Arthritis Life

As a child and teenager growing up with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, Jen Blair often felt lonely, isolated and "broken."  Fast forward to the present: Jen is a  mother of three, accepts her "new normal" and has come to see herself as strong rather than broken. This episode delves into Jen’s story and includes details about her different prescription treatments, how she came to embrace exercise and dietary contributions to her health, her pregnancy and parenting journey and her experiences both with working and being on disability.Episode at a glance:Jen’s diagnosis story of juvenile idiopathic arthritisJen’s treatment journey over the years: biologics, exercises, nutrition, serial casting (which is no longer done for JIA) and morePregnancy with JIA & RAWhat is it like being a mom of three children while living with JIA? Jen’s emotional journey: as a teenager and young adult, experiences loneliness, isolation, yearning for acceptance, and feelings of being “broken.”Jen’s experiences working in different environments and then going on disabilityJen’s advice for people newly diagnosed with inflammatory arthritisMedical 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 including Transcript:Go to www.MyArthritisLife.Net

Emily Johnson, the Arthritis Foodie, shares her journey from medical gaslighting to a diagnosis of seronegative arthritis during her university years. She and Cheryl discuss how they combine lifestyle changes with western medication to manage rheumatoid arthritis. Emily also explains how her experiences inspired her to write a book about lifestyle changes for rheumatoid arthritis, called “Beat Arthritis Naturally.” Cheryl and Emily discuss the wisdom of a “both/and” rather than an “either/or” approach to combining pharmaceutical with lifestyle approaches to disease and symptom management. They also share insights on how they cope with fluctuating symptoms and difficult times with self-kindness.Episode SponsorRheum 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! 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.Full Episode Show Notes & TranscriptPlease go to the show page on MyArthritisLife.Net for full episode show notes and a transcript.

Cheryl and Eileen’s personal stress management toolboxes include: formal  therapy, delegating tasks, prioritizing self care, snuggling with their pets, acceptance, mindfulness, addressing past traumas, advocacy and more.This conversation originally took place as an Instagram Live discussion in March 2022.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! For full episode details and transcriptGo to www.MyArthritisLife.Net

Camille and Gittel share how lost and overwhelmed they felt trying to manage rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis on their own. They describe how  Rheum to THRIVE helped them not only on a practical level but also emotionally, and share their best tips for managing flare-ups.This conversation originally took place as an Instagram Live discussion in September 2021.Episode at a glance:Camille’s journey getting diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (Camille is at https://www.instagram.com/camilledemere/  on Instagram)Gittel’s journey with ankylosing spondylitis: diagnosed in 2018 after a lifetime of chronic pain (Gittel is at https://www.instagram.com/gittel_gt/ on Instagram)How Gittel and Camille felt overwhelmed, confused and alone while trying to manage their conditions on their own. Gittel finds an online support group but it wasn’t a good fit for her.Gittel & Camille join Cheryl’s Rheum to THRIVE educational support group programCamille reflects on how the group has helped her process challenges around the pandemic and uncertaintyGittel shares her experience overcoming shame around using mobility aids and helps others confront internalized ableismCamille loses her health insurance and is forced to go to “Dr Google” for answers, which was terrifyingCamille joins Rheum to THRIVE and transforms to feeling confident and supportedGittel shares how terrified she was about using “Dr. Google” to learn about ankylosing spondylitis and how the organization of Rheum to THRIVE helped her feel less overwhelmedCheryl, Gittel and Camille share tips for flare ups: rest breaks, hot showers, breath work, alternative pain relief such as cannabis, mental work such as anchor breathing and mindfulness exercisesCheryl, Gittel & Camille share their Covid19 vaccine experiencesMedical 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 RoadmapA 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 TranscriptSee more details and a full transcript at www.MyArthritisLife.Net

Erin & Heather share their diagnosis journeys for rheumatoid arthritis, and how Cheryl’s “Rheum to THRIVE” program helped them become more empowered and supported. This conversation originally took place as an Instagram Live discussion in September 2021.Episode at a glance:Erin shares her diagnosis story: originally ankylosing spondylitis, then changed to rheumatoid arthritisHeather shares how she felt “desperate to find answers” after her rheumatoid arthritis worsenedErin and Heather share how they became more empowered through joining the Rheum to THRIVE programHeather shares how important it was for her to have access to a consistent set of resources and how she benefited from learning skills to “be the CEO of her care team!”Erin shares what it meant to her to have a supportive communityErin reflects on how she previously did not ask for work accommodations due to shame and guilt, before she became empowered and understood the power of counteracting your own internalized ableismHeather reflects on how she used to “fake it til you make it” or “power through,” then she gained the courage to talk to her boss about her needs for accommodations at workErin and Cheryl reflect on how their experiences with Facebook “support groups” is different than  Rheum to THRIVEAmy shares what she got out of Rheum to THRIVECheryl answers some FAQs about the programMedical 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. Registration is open now through March 31st, 2022 - it’s only open twice a year so join now if you’re interested!Full Episode Details + TranscriptGo to www.MyArthritisLife.Net for full details including a full transcript.

Episode at a glance:Catina’s Diagnosis journey/saga for endometriosis, RA, fibromyalgia: was initially told it was “growing pains,” not believed for yearsHow Catina managed to push through pain and work as a nurseCatina’s experiences as a black woman managing multiple chronic conditionsHow Catina’s experiences inspired her to form the Nurse Loves Essentials company, community and coaching servicesCatina’s mindset tips for coping with chronic pain and 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. Registration is open now through March 31st, 2022 - it’s only open twice a year so join now if you’re interested! 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 details including a transcript:Please go to Cheryl's website at www.MyArthritisLife.Net

Amy shares what she’s learned while managing a fast paced, mentally taxing career as a lawyer while living with rheumatoid arthritis. Amy & Cheryl share their experiences in peer support groups, and explore how they've both learned how to challenge their internalized ableism and overcome shame through connecting with others in Cheryl's Rheum to THRIVE support group. Episode at a glanceAmy’s diagnosis journey during the Covid19 pandemic- after severe fatigue, brain fog and pain, Amy gets preliminary diagnosed with RA by her primary care doctor but faces a long waiting time to see a Rheumatologist. She also experiences other challenges getting healthcare due to the Covid19 pandemic.Reflections on balancing a demanding career as a lawyer with RA, including a discussion about how and whether to disclose your disability in the workplaceThe importance of support: Amy discovers she doesn’t have to go through this alone after connecting with others on social media and joining Cheryl’s Rheum to THRIVE support groupShame, mobility aids and challenging internalized ableism: Amy shares how she’s gone from hiding her disability to having a pretty cane she can show off, but continues to face some challenges using mobility aids such as wheelchairs.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. The next group starts on April 2nd and registration closes on March 31st - sign up 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.For full Episode Details including a TranscriptGo to www.MyArthritisLife.Net

Erika Bustos and Rachel Albo share how their individual journeys with managing rheumatoid arthritis and holistic health coaching led them to connect on social media. They then transformed their virtual relationship to a “real life” friendship and business partnership in their podcast “Autoimmune & You."  Episode at a glance:Rachel and Erika’s diagnosis stories for rheumatoid arthritis in their 20sErika pivots from studying marriage and family therapy to becoming a holistic health coach after her diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, and Rachel pivots from traditional occupational therapy to health and wellness coaching as wellErika and Rachel both delve into holistic lifestyle changes that help them manage rheumatoid arthritis but also caution others not to fall into some of the common traps in holistic communities, for example “one size fits all” approachesHow Rachel and Erika found each other on social media and grew from acquaintances to true friends before ever even meeting in personHow Rachel & Erika combined their personal and professional passions (as autoimmune coaches) into their joint podcast, “Autoimmune & You”Rachel & Erika briefly discuss their experiences contacting Covid-19 and how that’s affected their rheumatoid arthritisRachel, Erika and Cheryl’s tips for navigating social media interactions and friendships - how to get what you need out of it without experiencing the downsides.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, 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 episode details and transcriptGo to the show page on the Arthritis Life website.

 Paulina, Ananthi and Jo update the audience about their methotrexate journeys for rheumatoid arthritis, including having to titrate the dosage up or down due to liver enzyme numbers, decisions about whether to add a biologic medication in addition to methotrexate, and reflections on the emotional ups and downs of living with a chronic, unpredictable illness during a pandemic.This episode is a follow up to episode 45 (which was originally recorded in July 2020), where eight patients shared their experiences taking methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis. Today’s episode was recorded in the fall of 2021.Episode at a glance:Paulina provides an update to her methotrexate journey and what has helped her cope with the ups and downs of rheumatoid arthritisAnanthi shares how she initially tolerated methotrexate but her liver enzymes went up so she had to fiddle around with the dosage a bit to get to a just right amountReflections on the need to stay on top of tracking our bloodwork and take charge of our careJo explains how she felt she wasn’t able to control her disease well with methotrexate alone but her doctor did not think she qualified yet for biologics, which was a very sad and frustrating experienceEveryone reflects on how the pandemic continues to affect their ability to make appointments and see their doctorsWe reflect on the limitations of standardized assessments for rheumatoid arthritisEveryone gives a piece of wisdom for listenersMedical 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 Episode DetailsFor full episode details including a complete transcript, please go to the show page on the Arthritis Life Website.

Dr. Victoria Sampson explains how oral health, the oral microbiome and rheumatoid arthritis inflammation are all interrelated. She provides ample details about why people with rheumatoid arthritis should take extra care with their oral health, and explains how altering the oral microbiome can potentially lead to improvements in RA disease activity. See full episode notes including a detailed transcript here.Episode at a glance:How rheumatoid arthritis can lead to gum damage and why flossing is so importantSpecific action steps people with RA can take to improve their dental health and oral microbiomeCheryl and Dr. Sampson’s tips and life hacks for flossing, brushing and other oral health care when you have hand painWhat it means to be a holistic dentist or integrative dentistWhat is the oral microbiome and why should people with rheumatoid arthritis care?A case study of a patient with severe RA who had dramatically positive response to changing her gut and oral microbiome, as well as overall RA disease activity, through diet and oral hygiene habits.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 SponsorsRheumatoid 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. Rheum 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. The next group starts in April 2022!For full episode details including speaker bios and a full transcript:Go this episode's page at the Arthritis Life website.