ll be having kid. It’s a pet peeve of mine.

I hope you enjoy what you read here, but I won’t be offended if you don’t. Being a journo has thickened my skin.

Read More: http://cupsquietlybeingfilled.wordpress.com/

I am originally from a very small town in the Midwest, but moved out to Los Angeles six years ago. Recently diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, my wonderful husband and our little zoo of a home keep me going while I deal with the difficulties of a chronic illness and endeavor to improve my health.

Read More: http://smalltowngirlinabigcity.blogspot.com/

Learning To Live

Weak. Stiff. Hot. Pain. These are some of the words I’d use to describe my arthritis. If you had told me seven years ago that I would be diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis within a year, I think I would have looked at you like you were off your rocker. I was a child in my last year of Junior High when I was diagnosed. I knew my hands hurt, but it certainly wasn’t something I was too worried about. I was more concerned about the way my index finger looked. The middle joint almost looked like it has been reversed, so it was sunken down into my skin. My finger clicked when I bent it. My friends thought it was “kinda gross.”

Read More: http://l2-live.blogspot.com/

Letters From The Breach

I’d expected a solid I-don’t-know because the only thing certain about my experience of autoimmune arthritis has been its uncertainty. We might be able to get you a remission. This drug is promising. We expect to slow your joint damage. We’re unsure exactly what kind of arthritis you have, we just know it’s autoimmune. If this doesn’t work, we’ll try something else. Might-promising-expect-unsure-if. A bouquet of guesses ribboned with equivocation. My daily experience of this disease has been just as muddling. Day to day, the symptoms vary. I can’t tell you on a Monday if I’ll be up for a Wednesday night outing.

Read More: http://lettersfromthebreach.blogspot.com/

RA has affected me as a person but didn’t change who I was. I learned to live with RA on a daily basis. The medicine is finally working. I also learned to cope with the pain.

Hello everyone. My name is Morris and student at artevelde hogeschool. This blog is a tool to channel my emotions around RA. Enjoy.

Read More: http://reumaishatelijk.blogspot.com/

The effect that chronic illness has on our lives, and the lives of those we love, is life altering to say the least. It can be confusing and you never know what to expect. The only thing that we ever learn is that the path we choose will influence the quality of our life and that we must be wise and prudent in order to survive. Part of the path we take involves understanding and learning about our illnesses. Another part involves lifestyle changes and accepting that those changes are imperative to having more good days than bad. Probably the most difficult and important part of our lives with chronic illness is the emotional rollercoaster and without balance and sensibility, we can never learn live to live with the challenges.

With our emotional rollercoaster, we learn that humor is a must.

Read More: http://ohboy-boys.blogspot.com/2010/04/humor-is-must-with-chronic-illness.html

A girl, her hubby, 2 boston pups, and new hips…..

“Jenn, you’ve just received two brand spanking new hips….what are you going to do next?”

Read More: http://project-jennifer.blogspot.com/

A Detailed Account of a Young Persons Battle with Rheumatoid Arthritis

At the age of 22 I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. I did not know much about the disease but it seemed my life would never be the same again. After months of despair, loosing a loved one and giving up my dream job I am finally coming to terms with my condition. I realised that I am not alone and with the help of incredibly supportive family and friends I can live a normal life and will not be beaten by this. I hope in reading my stories you too those who have been diagnosed will realise you are not alone and those who know someone will get an idea of how their friend/relative may be feeling and the challenges we face. Now 23, I am ready to share my story with you beautiful people (be ready for one hell of a rollercoaster ride!)

Read More: http://rheumagirl.blogspot.com/

Hi. I’m Wren.

“Rheuma” (ROY-ma) is the German word for rheumatoid arthritis. When I was diagnosed with the disease, I lived in Germany, so that’s what I got used to calling it. For me, it fits.

This blog is about rheuma and how it affects those of us who live with it every day. I’d like this to be a place where people who have it can talk to and support each other; a place where those who want to learn more can do so; and a place of quiet, warmth and peace, a haven away from the hustle-bustle of the world.

Be kind to yourself. Speak up. Remember you are your own best advocate.

Read More: http://rheumablog.wordpress.com/

My adventure through weight loss and newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis.

Read More: http://figmentoffitness.wordpress.com/