Dr. Wada and Cheryl delve into the connection between Sjogren’s and Rheumatoid Arthritis, discover what’s in Dr. Wada’s disease management toolkit, and share insights into living a full, vibrant life with chronic illness. Dr. Wada and Cheryl also share insights into how mental health can be affected by chronic illness, and reflect on how the “overachiever” lifestyle is not always helpful. They encourage listeners to focus on making decisions that align with their values and target living well with chronic conditions rather than focusing on total symptom elimination. They encourage listeners to ..read more

Episode summary In this episode, occupational therapists Cheryl Crow & Hoang Tran go in depth on how and why the human hand is so complex, and how people with inflammatory arthritis can take good care of their hands to relieve hand pain and improve function. This episode includes an in depth exploration of what it’s like to see a hand therapist, why hand therapy helps people with arthritis, what people with rheumatic diseases need to know about hand anatomy, and how to advocate for yourself to get an interdisciplinary team supporting you (in addition to your rheumatologist).  They als ..read more

Clare and Cheryl share tips for how to cope with periods of no diagnosis or changing diagnosis. Clare also provides insights from her unique perspective as someone diagnosed with autism as an adult, soon after her myofascial pain syndrome diagnosis. Cheryl and Clare discuss the importance of perseverance in seeking help, building a personalized treatment plan, and ways to find joy in the midst of chronic illness while accepting that it’s okay to feel sad or angry too.   The episode concludes with a discussion about how pain, brain fog, anxiety, and burnout are hard, but support is out the ..read more

In this episode, Marisa shares what it was like to be diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis around her thirtieth birthday after thinking her wrist pain was only carpel tunnel syndrome. She opens up about her mixed emotions after her diagnosis and shares what helps her cope and thrive, including burlesque dancing, group fitness, the Rheum to THRIVE support group program and more. The episode concludes with a discussion about how Cheryl and Marisa learned to be kind to themselves. Episode at a glance: Diagnosis journey - thought it was carpel tunnel in both hands, turned out to be RA, diagnosed a ..read more

Trigger warning: This episode includes a discussion of near-death experiences, medical trauma and decisions about quality of life versus prolonging of life.  If you are having a mental health crisis or are struggling with suicidal thoughts, in the US you may call “988” for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline which is staffed 24 hours a day. In this episode, Hay shares her tumultuous experiences with autoimmune vasculitis. She and Cheryl urge fellow chronic illness warriors to resist trying to fit their experience into a tidy narrative and instead ride the waves of uncertainty.  While ext ..read more

After being a fierce athlete and playing Division 1 water polo, Emily was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at age 22.  She shares lessons learned while working as a night shift nurse for 12 years and having three children.   Emily & Cheryl discuss ways to cope with the ups and downs of chronic illness, especially during times of uncertainty or when it seems the disease is posing “moving targets.”  Emily shares what helps her thrive despite obstacles, including: having a supportive community, learning tips & tricks, and using products for accessibility.  Epis ..read more

Episode at a Glance: Dianne’s Diagnosis story and subsequent emotional roller coaster Dianna’s Treatment Journey: Dianna went from resistant to medicines to trying a biologic and feeling a large improvement in symptoms The Importance of Support - Dianna shares how the Rheum to THRIVE group support & education program was a “lifeline” and helped her get out of a cycle of self-blame. She highlights the ways she learned how to explain her condition to others and process some of the social effects and pressures (such as not drinking wine) Anxiety and Uncertainty: Cheryl & Dianna discuss h ..read more

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 glance Nitika’s emotional journey with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in childhood How acceptan ..read more

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 glance Nitika’s emotional journey with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in childhood How acceptan ..read more

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 ..read more