‘Even though I was only on the ventilator for a couple days, it seemed like a lifetime. The memory is still vivid more than five years later.’
Wearing Gloves During Errands Doesn’t Offer Much Protection Against Coronavirus (and Can Even Make Things Worse)
Wearing gloves when you’re out running essential errands doesn’t offer the protection you may think it does.
By Dibs Baer
Coronavirus Quarantine Diary: A Rheumatoid Arthritis Patient’s Week of Isolation, Overeating, and Anxiety
‘All of a sudden, it dawned on all of us that our lives as we knew it were over, indefinitely, and we snapped. Everything we used to do was out the window.’
Here’s what 350+ high-risk patients are thinking, feeling, and doing to manage their health during this unprecedented COVID-19 health crisis.
By The 75+ Things Making #HighRiskCovid19 Patients Anxious Right Now, According to Our Survey
Members of the Global Healthy Living Foundation and CreakyJoints patient communities have a lot on their mind right now, including many life-or-death fears over their COVID-19 risk and overall health.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients in High Disease Activity Don’t Change Their Treatment Regimen Very Often
Only about one-third of RA patients in high disease activity were offered a treatment change at their rheumatologist visit, according to a recent study in the ArthritisPower research registry.
A side effect methotrexate is increased risk of infections. This is particularly important to understand right now in light of the current COVID-19 crisis.
By Prednisone and Coronavirus: Do Corticosteroids Make You Immunosuppressed and Higher Risk for COVID-19?
A common side effect of corticosteroids like prednisone is increased risk of infections. This is particularly important to understand right now in light of the current COVID-19 crisis.
A Rheumatologist Explains Why a Hydroxychloroquine Shortage Is Terrifying to Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients
‘Hydroxychloroquine is a safe, effective, and inexpensive therapy for conditions like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis. If there is a shortage, it will exacerbate health disparities. People who need an effective and affordable drug won’t be able to get it.’
New questions about how to safely obtain, prepare, and consume food are arising during COVID-19, especially for those with suppressed immune systems.
A Week of Nutritionist-Approved Anti-Inflammatory Pantry Meals for Coronavirus Quarantine
It is possible to eat nutritious, anti-inflammatory meals on a limited amount of pantry food and a limited budget. Here’s how.
By CreakyStaff
Walking Routine for Arthritis: A 4-Week Plan to Start Walking More
Walking is one of the best forms of exercise for arthritis joint pain, stiffness, and fatigue.
Telehealth visits for routine care can help keep patients safe, make them feel connected to their doctor, and quell fears during the coronavirus pandemic.
25% of Americans Do Not Have a Primary Care Provider (and That Number Keeps Growing)
Younger people are more likely than older adults to lack a primary care provider.
By What’s It Like Having Arthritis in the U.S. Virgin Islands? Here’s What Their Rheumatologist Told Us
Until 2019, the U.S. Virgin Islands had no full-time rheumatologist.
Living with ankylosing spondylitis has trained me for paying attention to subtle changes in my symptoms and paying close attention to my body’s clues. Here’s what they told me when I was worried I had coronavirus.
By The Number of People with Rheumatoid Arthritis Is Staying Steady, But More People Have the Seronegative Kind
Seropositive patients test positive for one or both of RA antibodies; seronegative patients do not test positive for either.
By My Doctors Barely Knew About Non-Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis: It’s a Basically a Miracle That I Got Diagnosed
Amy Millios experienced symptoms for more than a decade before she got a diagnosis —and, even then, it was a struggle to get doctors to believe her.
Fibromyalgia is not an autoimmune disease, so it doesn’t make you immunosuppressed. But managing fibromyalgia does have unique needs and concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic.
By Susan Jara
Are Coronavirus Symptoms Different If You Have an Autoimmune Condition or Chronic Illness?
When you live with a rheumatic disease, you likely have daily symptoms that can mimic those of COVID-19, including shortness of breath, chronic, dry cough, muscles aches, fatigue, gastrointestinal woes, temperature spikes.
Psoriasis and Coronavirus: Understanding Risk, Hand Hygiene, and More
Having psoriasis during the COVID-19 pandemic may also be problematic because your skin is much more apt to become irritated from all the frequent hand washing and sanitizing.
Does having IBD make you immunocompromised or at higher risk for COVID-19 complications? Learn more about your risk and how to protect yourself.
78% of U.S. Coronavirus Patients in the ICU Have At Least One Underlying Health Condition That Makes Them #HighRiskCovid19, says CDC Data
‘These preliminary findings suggest that in the United States, persons with underlying health conditions or other recognized risk factors for severe outcomes from respiratory infections appear to be at a higher risk for severe disease from COVID-19 than are persons without these conditions.’
Anticoagulants, Blood Thinners, and Coronavirus: Do These Medications Make You High Risk for COVID-19?
If you’re taking a blood thinner medication, it’s because you have an underlying health issue that makes you high risk for coronavirus complications.
