The Girl With Arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis is a complex, whole-body disease. Yet somehow, something as simple as water has had a significant positive effect on my health. There’s nothing simple about treating psoriatic arthritis (PsA). I wish it were as easy as taking a few pills and moving on with my life. PsA is a whole-body disease and has touched every part of my life. So much goes into treating it: medication, diet, exercise, topicals, lifestyle adjustments and accommodations, and so much more. But there’s one simple thing that has helped me a lot through the years: water. Water has had a positive effect on my life and has become essential to my treatment plan.  Read the full article at Bezzy PsA.

 Heel pain from plantar fasciitis is common for people with PsA. Through years of off-and-on flares, I discovered a few methods to help prevent pain or take the edge off during the worst of it. Some mornings, I wake up feeling like I jumped up and down on concrete all night. My heels feel swollen and throb like crazy. It’s unbelievably painful and makes getting out of bed hard. When most people think of psoriatic arthritis (PsA), they think of swollen and painful body parts like hips, knees, and fingers. Why on earth would your heels hurt? Read the full article at Bezzy PsA.

  Since the time I was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis, I feel like I've tried every medication under the sun. For years, I felt like a lab rat going from one treatment to another every few months. It was emotionally taxing to try new medications without seeing progress. There were even times my insurance wouldn't cover a new treatment until I had tried certain medicines. But in my opinion, the worst part was dealing with side effects on top of my usual pain. It can be hard to deal with medications that don't agree with you. Sometimes, it feels like the side effects can become worse than the disease itself. It can be even more frustrating if your rheumatologist doesn't seem too sympathetic. Many times, it takes awhile to know if a medicine or treatment is working. It's an unfortunate waiting game. But in my experience, keeping track of my side effects helped my doctor and I decide whether or not I could continue a treatment. It also helped us figure out ways to t...

(Resharing this article from 2022- it's such an important topic!) People with psoriatic arthritis often face significant delays in diagnosis. Once you get that diagnosis from a rheumatologist, it's tempting to stay with them for the long haul. And sometimes, it's a great decision to stick around. But a bad or even "meh" patient-doctor relationship can hurt your care. As a patient, you deserve to feel respected, heard, and know you're in the best hands. But if you dread seeing your doctor and feel like you're no longer receiving the best care, it's okay to find a new physician. Read the full article on psoriatic-arthritis.com.

 When my jaw flared, I quickly became tired of soft food, sleeping in new positions, and feeling sore all over. It was hard to get through the day. A long time ago, the thought of my psoriatic arthritis (PsA) attacking my jaw was my worst nightmare. I have many family members who have struggled with jaw pain for one reason or another, and it scared me to death. Unfortunately, my jaw started to show evidence of active arthritis as a teenager. Read the full article at Bezzy PsA

 Do you ever feel like you live in a world not built for you? I do. Recently, I've felt this way about a hefty door on my commute. It takes a lot of force to open and immediately swings shut; I find it painful and tiring to handle. Others have complained and had a handyman look at it, but it's remained in this state for months... Click here to read the full article at Psoriatic-Arthritis.com.

 When you have PsA, it can take trial and error to make the office environment work for you. Here are my tips for staying comfortable and focused. I come from a family of tradespeople, nurses, and people in other professions that keep you on your feet. So, as you can imagine, I try to keep it to myself just how exhausted I am when I come home from my office job. Due to my juvenile-onset psoriatic arthritis (PsA), I initially picked an office-oriented career track. I also went to a vocational high school, where I tried hands-on careers and quickly found I had difficulty handling labor. Both of those factors sealed my fate. Read the full article at Bezzy PsA.

  "You're so young; it can't possibly be that bad." I can't tell you the number of times someone told me that after I disclosed my juvenile-onset psoriatic arthritis diagnosis. No matter how much I explain that my condition is caused by my immune system going haywire, people hear the word "arthritis" and associate its severity with age. Such comments are hurtful as well as problematic. Read the full article at psoriatic-arthritis.com

 Living with a hidden disability can be isolating and lonely. Here’s how I address the challenges while finding support and setting boundaries. Have you ever been in a room full of people yet felt alone? I have many times. I remember being at a birthday party during a horrible summer downpour. My psoriatic arthritis (PsA) was flaring at the time, but the humidity and low pressure system made things worse. I was trying to keep it together, but I knew I came off as rather anti-social. I felt separated from all the people in the room, my mind drifting from pain and only occasionally picking up on the conversation being had right in front of me. And the worst part? There wasn’t anyone there who I felt comfortable to ask for help. Read the full article at Bezzy PsA.

"Call if anything changes," my doctor will say at the end of my appointment. Hearing that is such a friendly reminder. Having a good relationship with your rheumatologist is vital for anyone with arthritis. It's so important to be able to reach out and get a response when you need help. But, when you live with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), that advice can be a little challenging... Click here to read the full article at Psoriatic-Arthritis.com.

Fatigue is a noteworthy symptom of PsA. With fatigue, most people immediately think of its physical effects, but it's just as important to mention the mental impact as well. Fatigue is a symptom that precedes and coincides with my flares. So not only does it hurt to get around, but I physically feel like I can't. Personally speaking, fatigue has had a profound effect on my life. In addition to my body being tired, so is my brain. My brain feels fried, and I drop the ball... a lot. When I wake up with some energy, I know the worst of it is over. Read the full article at psoriatic-arthritis.com/

Therapy is not only beneficial to my mental health, but it’s also helped boost my physical health.  Treating my psoriatic arthritis (PsA) hasn’t been a straightforward process. I wish it were as simple as seeing a rheumatologist, being prescribed medication, and being pain-free. Even though I’m on a medication that works for me, I still deal with chronic pain and fatigue. Taking care of my PsA has required a whole-body approach, balancing nourishment, exercise, rest, and mental wellness. I found therapy sessions have greatly helped me manage my PsA.  Read the full article at Bezzy PsA.

 Brain fog is common for people with autoimmune conditions. Here’s how it’s affected my life and the ways I manage it. I’ll always remember how badly one of my college projects turned out. I was in the midst of a horrible psoriatic arthritis (PsA) flare and felt out of it. My poster was fraught with spelling errors. While presenting, I couldn’t remember the words I needed and couldn’t quite get to the point I was making. Thank goodness it didn’t count for much toward my grade! My flare brought along a host of symptoms: pain, stiffness, and horrible fatigue. It was hard to concentrate on anything except the pain and how tired I felt. Even when I gave my best effort, my work wasn’t great, and I had trouble learning new concepts. Thanks to brain fog, this would be the first of many projects I would struggle through. Read the full article at Bezzy PsA.

The transition into adulthood can be challenging for most, but it’s even harder when coping with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). It’s not easy to balance new responsibilities with evolving symptoms. I was recently explaining to a loved one that I’m planning to use a wheelchair on my upcoming vacation. Even though I was able to handle all the walking on this trip when I was younger, now the rebound PsA flares I get from pushing myself hit a lot harder and stay longer. And I’d rather not return to work dealing with a post-trip flare. They nodded understandingly and said, “You’re not as young as you used to be, and you don’t bounce back as quickly.” I honestly never expected to hear someone say that to me, considering I’m only a 20-something-year-old. I’ve always heard things get harder when you get older, and they were right. My body doesn’t bounce back from flares the way it used to.  Read the full article at Bezzy PsA

Chronic illness can be complicated to navigate in relationships. Here’s how I ditch the guilt and approach physical affection. Less than a year ago, I married my now husband on a beautiful spring evening. Everyone said our love and happiness were contagious, and we’re still clearly crazy for each other. But it hasn’t all been honeymoon bliss — when my psoriatic arthritis (PsA) flares up, physical affection is often the last thing on my mind. And that can be hard for both of us.  Read the full article at Bezzy PsA.

 Ironically, for someone who shares my medical experiences online, I am a very private person in real life. There are some details about myself I'm quick to share, like being a crochet enthusiast! But there are several things I keep private, one of them being that I have psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Click here to read the full article at Psoriatic-Arthritis.com.

When family and friends don’t respond well to what you share about your health journey, it’s disappointing and hurtful. Here’s how I determine my inner circle and respect my own boundaries. A few months ago, I was caught off guard by someone asking how my psoriatic arthritis (PsA) was doing. They had heard my health wasn’t doing great and wanted to check in and offer a recipe for a home remedy. While I appreciated that they cared, I was also surprised they knew about my flare-up: I generally don’t discuss my health with family and friends. It sounds a little ironic, considering I write about my experiences living with PsA. But hear me out: It’s so much easier to share about my life with PsA with a community that “gets it” than to talk about my health with those who don’t understand. Even though family and friends are often the first place we turn to for support, this group isn’t always the most empathetic. For this reason, I’ve decided to keep my health details private, aside from a fe...

  Watching my mother break out with psoriasis was one of the hardest things I've ever done. It was so emotionally and physically painful for her. Just watching, I knew it was something I never wanted to go through. And, knock on wood, I haven't. Yet. It's been years since I was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis. However, I've never actually dealt with psoriasis. My family history, nail issues, and other symptoms fit the bill for psoriatic arthritis. I'm thankful for every year that goes by without psoriasis, but I know it could happen one day. And for years I've lived in fear of it. Read the full article at psoriatic-arthritis.com

 This month, I've been binge-watching Call The Midwife. I picked it up again after missing a few seasons and have thoroughly enjoyed it. Through the happy and sad tears, my favorite part is how much the sisters and nurses care for their patients. Sometimes, I wish I could be their patient! It's not the first time I've wished to have the medical teams I see on TV.  Click here to read the full article at Psoriatic-Arthritis.com.

(Resharing this from 2021)  When I first started this column, I had so many things I wanted to share with families coping with juvenile arthritis (JA). I’ve written about everything from making home injections less painful to ergonomic backpacks. As this will be my last column, I wanted to share the most important thing I’ve learned over the years. The most valuable piece of advice I can pass on has nothing to do with treatments, doctors, accommodations, or arthritis hacks. It’s that you need to hold on to hope and remember that a life with JA can still be a happy one. Even if the future looks a little different than you expected. Read the full article at juvenilearthritisnews.com

 I have been told I'm a patient person when it comes to dealing with other people. I especially received a lot of compliments on my patience when I was in college and worked as a tutor and as a teacher's assistant. I loved working with students, appreciating their effort and dedication to learning, even when it was hard or took awhile. Why, oh why, isn't it easy to be patient with myself? I can acknowledge that I have psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and should be patient with myself, especially during flares. But I also have a life and responsibilities to care for, and I can't just wait around for better days. Click here to read the full article at Psoriatic-Arthritis.com.

Please don't judge me based on my good days. Looks can be deceiving for someone with a chronic illness. What looks like a good day might actually be a good day. Or it might be a good few hours. Or it could be someone doing their best to function through the pain. You don't honestly know what someone is going through, especially when they have lived with the pain for a long time. You'd be surprised how much pain people can learn to smile through. Click here to read the full article at Psoriatic-Arthritis.com.

  I find myself struggling socially now than I did at any other age. There are times when being a working young adult with psoriatic arthritis can be totally isolating. Even though I've been chronically ill since childhood, I found it was so much easier to maintain relationships back in high school and college. I used to always be around friends, hanging out in class and our dorms. I also had a summer vacation to work part-time, relax on my days off, and hang out with friends in the evening. Read the full article at psoriatic-arthritis.com