An Open Letter to my Future Rheumatologist

Dear Dr. (insert your name here),
First and foremost, let me tell you that I’d so much rather be shoe shopping than rheumatologist shopping.  To put things in perspective, I’ve never gone shoe shopping and left with 5 vials less blood than I came with.  Rheumatologist shopping…different story.
I’m really frustrated.
I think I’m a pretty good patient. [...]

Three, Tres, Trois!!!

Something curious has happened to me lately and I’ve been a little nervous to mention it for fear of jinxing myself.  Several months ago, when my health insurance was cancelled by my douchy ex-employer and I had to put myself on a craptastic emergency policy that covered only $100 per month in prescription medication, I [...]

New Way RA

Go on over here and check out New Way RA, a great new resource for those of us who won the auto-immune lottery and for our loved ones.  This is an online talk show hosted by Deborah Norville, whose mother had RA, and features several chats with experts on nutrition, activity, the emotional side of it, [...]

To bring things somewhat current

So, I had every intention of getting all this background story posted in like 2 days. But, thanks to our economy and some serious work drama, I got a tad bit sidetracked.  Sigh…
I guess I stayed on the same treatment plan for a year with some reduction in symptoms but not much.  I ended up [...]

Have some blood, why don’t you?

When I was first diagnosed with RA, it seemed like everybody and their brother wanted a good gallon of blood from me.  They . test. for. everything. For the record, in case you’re curious, I can tell you that I’m not pregnant, do not have AIDS, do not have syphillis, do not have chlamydia, do [...]

How This Party Started

It’s actually somewhat funny. 
In true AJ fashion, I was ticked at a boy.  After work one day (around Feb 2005 I think), I went to the gym to run it out on the treadmill.  I ran hard and longer than I normally did because for me, anger is quite motivating.  The actual running didn’t hurt [...]