“Burnout has opened space to look at who I am outside of advocacy. It has made room for me to discover what I want this next part of my life to look like. I’m learning to see this as an opportunity and not a failure.”
Still Wearing a Mask
“Masking is absolutely a matter of life or death for me. But I am not ashamed, and I will not be afraid to take care of myself…It is a part of me.”
A Guide to Setting Boundaries if You’re a People-Pleaser
Saying no isn’t always easy, but with practice, it can become a habit.
“A friend often reminds me (so frequently, in fact, that I got it tattooed on my wrist): ‘Choose Angie.’ Choose yourself. You are what matters most.”
A Tribute #ForTinu: Honoring Her Legacy
"Tinu was the best of us, always amplifying voices from the chronic illness community and sharing resources, advice, or financial assistance.”
Don’t Have 1 to 3 Actually Chronically Ill Friends? Here’s Why You Need Them
‘We remind one another that we are not crazy, that this illness is real, that it is not a moral issue, that our bodies went rogue without our approval or consent.’
Patient advocate Shelley Fritz shares her experience with PRP therapy and why it was the best choice for her hand osteoarthritis.
I Experienced Immune-Related Adverse Events — While Having Cancer and an Autoimmune Disease
"Trying to balance turning on your immune system to fight your cancer — but not making your life more difficult as a result — is a hard thing to do. The doctors don't have all the absolute right answers and neither does anybody else. However, if you’re able to say what you’re feeling and what you think you need, that’s really important."
Donna’s IgG4-Related Disease Diagnosis Journey: A Roller Coaster of Emotions
She remained asymptomatic for IgG4-RD until the silent disease brewing inside her led to the unexpected loss of a kidney.
A new update recommended by the FDA would target the most transmissible variant so far, subvariant XBB.1.5.
Travel Pains and COVID-19 — How to Decide if You’re Ready to Travel This Summer
If you’re tired of being cooped up but are nervous about jet setting, here are a few key things to consider.
Why the COVID-19 Virus Keeps Mutating — and What It Means for You
A new COVID-19 variant isn’t immediately a cause for concern, but here’s how to know when it’s time to be extra vigilant.
Sign up for the Creakyjoints Newsletter
Struggling to get an appointment with a doctor? Discover why this is happening and what you can do to get in sooner.
Recession-Proofing Your Health Care
Living with chronic illness is costly, so when the economy looks bleak it's natural to feel anxious about health care expenses. Here's help.
Everything You Need to Know If You’re Prescribed Paxlovid as an Immunocompromised Patient
See answers to all of your questions about this antiviral pill — from how it works to side effects and more.
The latest health headlines to help you stay informed, take control of your care, and advocate for better health.
Patient-Friendly News You Can Use: September
The latest health headlines to help you stay informed, take control of your care, and advocate for better health.
A Reason to Discuss Your PsA and axSpA Treatment at Six Months
Is your TNFi treatment working? New research suggests the importance of partnering with your doctor and checking progress at six months.
Here’s what to do before, during, and after a doctor visit to get better care and treatment.
Invisible Illness Patients: You May Need to Dress for Doctor Visits to Match How You Physically Feel
The best advice arthritis patient Nicole Dalton ever received: "You have to dress to match how you physically feel."
The Inflation Reduction Act and Drug Price Negotiations: What Chronic Illness Patients Should Know
Here’s a look at how the IRA impacts health care costs, which is particularly important for people living with chronic illness.