All posts tagged: RA attitude

Nurse Mary’s Guide to RA coming in November

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I have been working on this book for several years. It will be published in November in digital format as well as hard copy. The following is in the book. We should all be saints. Saints generally had tough lives so that is not what we want. We need to drop the fear, anger and hopeless feelings. Many of us have RA. We eventually toughen up and make our lives good ones, even with wheelchairs, canes and jar openers. We are not helpless. Sometimes it takes a while to understand this, but it will happen. Listen to the stories of others. I have read many. I am proud to be in their company as they are good role models for those of us who struggle with RA. This is the important part of the manual. It is your attitude, your commitment and your perseverance that will make all the difference in the world what your outcome, your quality of life will be. This is not easy. In fact, it may feel like just too much. …

Better living with RA: Part One

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  Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is considered a chronic disease. A characteristic of chronic disease is its disabling features. Walking may become more difficult. Activities like dressing, preparing meals, performing personal hygiene and completing household chores become harder and harder. Life becomes increasingly challenging until a person hits a crossroad where they make changes in his or her life or gradually slips down the slippery slope into a dependence that requires custodial care and no turning back.  RA is known for making life challenging in many ways. Like cancer, diabetes or all the other autoimmune diseases, being able to live with RA starts by making changes to our lifestyle. Pain management is a big concern for those with RA. There is no going around the fact that pain is a common feature of every day RA life. There has been much written on managing pain. Managing pain is possible with the help of professionals skilled in pain management. The topic requires its own space although these suggestions will help lease the burden of that pain. For …

Look Good Feel Better

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There is one good thing about chemotherapy. It is the Look Good Feel Better program. Fun. A time to share. Like Christmas. It is a two-hour appointment with a cosmetologist in a small group of women who have cancer. I had participated in a program five years ago when I was in radiation treatment for breast cancer. That appointment was at MD Anderson on Indian School near Kaseman. This session was at the Rust Cancer Center and was equally as good as the one five years ago. We are each given a cosmetic bag full of cosmetics that matches our skin tones. The bags come sealed and ready for us. At our places we each have a mirror and cosmetic wipes. Opening the bag is like Christmas. My bag had Chanel powder, lipstick and blush. Clinique foundation, Estee Lauder face cream and eye makeup, IT brow powder and a set of brushes, body lotion and sun screen. Pure joy. Our instructor walks us through the steps of taking care of our face during cancer treatment. …