March 2012
45 posts
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paperpoppystorebywheeliewifee asked: Hey, Emily! I just posted something to my personal blog (WheelieWifee) that was inspired by the post you made about the "Love Yourself More" challenge. Your words continue to motivate and encourage me. Thank you for all you do.
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Anonymous asked: do you have a personal tumblr?
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Taking some time to answer questions
the Q&A video had some issues, so I’ll be doing that at some point, but not soon. Not quite sure if I like vlogging— putting my face out there is a bit weird for me and I’m still trying to get comfortable with it as more people I know in real life ask about the blog.
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toomanystarstocount asked: Hello. Sorry I've been all up in your Ask lately but I had one more question. I was wondering if you use(d) a cane, and if so if you brought it up with your doctor, or if your doctor brought it up with you. I'm having a lot of trouble walking - I've gone from occasionally limping to constantly limping - and as of yet no diagnosis (suspected fibro but they aren't all that sure)....
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lovethemoonsbeauty asked: I was wondering what your take is on anti-depressants and anti-psychotic medications given to patients with terminal illnesses such as cancer or AIDS? In my opinion they work if taken correctly along with the proper therapy but at what point or dose will the body be able to be happy without any of those medications? And even if the medications work, the circumstances in which the person is in keep...
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Sharing the Little Things: Part I
Today I:
Managed to dry and straighten my hair. If we’re being honest here, I hadn’t been able to shower for seven days up until last night.
Lunch with Hannah (Crohnsandarthritis, whose blog you should check out)
I found close handicapped parking on campus and at the store
Dove chocolate at Publix was BOGO
All the groceries I went to buy were on sale
I made it through the...
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Adrienne Rich Dies from Complications of... →
“Adrienne Rich, a pioneering feminist poet and essayist who challenged what she considered to be the myths of the American dream, has died. She was 82.
The recipient of such literary awards as the Yale Young Poets prize, the National Book Award, the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize and the Dorothea Tanning Award given by the Academy of American Poets, Rich died Tuesday at her home in Santa Cruz of...
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The Chronically Ill Blogger 101: Do's and Don't's
I’m often asked why I don’t post about POTS, Diabetes, Cancer, ME/CFS, Lyme Disease, etc, like I do Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, Sjogren’s Syndrome or FMS. I’m asked why I don’t write “in depth” posts specific to the former disease(s) listed.
Here’s why: I do not have POTS. I do not have Diabetes or Cancer, ME/CFS or Lyme Disease. When I write, I...
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Anonymous asked: You've probably been asked this before, but how do you deal with being called a hypochondriac or being constantly told you're exaggerating (or when it's being said behind your back)? For that matter, how do you deal with it when it's *a doctor* telling you it's all in your head? (Also, thank you so much for your blog. It means a lot to your followers, or at least it does...
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Becoming One With My Textbooks...and Brain Fog.
Exams weekly through the rest of March, through April up until finals week
Seven papers to complete
Plus typical course load work
With a side of brain fog/fatigue.
I’m behind on email and messages so if you haven’t heard from me yet this (^) is why, but I will get back to you. Yes, I am in fact procrastinating studying for a large extremely ginormous and important exam tomorrow...
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koronov asked: This may sound like it doesn't help, but I have an aunt who is an RA and who was able to do my injections for me when I trialled both Enbrel and then Humira. If you can, use a syrine and not a injector-pen, it's much easier to control the rate at which it goes in and lessens the pain. Also, it sounds lame but deep breathing DOES help A LOT, along with counting down from a high number and...
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Weekly Link Roundup 3/26/2012
Wego Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge— Starting April 1st, 2012, health activist writers who take the challenge will have 30 days to complete 30 prompts! Interested in taking the challenge? Click to know more. If you’re signed up and ready to go, don’t forget to share your posts on the WEGO health facebook page and tag your posts on twitter with #HAWMC
Lupus...
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The Human Pin Cushion: Tips for Making Self...
No one likes having to do weekly (or daily) injections. Some hurt, some sting, some smell, some make us sick, and all make us uncomfortable to some degree, but I’ve picked up a handful of tips over the past eight months that I hope those of you just starting injection therapy might find useful.
Methotrexate/Subcutaneous Injections:
Do you struggle using your...
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Anonymous asked: Hello, not really a question but a comment. You will likely think me crazy but I thought I would share anyway. I believe that there is a spiritual component to most if not all disease. That said I believe that there is a strong connection between Arthritis and Bitterness/Unforgiveness specifically. I have watched a person release some of these things and they did gain some relief from doing so. If...
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Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge 2012
For those of you that don’t know, I also blog (the same content) at Wego Health. I’ve decided to take their latest challenge: a post for every day in April based on a specific prompt.
I’ll still be posting my regular content, of course. If you haven’t already, consider taking the Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge! Click on the photo for more information!
Stumbles
I fell while mopping the kitchen floor last night. I fell hard, without using my hands to take the fall, directly on my knee and then fell back onto my left side/hip. And now I feel like I’ve been attacked by a steam roller. Ever have days like this?
My knee is huge.
Today is a bed bound day, and I’m not fighting it for even a second
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Low-Calorie Diet May Be Harmful for Bowel Disease... →
March 20, 2012:
Unexpectedly, study results suggest increased body fat induced by a high-fat diet did not influence the severity of colitis, despite changes in hormones that are known to increase with obesity and influence inflammation. In fact, researchers found calorie-restricted mice had a higher mortality rate…
For the few of you (Hannah) that this will be of interest to: click the...
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Cracks in the Confidence
I saw my rheumatologist on the 5th. It was a long appointment (that I wrote about here)— we spent just over an hour discussing just about every aspect of my chronic illness and state of being. If you have been following this blog for a while now, you may be aware that I have been in a downward shift since my surgery in September, and even more so since I moved seven hours north and went back...
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News Rheum
It’s been a busy month for all things rheumatic/autoimmune diseases.
For those that haven’t heard, March is Autoimmune Diseases Awareness Month, started by the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Foundation. Click on the link to find an Autoimmune Disease Awareness walk near you or get involved.
With the spotlight on autoimmunity this month, celebrity Nick Cannon has generated some...
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Weekly Link Roundup 03/18/2012
A Feminist Perspective on Rheumatoid Arthritis— It’s a known fact that autoimmune diseases such as RA, Lupus, and Fibromyalgia tend to strike women much more frequently than men, but why haven’t we figured out the specific reason for this? Would this disease be closer to the forefront of more research if it impacted the same amount of men as it does women? How does the...
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accomplishments of a chronically ill college...
Made it two months and sixteen days into the semester before getting sick, while being immunocompromised to begin with while on immunosuppressant drugs.
I’d call that a win.
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REPOST:
Since I’ve received some not-so-nice/appropriate emails this week:
There was a postage screw up on ALL of the bracelet orders and they were returned to sender (me) last week after having been sent out sitting who knows where for weeks at a time. I will not be using the same post office since they gave me the wrong postage amount (utter ridiculousness) and ALL bracelet orders will be,...
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Know of a blog that you think should be a CC'S...
Send me an email, facebook post, tweet or message with the link. Remember that tumblr messages with links have to be modified! Thanks to those of you who have already sent in blogs!
And welcome to another 1100 followers! Feel free to message/email/facebook me and let me know a little bit about yourself and why you decided to follow Chronic Curve! Like the facbeook page for additional posts/info,...
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“I was laying in bed one night and I thought ‘I’ll just quit— to hell with it.’...”
– Charles Bukowski
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Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients 'at higher risk of... →
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Being Chronically Ill and Believing in the Bucket...
I had one of those rare go go go all day long amazing days a few weekends ago. It was the kind of day I hadn’t seen since high school. Though having a good day generally requires me to be hopped up on pain medication to accomplish anything outside of my bed, I spent four hours shopping (WITHOUT A WHEELCHAIR), went for lunch on campus, and spent a few hours photographing an old historic...
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Small (but fixable) Bracelet Mixup...Again
For whatever reason, a post office worker gave me stamps that did not equal the correct amount of postage needed to send all of your bracelet packages despite me bringing them to the office and asking for correct stamps! The packages were returned to my complex so I do have them in my hands and once again, they will be sent by Wednesday of next week, period. And I will be using a different post...
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Weekly Link Roundup 03/09/2012
Sleep Quality Affects Disability in Rheumatoid Arthritis— a great post from RA Warrior about how symptoms of RA/D affect one’s sleeping habits and the studies that have found this to be true. A must-read.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Breakthrough Press Association— the latest breakthrough in RA research! A new drug that stops destructive cells from migrating to the joints by...
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Fighting the Fog From Pain With Narcotic...
I went out last night. I went out like a normal person at a late hour and hung out at a bar with friends. I laughed and enjoyed myself and met some interesting new people. And by 4 in the morning, I was regretting the entire night. The regret has carried over into today, and with the added pain from rain I ended up having a moment. Who am I kidding? I was having a full fledged pity party for about...
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UK researchers find potential new target for... →
A new treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis/Autoimmune Disease might just be right around the corner. This new drug works differently that Anti-TNF and other biologic medication— it is able to halt destructive white blood cells from migrating to inflamed tissues/joints and thus prevents further damage altogether.
How is this different from the biologic medications out there already? Those...
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15 Tips for Seeing a New Rheumatologist- Your...
I have written before about finding a new rheumatologist, but what about your first visit to your new rheumatologist? Here are 15 tips for when you’re done doctor shopping and ready to try them on:
Keep in mind that every doctor works differently and each person presents their disease differently.
Arrive early and assess the waiting room. If you have a hard time sitting up for the...
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Personal Health Update: Question Marks
Rheumatologist update, adderall, more questions, more doctors, no concrete answers, and new medications
And a question for my followers at the end, so please check it out and leave your feedback!
Saw my rheumatologist here at home on Monday. Dr. S and I discussed the findings from my visit at the Mayo Clinic. Obviously this is something autoimmune and it is important that it’s treated...
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All bracelets ordered after February 19th will be...
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Weekly Link Roundup 03/02/2012
How Rheumatoid Arthritis Affects the Lungs— a comprehensive look at the way RA/D can cause pleurisy, nodules, pulmonary fibrosis, and interstitial lung disease. Great article and the quote physician notes the discrepancy between the disease’s name and the actual disease course!
Lupus & Rheumatoid Arthritis Affect Birth Rates— A new study finds that women with autoimmune...
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The Spark
Do you remember this anonymous ask I received after my Love Yourself More Chronic Illness Challenge? A beautiful follower read the challenge post just after getting out of the ICU for a suicide attempt and let me know that the post inspired her to change her life.
It was one of the most incredible messages I have ever received and I am truly without words to appropriately describe how happy I am...
