Health Expert V shares health management news and commentary 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/499724/index http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/499724/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/499724/index http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/499724/160892/interview-ra Thu, 16 May 2013 10:46:00 -0400 V   In honor of Arthritis Awareness Month, I would like to introduce you to Mischelle Jackson. Mischelle is living with RA, Diabetes, Ankylosising Spondylarthropathy, Psoriatic Arthritis and Sjogren's Syndrome. Mischelle is an RN. She has taught me a lot of things over the course of our friendship. Some of those things came from her medical background. Others came from her experience living with AI diseases.   Q How were you diagnosed... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/499724/160892/interview-ra http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/499724/160456/ra-therapeutic Mon, 22 Apr 2013 09:38:00 -0400 V National Poetry Month was established in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets to increase appreciation of poetry in the United States. This celebration of poetry is observed every April in the US and in Canada.   I have always enjoyed reading poetry. I also know how therapeutic it can be for a person to put their feelings into words. Sometimes, just putting your thoughts down on paper, can help you sort things out in your mind and focus on... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/499724/160456/ra-therapeutic http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/499724/160198/reassessment Wed, 10 Apr 2013 00:41:00 -0400 V Spring is finally here. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and flowers are popping their little heads out of the ground. The earth is awake! I am awake!   I love Spring. Why? Because it is a time of renewal, a time of new life, a time to reassess and make changes if need be. Sometimes those changes involve health care decisions.   I have a wonderful rheumatologist and a wonderful orthopedic doctor. What I am missing is a good... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/499724/160198/reassessment http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/499724/159969/ra-prednisone Wed, 27 Mar 2013 10:51:00 -0400 V The use of prednisone is a topic that is highly charged in some circles. My point of view is that we all need to weigh the pros and cons of using steroids in light of our own individual circumstances.   Prednisone was the first medication that gave me relief from the unrelenting pain that was making my life a nightmare. It was prescribed by my orthopedic doctor while I was waiting to get in to see a rheumatologist. That was in March of... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/499724/159969/ra-prednisone http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/499724/159468/cardiovascular Fri, 01 Mar 2013 12:26:00 -0500 V If you have RA, you need to take steps to protect your heart. The traditional risk factors involved in heart disease include high blood pressure, diabetes, elevated cholesterol, a high BMI and smoking. In addition to these risk factors, RA patients are living with systemic inflammation. Mayo Clinic researchers believe that this inflammation may contribute to the increased risk of heart attack they see in RA patients.   Lene Andersen... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/499724/159468/cardiovascular http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/499724/159057/ra Wed, 13 Feb 2013 10:46:00 -0500 V It is so easy to get in the habit of being alone. Sometimes being alone is fine. There is a difference in being alone, and being lonely.   Isolation is a big issue for those who suffer from a chronic, painful illness. We have a difficult time making plans because we never know how we are going to feel any given part of any given day.   I have read heart breaking accounts from people suffering with moderate to severe RA who have become... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/499724/159057/ra http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/499724/158400/ra Thu, 10 Jan 2013 20:14:00 -0500 V How about making New Year's Resolutions that really matter this year? Let's set some healthy, realistic goals, and not neglect our mental health in the process.   Losing weight is a popular resolution, and an especially tough one for those of us on RA medications. I have gained 20 pounds since starting Prednisone, and I cannot seem to get rid of the extra weight. Actually, I should call it extra, extra weight. I had extra weight before... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/499724/158400/ra http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/499724/157858/ra Wed, 12 Dec 2012 10:07:00 -0500 V   Every year I see stories in the newspaper and magazines about the stress of the holidays. It seems that many people have a hard time emotionally and physically this time of year.   Add RA to the mix, and many of us have a tough time trying to enjoy the traditions of our culture and families. I am a great believer in plans. If I have a “plan”, I feel as though I have just a bit of control, and that makes me feel much... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/499724/157858/ra http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/499724/157289/ra Tue, 27 Nov 2012 10:19:00 -0500 V In my previous life, before RA, I was a very busy person. I was involved in a lot of community activities. I had work friends, church friends, and online friends.   The first thing I learned after I was diagnosed with RA is this: True friends are hard to find. I also learned that we need to maintain friendships. We need a support system.   Mischelle, a close friend of mine, also has RA. Mischelle is an RN. She had to give up her career... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/499724/157289/ra http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/499724/156982/ra Tue, 06 Nov 2012 09:31:00 -0500 V We are exploring RA's effect on our friends and family this month. We all know how RA has changed our lives, but how has it affected the ones we love? I asked my husband if he would be willing to honestly answer some questions about how RA has affected him and our relationship. He consented. Below are the questions I asked, and the answers he provided. Lloyd is a man of few words, but the truth rings through in his responses.   How has your... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/499724/156982/ra