From This Point Forward.
490 FOLLOWERS
Blog has been a very honest record of how Mariah have adjusted to life with RA by always trying to look forward.
From This Point Forward.
1y ago
Communication is key in relationships - especially when one partner is living with a chronic illness. In this article I explain how my husband and I used "The 5 Love Languages" quiz to better understand each other and improve our communication as a couple. The 5 Love Languages – A Tool For Improving Communication in Relationships
?Need even more info on this subject? Check out the "Relationships & Intimacy" section, under the heading "Living" on mamasfacingforward.com ..read more
From This Point Forward.
1y ago
?Have any questions about lupus and pregnancy? ?Below you'll find our top 10 doctor-reviewed tips for lupus pregnancy planning and success!Top 10 Tips for Lupus Pregnancy Planning and Success
  ..read more
From This Point Forward.
1y ago
We all know that running a household and parenting kids requires endless emotional, mental, and physical effort! Unfortunately, without an explicit negotiation of how the workload should be split, research shows that women still do the bulk of childcare and domestic work, even in two-earner families in which both parents work full-time! ?? ? ?
For moms in this community, of course, there's the added burden of living with a chronic illness. Taking care of your own health may require dozens of appointments, trips to the pharmacy, long phone calls arguing with your insurance company or copay assi ..read more
From This Point Forward.
1y ago
Moms don’t get to be sick. ? And yet, we’re only human, no matter how much we’re trying to be superwoman! Here are 30 activities to get you and your toddler through a sick day or flare while being a chronically awesome parent:30 Ways to Entertain an Active Toddler When You’re (Chronically) Ill
  ..read more
From This Point Forward.
1y ago
Perhaps one of the most challenging aspects of motherhood with chronic illness is helping your children understand what is going on with your body and encouraging acceptance about how your illness may impact them. How can you help them develop empathy about what you're experiencing, especially if your illness is invisible? Where's the line between being honest and making them worry? What's the best way to address their concerns in kid-friendly language? This is a topic that will likely need to be an ongoing discussion in your family - and sometimes reading a book together can help!
Here is a ..read more
From This Point Forward.
3y ago
When I first started thinking about getting pregnant after being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, I desperately wanted to hear from other women who had succeeded in this goal. At the time, there wasn’t much social media, but I did find a great book called Arthritis, Pregnancy and the Path to Parenthood. It contained quotes and advice from real women, and I found it invaluable.
But I also found a problem: the book started off talking about the possibility of having to change some of your medications before getting pregnant and then jumped straight to talking about being pregnant. But wait ..read more
From This Point Forward.
3y ago
Your immune system is supposed to protect your body, but if you have rheumatoid arthritis (RA), it mistakenly attacks healthy joints, tissues, and organs—including the eyes and lungs. As a result, the chronic autoimmune disorder causes pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of function in the joints. It can also cause other symptoms including fatigue, appetite loss, and dry eyes.
RA affects 1.5 million Americans, and there is no cure. But it can be managed with medications and lifestyle modifications.
Women’s Health
Women’s Health magazine featured four women – including Mamas Facing F ..read more
From This Point Forward.
3y ago
A little late sharing this, but I was recently interviewed by Shaun Boyd on CBS4 News (via Zoom!) about the new prescription drug affordability board bill being considered in the Colorado state legislature.
You can view the news clip here ..read more
From This Point Forward.
4y ago
Perhaps one of the most challenging aspects of motherhood with chronic illness is helping your children understand what is going on with your body and encouraging acceptance about how your illness may impact them. How can you help them develop empathy about what you're experiencing, especially if your illness is invisible? Where's the line between being honest and making them worry? What's the best way to address their concerns in kid-friendly language? This is a topic that will likely need to be an ongoing discussion in your family - and sometimes reading a book together can help!
Click be ..read more
From This Point Forward.
4y ago
In some strange ways, I think RA helped prepare me for motherhood. Being diagnosed with RA taught me the importance of realistically allocating my time and energy – giving myself credit for what I can accomplish and letting go of guilt for unfinished tasks.
Mariah Leach
RheumatoidArthritis.net interviewed me about living with rheumatoid arthritis for over a decade and my experiences with motherhood.
My Life With RA: Mariah Zebrowski Leach RheumatoidArthritis.net ..read more