Information and opinions on health from Laurie at HealthCentral.com. HealthCentral.com is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/281356/index http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/281356/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/281356/index http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/281356/155277/fr Tue, 14 Aug 2012 05:41:34 -0400 Laurie Hi RA Family   Two really great things happened to me last week - one is with my RA.  I've been diagnosed only 2.5 years and sometimes I'm still very angry.  At least I don't have to go to work anymore, and my kids have their own kids and homes, so I really feel for all you young moms and working moms living with RA.   I saw my rheumie last week and she said my remission is strong enough I can cut back to seeing her 3... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/281356/155277/fr http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/281356/154298/ad Wed, 04 Jul 2012 11:54:48 -0400 Laurie G'morning RA Family   I look forward every year to a special party out in the country on 4th July - a place where I'm completely accepted for who I am no questions asked - an event where I see some people only there - something I really look forward to.  It's like being accepted by "hill people", being considered part of the family.  And it will happen today.   BUT - RA ruins things again.  I realized Monday I'm... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/281356/154298/ad http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/281356/153777/ac Tue, 12 Jun 2012 23:48:07 -0400 Laurie Hi Folks   This past Monday a new friend that is also a "mother earth" sort of person like me asked if I could show her some of the hiking paths & camp grounds that are/were favorite sites for me to hang out.  We spent all day, drove about 60 miles south of home along the coast and I showed her formal gardens, cliffs to hike on, sea lion communities, camp grounds, lakes, lakes, and more....  She was very understanding that... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/281356/153777/ac http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/281356/147323/th Thu, 24 Nov 2011 07:20:48 -0500 Laurie This family on this site have become most important to me - and I'd like to wish all of you, even the Canadians, a Happy Happy Thanksgiving.   I'm not cooking the big meal this year, and recieved no invitations.  The complex I live in is putting on a nice spread and I'll bake a lemon cake for that.  What I have found though, and it's a surprise to me, is in the days leading up to the holiday I've been more exhausted and... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/281356/147323/th http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/281356/146185/wo Sun, 30 Oct 2011 03:34:05 -0400 Laurie Hi RA Family   I have to share this, it's so important to me.  I was diagnosed with RA in Dec 2009 and a few of the other autoimmune ugliness and was told by both my rheumatologist and my primary doctor the week following Christmas 2010 that I'd never be well enough or strong enough to return to my way of life, my true love for kayaking and hiking.... so I sold ALL of my gear and boat to a friend here in town.   It really... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/281356/146185/wo http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/281356/143940/bad Sat, 10 Sep 2011 17:52:23 -0400 Laurie Hi Family & Friends   I learned this week what happens when I have RA+ and get very bad news.  My baby brother (57?) is in the ICU in another state for blood clots between his lungs and heart.  He's the robust push-the-world sibling, nothing can touch him! and now the world has pushed back.  He's rather, my rock.  When he phoned me last evening from the hospital we carried a near normal conversation, but within an... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/281356/143940/bad http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/281356/141247/hu Sat, 09 Jul 2011 04:56:08 -0400 Laurie G'evening All   I'm new to Humira, will take my 3rd dose on Sunday.  The side effects are so minimal - hheeeeaaaaahhhhh!!!!! - I'm fatigued more easily, and often fall asleep everytime I sit down; I'm not much interested in food which is good cause I gained 40 lbs with the prednisone; I don't sleep well at night; and I'm far more interested in life and doing things again for the first time since I was diagnosed!!!  I go to the... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/281356/141247/hu http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/281356/141246/ra Sat, 09 Jul 2011 04:47:23 -0400 Laurie G'evening All   Lene suggested I write a share post about a tv show I saw and was most impressed by.  I emailed the network and have been waiting for their 'promised reply' but it's never come thru, so I'll just write about what I saw.  It was an episode of House Hunters and the couple was in their mid-20s to early 30s and had 1 small child.  The whole point behind them searching for a different ONE story home was because... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/281356/141246/ra http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/281356/135929/de Tue, 05 Apr 2011 04:40:40 -0400 Laurie Hi RA Family,   Every time I go to either my primary doc or rheumie, they give out more and more perscriptions trying to counter act the side affects of the last bunch without removing any of the other ones - so in the long run no one knows what is causing such painful, embarrassing, mortifying side affects like explosive diarrhea (in stores, cars, at home, in meetings, etc).  By the middle of last month, my rheumie decided we're... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/281356/135929/de http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/281356/135928/de Tue, 05 Apr 2011 04:39:47 -0400 Laurie Hi RA Family,   Every time I go to either my primary doc or rheumie, they give out more and more perscriptions trying to counter act the side affects of the last bunch without removing any of the other ones - so in the long run no one knows what is causing such painful, embarrassing, mortifying side affects like explosive diarrhea (in stores, cars, at home, in meetings, etc).  By the middle of last month, my rheumie decided we're... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/281356/135928/de