Arthritis Life

Episode at a glance:Marion’s Diagnosis StoryMarion’s Treatment Journey: changes in medications over 15 years,Working while Living with Rheumatoid Arthritis: from struggling in silence to disclosing and getting supportHow Marion went from feeling guilty and afraid she’d be seen as “lazy” to realizing her condition wasn’t her faultValues: How RA led Marion to “crystallize her values” and redefine what success means to her, and to become more assertiveThe role of online support communities in Marion’s coping and acceptanceRapid fire “lightning round” questionsMedical disclaimer:All content found on Arthritis Life public channels was created for generalized informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.Episode SponsorsRheum to THRIVE, a community support & education program Cheryl created to help people with rheumatic disease go from overwhelmed, confused and alone to confident, supported and connected. Join the waitlist for the next group!Rheumatoid Arthritis Roadmap, a self-paced online course Cheryl created that teaches you how to confidently manage your physical, social and emotional life with rheumatoid arthritis.Full Episode Show Notes Including TranscriptSee the show page on the Arthritis Life Website here.

Nitika and Cheryl discuss how acceptance is an ongoing journey when living with multiple chronic health conditions, and share insights into how they cope with uncertainty. Nitika shares how and why she founded the incredibly impactful Chronicon conference and online community which inspires and uplifts people living with chronic illness around the globe. Nitika and Cheryl also discuss what brings them joy and how they balance present moment acceptance with hope for the future. Episode at a glanceNitika’s emotional journey with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in childhoodHow acceptance of chronic illness is an ongoing journey: Nitika shares how a new diagnosis last year challenged her, but she eventually concluded that “acceptance and hope aren’t not mutually exclusive.” Cheryl & Nitika discuss how acceptance can sometimes bring up grief or other uncomfortable emotions.Uncertainty: Cheryl & Nitika explore how they have coped with uncertaintyListening to your body & nurturing yourself: Nitkka shares how she learned the importance of listening to her body and how she integrates nurturing self care into her daily routinesA discussion about how to accept the need for medications along with utilizing non-medicinal disease management toolsThe “a-ha” moment that inspired Nitika to start the event & community Chronicon !Community: Cheryl & Nitika discuss the importance of supportive and uplifting communities when you live with chronic illnessMedical disclaimer:All content found on Arthritis Life public channels was created for generalized informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.Episode SponsorsRheum to THRIVE, a community support & education program Cheryl created to help people with rheumatic disease go from overwhelmed, confused and alone to confident, supported and connected. Join the waitlist for the next group!Rheumatoid Arthritis Roadmap, a self-paced online course Cheryl created that teaches you how to confidently manage your physical, social and emotional life with rheumatoid arthritis.For Full Episode Show Notes + TranscriptGo to the episode show notes page at the Arthritis Life website.

In this episode, seasoned patient and registered nurse (RN) Jan Hempstead shares her best tips for managing stress and living a fulfilling life with multiple comorbidities. Jan lives with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Hypermobile type (EDS), hereditary alpha-tryptasemia (HAT), Dysautonomia, and more. This includes discussions about the importance of support (including Cheryl’s Rheum to THRIVE program) and mindfulness, meditation and Stoic Philosophy in Jan’s journey.Episode at a glance:Diagnosis story: Jan shares how her rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis was very difficult due to her comorbid conditions: EDS Ehler-s danlos syndrome, dysautonomia, and hereditary alpha-tryptasemia (HAT)Best tools in Jan’s toolbox for RA and EDSBiggest challenges with Managing multiple comorbiditiesWhat helps Jan cope with managing multiple conditionsImportance of community and support groupsRapid fire questions (lightning round)Medical disclaimer:All content found on Arthritis Life public channels was created for generalized informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.Episode SponsorsRheum to THRIVE, a community support & education program Cheryl created to help people with rheumatic disease go from overwhelmed, confused and alone to confident, supported and connected. Join the next group today!Full Episode DetailsSee full details including a transcript at www.MyArthritisLife.Net 

Episode at a Glance:Wendy’s diagnosis story of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis as a babyGrowing up in the 1970s and 1980s with JRA: Wendy shares her ups and downs, from acceptance in grade school to isolation in high school and young adulthood (when she first met someone with her same condition at age 26)Treatments: Reflections on how treatments have changed in the current era as compared to the 1980sCareer choices with JRA: Wendy’s shares how she managed a career as a computer programmer at Hewlett Packard after initially hoping to become an artist.Disability and  “medical retirement:” Wendy wants to keep working longer but her job is not conducive to her medical needs; she has a smooth process of going on social security disability but experiences a very tedious and dehumanizing experience while attempting to utilize her long term disability insurance benefits through her company.Importance of Art and Mandalas in Wendy’s coping:  “Art was the one place I could be free.” Wendy takes a healing art class with a focus on mandalas and shares how “it’s about getting quiet with yourself”Support groups: Wendy gets involved with the Arthritis foundation support groups and then is asked Kim Burda to help admin Co-Admin of the 26,000 person “Rheumatoid Disease (RD) - Laughing, Living, Loving, and Learning” for people with various forms of Rheumatoid Disease. SHe shares the ups and downs of being an admin.Wendy’s best advice newly diagnosed patients? Find a good rheum who will partner with you and share and answer questions. Don’t be afraid of the meds.Medical disclaimer:All content found on Arthritis Life public channels was created for generalized informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.Episode SponsorRheum to THRIVE,  a community support & education program Cheryl created to help people with rheumatic disease go from overwhelmed, confused and alone to confident, supported and connected.For full episode details including a transcriptGo to www.MyArthritisLife.Net

In this episode, Kate shares her journey getting diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis while working as a chef in London. She opens up about her post-diagnosis emotional roller coaster and shares how joining Cheryl’s Rheum to THRIVE online support and education program helped her feel more confident, empowered and supported. She also details other programs that helped her including a mindfulness course and CBT therapy.  The episode ends with Kate sharing what it means to her to live a “good life” with rheumatic disease.Medical disclaimer:All content found on Arthritis Life public channels was created for generalized informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.Episode SponsorsRheum to THRIVE, a community support & education program Cheryl created to help people with rheumatic disease go from overwhelmed, confused and alone to confident, supported and connected. Join the next group today! Rheumatoid Arthritis Roadmap, a self-paced online course Cheryl created that teaches you how to confidently manage your physical, social and emotional life with rheumatoid arthritis.Full episode details and transcriptPlease go to the show page on www.MyArthritisLife.Net for full episode details including a transcript.

Content Warning - This episode contains profanity and explicit sexual content Episode at a glance:Liv’s diagnosis story for juvenile idiopathic arthritis and uveitisHighlights and lowlights of growing up with juvenile idiopathic arthritisLiv’s Fitness and self-advocacy Journey: switching jobs to protect her energy and stress levels and finding her own personal training business MovetoLivWhen to push and when to rest?Mindfulness and being present even in pain discussionBusting the biggest myths about arthritis-friendly / flare friendly workoutsWhy is intimacy is so important for spoonies  - learning to connect with our bodies, trust them, and communicate with partners. Live shares how sexual intimacy, kink, and BDSM found a place in her chronic pain management.Liv’s best Advice for the Newly diagnosedMedical disclaimer:All content found on Arthritis Life public channels was created for generalized informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.Episode SponsorsRheum to THRIVE, a community support & education program Cheryl created to help people with rheumatic disease go from overwhelmed, confused and alone to confident, supported and connected. Join today! Rheumatoid Arthritis Roadmap, a self-paced online course Cheryl created that teaches you how to confidently manage your physical, social and emotional life with rheumatoid arthritis.Full episode details including transcript:Go to www.MyArthritisLife.Net for full details and a transcript.

Cheryl reflects on a blog post she wrote at age thirty called: “Ten Years with Rheumatoid Arthritis: What’s the Impact?” This includes a deep dive into the physical effects of rheumatoid arthritis, effects on my daily routines, as well as finances, social and emotional life, school, career, hobbies, travel and overall life philosophy.  Cheryl shares how pregnancy and parenting changed her disease progression, and details how she coped with additional health issues and injuries in her thirties along with adjusting to her new role as a mother. For full show notes plus a transcript, go to the episode page on the Arthritis Life Website. Medical disclaimer:All content found on Arthritis Life public channels was created for generalized informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.Episode SponsorsRheum to THRIVE, an online course and support program Cheryl created to help people with rheumatic disease go from overwhelmed, confused and alone to confident, supported and connected. See all the details and join the program or waitlist now! Full Show Notes, Links & TranscriptFor full show notes plus a transcript, go to the episode page on the Arthritis Life Website. 

Ali and Cheryl discuss how overwhelming medication changes can be, and Ali describes what it was like to switch doses of methotrexate, switch to a new biologic medication and add prednisone and NDSAIDs in the mix. Ali & Cheryl also discuss what it’s like to have costochondritis and how they cope with unresolved health issues while still trying to live a full, joyful life. This episode also includes reflections about how to cope with social media jealousy within the chronic illness community, how to set boundaries with friends and loved ones during Covid times, and more.  This interview was conducted in February 2022.Episode at a glance:Flare up leads to medication changes: Ali shares what it was like to switch biologics, take a course of prednisone and add in NSAID (Non steroidal anti inflammatory medications) and alter her methotrexate dosageHeartbreak: when Ali discovered she wasn’t in medicated remission, she feels heartbrokenEmergency Room Visit: Ali goes to the emergency room with severe pelvic pain, doesn’t get any clear answers, follows up with both Gynecology and GI doctorsCostochondritis and “hypochondriac” accusations: Cheryl & Ali discuss their experiences with costochondritis and how they were both accused of being hypochondriacs before their accurate diagnosis of costochondritisCoping: we discuss how we cope with the ups and downs of chronic illness lifeCovid and social life: discussion about how to set boundaries socially around covid precautionsSocial Media and Jealousy: reflections about how to cope when others seem to be doing better than youEveryone is different: there’s no badge for managing RA a certain wayAli’s advice to people just starting out on Methotrexate, or who are hesitant about itMedical disclaimer:All content found on Arthritis Life public channels was created for generalized informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.Episode SponsorsRheum to THRIVE, an online course and support program Cheryl created to help people with rheumatic disease go from overwhelmed, confused and alone to confident, supported and connected. See all the details and join the program or waitlist now! Episode SponsorsFor full episode details including a transcript, please go to the Arthritis Life Website at www.MyArthritisLife.Net

Stefanie was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis after the birth of her first child. In this episode, she shares how her weight gain and difficulty performing daily tasks led to a negative body image. Cheryl and Stefanie discuss ways to overcome ableism and shame, and gain a sense of body positivity or at least a “body neutral” stance. They also discuss the importance of self compassion and challenging societal norms. For full episode details including a transcript, go to the show page. Episode at a glance:Overview: how does chronic illness affect body image?Stefanie’s personal journey: postpartum diagnosis of RA, coping with weight gain and difficulty performing basic daily activitiesWhat is “normal?” Stefanie and Cheryl discuss how it’s hard to know what’s normal or expected as a first time parent, especially when you receive an autoimmune diagnosisOvercoming ableism and shame: how Stefanie and Cheryl have learned to grow in confidence and embrace their perfectly imperfect bodiesIt’s ok to feel “body neutral:” sometimes being neutral is a middle ground step between body shame and body confidenceSelf-Compassion: Cheryl shares why self compassion is so critical for people with chronic illnessStefanie’s best advice for newly diagnosed people who might be struggling with body imageMedical disclaimer:All content found on Arthritis Life public channels was created for generalized informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.Episode SponsorsRheum to THRIVE, a community support & education program Cheryl created to help people with rheumatic disease go from overwhelmed, confused and alone to confident, supported and connected. Join the waitlist for the next group, which starts in October 2022!Rheumatoid Arthritis Roadmap, a self-paced online course Cheryl created that teaches you how to confidently manage your physical, social and emotional life with rheumatoid arthritis.For Full Episode links Plus Transcript:For full episode details including a transcript, go to the show page on the Arthritis Life Website. 

In this episode, parents Leeza Broome and Courtney Bruce share why arthritis-specific summer camps have been such a lifeline to their families over the years. As volunteers, they helped start the very first Pacific Northwest family camp for kids with arthritis, “KAT-Fish Camp,” which has historically been put on by the Arthritis Foundation. Cheryl also shares her experiences volunteering at the camp. All three speakers share their favorite camp memories from the last two decades and explore the importance of community and belonging in chronic illness communities.Episode at a glance:Diagnosis story: Courtney shares her daughter’s diagnosis story at 18 months, which started with a swollen knee and a misdiagnosis.Diagnosis story: Leeza shares her son’s diagnosis story, which started with difficulty getting out of the toddler bed and swollen fingers.Why is it important to have family camps for kids with juvenile idiopathic arthritis? Leeza and Courtney share what they’ve learned in the parent education sessions, from advocacy to emotional tips for coping with injecting a child who’s afraid of needles. Cheryl, Leeza and Courtney explore the emotions that parents, children with JIA and siblings experience at these camps including: relief, shared anger at similar negative experiences people have gone through, envy, hope and more.Favorite camp memories: all three speakers share their favorite memories, from S’Mores and campfire songs to talent shows.Where can you sign up to volunteer at a camp or attend one? Links below!Medical disclaimer:All content found on Arthritis Life public channels was created for generalized informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.Episode SponsorsRheum to THRIVE, a community support & education program Cheryl created to help people with rheumatic disease go from overwhelmed, confused and alone to confident, supported and connected. Join the waitlist for the next group, which starts in September 2022!Rheumatoid Arthritis Roadmap, a self-paced online course Cheryl created that teaches you how to confidently manage your physical, social and emotional life with rheumatoid arthritis.Full Episode Details, Links plus Transcript:Go to the show page on the Arthritis Life website.