When you live with a chronic illness like rheumatoid arthritis, going to all of your different health care appointments can easily feel like a full time job. And to make the situation even more complicated, everything is usually in a different place. You have to go one place to see your rheumatologist, another place to [...]
Okay, so I’m a 37 year old man who got over my fear of shots a long long time ago.
Sure, I still remember, as a young child, being in the doctor’s office with my mother, and immediately bawling upon any mention of a needle or an injection.
But other that those few years early on, I [...]
I went to see my rheumatologist earlier this evening. Some of the good things about where I live is that not only am I guaranteed a same-day appointment whenever I call, but my doctors also give me both their cell phone number and their home phone number. (Amazing, isn’t it?)
As soon as I reached the [...]
First of all, thanks for all of the comments and messages of support that I received in response to the post that I wrote yesterday.
Even though membership in this club isn’t always by choice (they weren’t kidding when they said “lifetime membership”, were they?!), it’s definitely nice to be able to speak with others who [...]
Yesterday was a great day, as Rheumatoid Arthritis Guy’s family got to meet two important individuals of his support team. In the morning, as I stayed home to tutor a new student, my family spent some time visiting with my psychologist. In the afternoon, they joined me for my monthly visit to my rheumatologist. It [...]
Rheumatoid Arthritis Guy has had a really good past two weeks, in regards to his rheumatoid arthritis. My last flare finally subsided, a few days into my recent break from blogging. I think that the three anti-inflammatory injections that I had during the preceding week and a half finally took effect.
One of my personal victories [...]
Warm Socks: I <3 My Rheumy!
There is a plan.
I get to know what that plan is.
I am comfortable talking to her.
She listens to me.
She looks at the paperwork I fill out for her.
She advocated not paying a bill.
She doesn’t spring surprises on me.
She gives me information (I don’t have to pry it out of her).
Once she considers me stable, I [...]
∞ itis: Making Decisions
From a comment left on one of KevinMD’s posts:
… I generally categorize patients in one of four classes: (1) patients who …completely trust their doctor and want the doctor to decide the treatment, (2) patients who want to understand the possible diagnoses and treatments but who want the physician to choose the best, (3) patients [...]
