Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Guest Post: Healthline.com!

I am so honored to feature a guest post from one of the fabulous writers at Healthline. Healthline journalists have been featured on the Washington Times and Natural News websites, and I'm thrilled they've picked my little blog! Please welcome Valerie Johnston's factual take on living a symptom-free lifestyle. I still struggle every day with symptoms, so I know these suggestions are so relevant to my life right now.

Monday, October 1, 2012

Learning to be disabled: feeling like less of a person

I recently took a brief trip to California to visit some beloved friends. As you may or may not know, I've been struggling a great deal with pain 24/7, as my RA seems to have outpaced Humira's magic touch. I use my cane whenever I'm moving around, whether I'm just headed to the kitchen or I'm out and about (which happens less and less often as the pain keeps driving into my joints). It's only in the past few months that I have begun to accept a new label for myself: disabled. I use ramps or elevators instead of stairs. I let myself think about the possibility of applying for disability, and all that the process entails.

And, for the first time, I called the airline and requested wheelchair service. I have been regretting this choice since my first flight out of Denver International Airport.