The Girl With Arthritis

  (This was posted Feb 16, 2024 - but I thought it was such a great topic that I wanted to repost it.) 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. Read the full article at psoriatic-arthritis.com

(This article was originally published April 14, 2020. I am reposting it to bring attention to an important topic.) I've certainly had plenty of low points while living with psoriatic arthritis. Of course, that includes severe flares that made walking, talking, and even lying down excruciating. And yes, the pain has played a big part throughout these times. But I would be kidding myself if I didn't call out other symptoms, like fatigue, that made these periods downright miserable. Why doesn't pain feel as bad as other symptoms? I don't want to downplay the extent of the pain. It can keep me up late at night or wake me in the small hours of the morning. Pain can make it impossible to feel comfortable in any position and drive me to the point of mental and emotional breakdowns. Read the full article at psoriatic-arthritis.com

While brushing my hair this morning, I discovered a single gray hair. This is delightful, especially since I'm still in my early twenties. I'm prone to growing a white strand of hair during particularly stressful periods, and I believe this was the third one I found this week. To say it's been a stressful few months would be an understatement. Attempting to buy a house in this market and planning a wedding that will occur during one of the busiest wedding seasons in decades has been quite daunting, on top of the usual day-to-day stress of working and living with psoriatic arthritis. Read the full article at Psoriatic-Arthritis.com

  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.

 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.

  "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

"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/

  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

  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

 It can be hard to be an introvert. There have been times when I come away from a social gathering completely drained. And when asked, sometimes everything in me wants to say 'no' to hanging out with others so I can enjoy spending time by myself. Having psoriatic arthritis seems to heighten my introverted nature. While there are times that I don't want to go out, there are many more times that I would like to, but I don't feel well enough. Read the full article at psoriatic-arthritis.com

  When I say that living with psoriatic disease gave me thick skin, I'm not referring to psoriasis. Instead, I'm focusing on how this condition forced me to get tougher out of necessity. Being diagnosed with PsA opened me to a new world of criticism and advice that I had to learn to cope with. People often feel the need to share their thoughts and opinions with you - even if they aren't very kind. Read the full article at psoriatic-arthritis.com

  When we think of active psoriatic arthritis, some of the first things that come to mind are painful joints and raging psoriasis. When it comes to tracking the condition, we may only think to note our pain levels and locations. While those things can be indicators of increased disease activity, they're not the only symptoms that can show how poorly or how well we're doing. Fatigue can also be a great indicator of how active (or inactive) your psoriatic arthritis is. This is something you should pay close attention to! Read the full article at psoriatic-arthritis.com