Let’s talk about one of the least talked about and honestly most ridiculous symptoms of Psoriatic Arthritis… nail pain. Yes. You heard me. Nail pain. Not like, “Oh I broke a nail” pain. No, this is “My fingernails hurt like someone lit them on fire and then ran them over with a tiny emotional dump truck” kind of pain. It’s sneaky….
Tag: chronic pain
A Long Drive for the Right Care: Why Advocating for Yourself Matters
There are days when chronic illness and autoimmune life feel like an endless series of appointments, pills, scans, and dismissive doctors who barely skim your file before deciding who you are. Days when your body screams for answers while the system quietly shrugs, leaving you to navigate a maze of uncertainty and frustration. The waiting rooms become…
Skin Sensitivity and Fibromyalgia: Living with Allodynia
If you’ve ever winced in pain just from the feeling of a soft blanket brushing your skin, you’re not alone — and you’re not imagining things. This is a very real and often misunderstood symptom of Fibromyalgia called Allodynia. Allodynia can make everyday sensations, such as a light touch or the pressure from clothing, feel agonizingly painful, leading…
When the Doctor Stops Listening: A Battle Cry for the Dismissed
There’s a specific kind of heartbreak that comes when a doctor looks at you—not with compassion, not with curiosity, not with hope—but with defeat. That moment when you realize they’ve silently decided you’re too much, too complicated, or worse, not worth figuring out. It’s the second you start talking about symptoms they can’t see on a chart….
Healing Isn’t Linear—And That’s Okay
Let’s be real: healing is messy. It’s frustrating. It’s that rollercoaster you didn’t sign up for but somehow ended up strapped into. One day, you’re convinced you’ve made it—you feel lighter, your body hurts less, your mind is clearer. Then, out of nowhere, a bad pain day hits, an old trauma resurfaces, or your soul…
How the pages have turned: Rheumy Update: Gaslighting Special!
Another Day, Another Doctor…(And this time, it’s a two-part rollercoaster.) We had high hopes for this new rheumatologist. Really, we did. I made the switch not because my previous rheumy wasn’t doing her job—she’s amazing—but because I was trying to make life just a bit easier by finding someone local. Closer drive, easier appointments, same quality of care……
Understanding Fibromyalgia: More Than Just Pain
When Your Muscles Twitch and Your Body Won’t Listen: The Hidden Layers of Fibromyalgia I used to think fibromyalgia was “just” chronic widespread pain and fatigue. I hate that I even put the word just in there — because even that would be a lot to carry. But as I’ve learned firsthand, this diagnosis brings with it…
Supporting Loved Ones with Chronic Illness: A Guide
How to Support a Loved One with Chronic Illness (Without Losing Your Mind or Theirs)Because casseroles are nice, but compassion is better Hey there, soul tribe! Let’s talk about something near and dear to many of our spoons — chronic illness and chronic pain. Whether your bestie has fibro, your partner is navigating an autoimmune rollercoaster, or…
New Rheumatologist & Diagnosis: What I Learned
Health Update: Rheumy Edition So, we met the new Rheumatologist and… drumroll please… we actually really liked him! He was thorough, kind, and didn’t look at me like I had three heads when I rattled off my list of issues. In fact, he took the time to listen carefully to each concern, nodding along and…
Trial and Error: 5 Years of Medication for Chronic Illness
5 Years of Medication Mayhem — A Chronic Illness UpdateCan you believe it’s been five years of med-hopping, body-battling, and playing pharmaceutical roulette? And three years since Cimzia kicked off its short-lived reign of terror. Time flies when your immune system refuses to chill. 🌀 Cimzia actually started out strong — my skin was like, “Okay, I see you!”…
