~ 2010 ~

The following pages show a few highpoints from the last year at RA Warrior. Maybe it will bring back some good memories or show you something you missed. If you are new to RA Warrior, this slideshow will give you some indication of where we have gone during the last year. I hope you’ll enjoy visiting some of these most popular posts.

~ January ~

The year got off to a rousing start! Talking about alcohol and… Whether doctors hate blogs. Southwestern Medical Center’s series about RA for primary care doctors had Dr. Sherwood saying, “Keeping them off the internet is very important.” We addressed the debate of whether RA should even be treated medically.

There was ample positivity with a video of the heart-warming Bridgett Duffy about improving the patient experience and an interview with a rheumatologist who’s involved in social media.

Methotrexate and Rheumatoid Arthritis: Is Alcohol Consumption Safe?

Dear Bridget Duffy from a Rheumatoid Arthritis Patient

“25 Years in Arthritis” – an Article on Rheumatoid Arthritis by ABC News

Some popular links from JANUARY

Clear lessons in January:• The post with the most comments may not be the most popular.• A lot of patients are concerned about alcohol.• People are in need of more empathy. (3 of the top 5 posts concerned this issue.)

~ February ~

The “swelling post” was a turning point for me. I made my “confession” not knowing how many patients are like me. There was even some fear of some doubting my RA, since I had met doctors who had. It was one of those moments that is either insanity or bravery, depending on how it turns out. It turned out to be the most popular post on the blog for a long time.

We started to talk more about other specific symptoms and myths about RA such as which joints can be involved.

We also started to talk more about pain. And how little understanding there is of RA pain.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Swelling: My Confession

What Is the List of Rheumatoid Arthritis Joints?

Does Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain Really Hurt That Much?

Some popular links from FEBRUARY

• Swelling post = almost 10x more popular than the next popular February post!• Swelling post and list of joints were 1st time I “polled” readers.• 3 posts on sleep became great resource especially with comments.• Themes evolved: pain & communication problems about pain.

~ March ~

March was huge. I was beginning to create some of the resources I had dreamed of for so long. I remember working on the RA Map all day for over a week. I was so happy.

There were several other resources & tips pages that came together including my very first video – less than 10 seconds long. I was still excited. Recently, the handshake video was reloaded onto our new YouTube channel.

I interviewed someone about the Pfizer trials of the first oral biologic for RA. The post became the top Google result for that drug for months. Whoohoo.

What can I say about the heartache post? Once again, I felt completely alone & poured out my heart. I wasn’t alone. There are 146 replies.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug Trials for Tasocitinib aka CP-690550

Stages of Rheumatoid Arthritis Heartache

Prednisone and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Some popular links from MARCH

It was a blockbuster month! I can’t forget…• The Beachcomber… & my 1st video ever, the Handshake

Creating new resources:• The RA Map for newly diagnosed & the Do I Have RA page• Methotrexate side effects & 25 Tips to help manage fatigue.

~ April ~

Again, I found myself writing what I didn’t want to write. Saying things I didn’t want to say. Wishing I were writing about new window fashions. And again, I found out how much people need to read and talk about RA pain.

We also started some very important conversations about topics like (FMS) fibromyalgia and patient generated data. Now, we have a Tag called Patient Outcome Measures. It’s clearly 1 way to help achieve the core goals of RA Warrior.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain

Are Fibromyalgia Wars & Rheumatoid Arthritis Related?

Another New Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug for Me?

Some popular links from APRIL

Talking about hard topics• We started to talk more about patient generated data / patient outcome measures, clearly 1 way to fulfill the main goals of RA Warrior.• People really want to read & talk about RA pain.• Fibromyalgia / FMS

~ May ~

For the blog’s 1st birthday, I shared some messages from my heart. One was about severe RA versus mild RA. I addressed comments that my own RA “must be mild in order to blog daily.” There were lots of comments about being sensitive to our differences.

I was shocked at how much people loved the housework post. It was just where I was stuck, but so many other readers are too.

The end of May was the beginning of a series on prednisone. The posts have been very popular, but it seems readers wanted information about prednisone more than they wanted to talk, so there were few comments.

Prednisone Dosage for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Low-dose Prednisone in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis

Dealing with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Housework

Some popular links from MAY

• The first half of a 4 part prednisone series.• The most commented post was severe versus mild RA.• The other very popular topic was housework: surprise!

~ June ~

In June, I created my first real video, where I had to talk to a camera. It was hard. I rehearsed every word since I wanted the editors at Woman’s Day to hear the truth about RA directly from a patient in a clear and convincing way. It was awkward, but sincere. It honestly represents how I felt.

There was an amusing encounter with a snake oil seller claiming to cure RA on an infomercial. One day, I had a little fun with them on a phone call, reporting live on our Facebook wall. When they called me back trying to convince me to believe in their product, I made it into a blog post.

Can’t ever forget the Warrior Woman contest! I re-created the Warrior avatar as Wonder Woman. It was a great success at creating awareness and building community.

Woman’s Day Rheumatoid Arthritis Article: A Video Appeal

Prednisone Side Effects

Win a T-shirt Dealing with Rheumatoid Arthritis!

Some popular links from JUNE

• Our first contest! Wonder Woman!• Some great resources: pregnancy, parenting, online RA trackers• My first talking picture: the Woman’s Day video.• Prednisone, again? Hey, it’s really important.• Plus: Reality check on symptoms not being controlled by treatment.

~ July ~

It seems like July was evidence that patients are not just searching blogs for sympathy. We like to discuss real questions and solutions.

Extremely popular were the 10 Essential Facts about RA No Doctor Told Me and the 1st Methotrexate Dose Question. The Folic Acid Debate was highly popular, but the Patient Assertiveness post was just as much discussed.

Most popular overall could be the 2 part guest post about Deborah who’s RA masked her breast cancer. Michael gives advice to spouses about learning to live with a patient with a chronic illness.

Living with a Spouse with Chronic Illness, part 1

Folic Acid with Methotrexate: the Debate

10 Essential Facts About Rheumatoid Arthritis No Doctor Ever Told Me

Some popular links from JULY

• Moving 2 part guest post about living with a spouse’s chronic illness.• 1st of a series about “what doc didn’t tell me” about RA. • Folic acid: How much? When? What kind? Folinic acid?

~ August ~

August was pretty serious: The posts on RA mortality were widely read although few commented. We looked at the weirdest methotrexate side effects. I asked what “can’t” means with RA and whether there’s a typical RA. We investigated the right time to switch Biologics.

We also took a hard look at some RA Statistics. But it was good because it was a wakeup call for many of us.

What about Classic Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid Arthritis Statistics

The Mortality Dragon: Do Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Have to Die Early?

Some popular links from AUGUST

Some serious stuff:• A closer look at RA mortality: how to fight it. • A new look at whether there’s typical RA.• When is the right time to switch Biologics?• RA Statistics post impacted many non-RA patients by eye-opening numbers.

~ September ~

A new video! Encouraging patients not to give up, I shared some of my journey about finding a doctor who treats patients instead of tests. Plus a little bit more about the Doc Space Heater story.

Many people spoke up about Fevers and Stiffness, symptoms commonly misunderstood or disregarded. Those comments pages would be great resources for docs.

Three posts about Awareness became a lively discussion about how to make a difference in the ways RA is understood.

Video: Good Rheumatoid Arthritis Doctors Treat Patients

What Can We Do About the Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness Problem?

Rheumatoid Arthritis Fevers

Some popular links from SEPTEMBER

• Impromptu video comparing ways rheum docs use tests to treat patients became surprisingly popular• Lively discussion about Awareness that spanned 3 posts• Posts on less discussed symptoms: fevers & stiffness brought numerous comments

~ October ~

In October, RA Warrior hosted our first meme. Readers responded with humorous and moving answers. It’s a good post to read for inspiration. Plus, it’s not too late to participate.

I shared my shock at an article about Newt Gingrich’s daughter saying that she was relieved she only had RA. More Awareness discussion.

A highpoint was the trip to Johnson & Johnson with WEGO Health. It was great to share the RA community with others. Meanwhile, the post questioned whether World Arthritis Day was about RA. Lots of comments.

Having a Cuppa Together: a Rheumatoid Arthritis Meme

Rheumatoid Arthritis Factsheets for Printing!

“Dealing with RA Is So Much Easier than Lupus” ~Kathy Lubbers

Some popular links from OCTOBER

• Our 1st meme was had an overwhelming response. And the responses themselves were revealing & inspiring. Responses still coming in. What a resource that is.• Printable factsheets requested by readers about RA and RA Warrior.• Looking at whether celebrities do anything good for RA Awareness

~ November ~

November was the ACR meeting in Atlanta. That had to be the highpoint of the whole year. You can watch my short video summary or read the special post telling what I learned by going.

On my way out of town, I posted the 1st PSA / RA commercial I had worked on for weeks. It wasn’t slick. It wasn’t sensitive. It just showed what can be done to tell the truth about RA in about a minute.

Our 1st rheumatology blog carnival was a lot of fun. Readers with various kinds of blogs spoke with convictions about why Awareness is needed for rheumatic diseases.

20 Rheumatoid Arthritis Patient Facts I learned from RA Patients

RA Is Not “arthritis”: a PSA on Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatology Blog Carnival #1: Causes of Rheum Un-Awareness

Some popular links from NOVEMBER

• Our 1st rheumatology blog carnival on the topic of Awareness.•1st PSA / RA commercial called RA is Not “arthritis.”• List of surprising things I learned from RA patients.

~ December ~

A post about shoes lead to dozens of recommendations from readers about the best shoes for painful feet. More readers are still posting their favorite shoes.

When my Biologic treatment was suddenly halted by insurance, I attempted to qualify for a clinical trial. This led to my asking questions about the role of CRP in clinical trials. I also noted a recent push in “evidence based medicine” to relate evidence to truth. This important discussion especially relates to RA since there are not lab tests to reliably measure disease activity.

A study looks in detail at the ways RA pain affects women. It shows most RA patients live with pain not alleviated by treatment & how RA pain affects their lives.

What’s Your Advice for Shoes for Rheumatoid Arthritis Feet?

All I Want for Christmas Is My CRP

How Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain Affects Women's Lives

Some popular links from DECEMBER

• Dozens of recommendations from readers about the best shoes for RA feet.• Questions about CRP and its significance.• New study shows most RA patients live with pain not alleviated by treatment & how RA pain affects them.

© Copyright Kelly Young and Rheumatoid Arthritis Warrior.com 2010.