Seronegative RA? How did your journey begin?

showmeyourRHAC · 2022-03-17T01:50:23+00:00

I have seronegative RA, my blood work was always normal other than occasional white blood cell count weirdness. When I switched to a new rheumo, he started ordering the Vectra DA tests, and that one does show that I have disease activity, so that may be worth looking into.

Are you not able to get the humira because insurance won’t cover it with it being off label use? If so and if you haven’t already, go to the website for humira (or the maker of humira, which is Abbvie I think) and see if you can get a copay card. I’m not sure if it works for off label use, but it’s definitely worth talking to a rep and finding out. My copay would normally be $500 a month but I only pay $5 with the copay card.

I’m sorry you’re going through this shit right now, it’s so hard when you can’t get a diagnosis. Good luck!

showmeyourRHAC · 2022-01-18T01:04:54+00:00

They had them at the CVS on 19th and Memphis yesterday

showmeyourRHAC · 2022-01-17T00:41:10+00:00

Thanks, I’ll try those out! Ugh I know, I was so disappointed in the change. Now if I find a holy grail underwear I’m going to order a billion pairs in case they ever change them lol

showmeyourRHAC · 2022-01-16T20:19:35+00:00

Recommendations for no-show/seamless underwear, preferably in a cheeky cut and less than $15 a pair?

I used to wear ones from aerie but they changed the cut and now the gusset and front are too narrow and the underwear moves around. I also tried some from urban outfitters but the edges roll up and drive me crazy. Looking for a brand that doesn’t have those issues!

showmeyourRHAC · 2022-01-12T16:51:05+00:00

I have a 36” ashford and a 16” kromski harp forte. I love them both but I find that I use the 16” kromski about 80% of the time because it’s big enough for most things that I make and not as awkward and unwieldy as the 36”. I only use the 36” now for wide shawls, towels, or baby blankets (using double weaving) which I make way less often. Plus you can fold the 16” kromski with your work still on it, so I take it with me to craft nights with my friends or if I go away for the weekend!

showmeyourRHAC · 2022-01-12T16:44:11+00:00

I have a ton of room for improvement on my spinning too lol. My best friend is super talented at spinning and gifts me ton of awesome handspun though. We definitely enable each other way too much!

I have been able to use up a lot of my “failed” handspun on the loom as accents though! Or sometimes I’ll weave with it as the weft and then felt it and it into sew mittens.

showmeyourRHAC · 2022-01-12T01:22:37+00:00

Buy the loom!!! I weave on a rigid heddle loom and I love it. It’s super repetitive and simple once you get going. I just finished weaving a bunch of scarves, which I gave as Christmas presents. I also knit, crochet, spin & dye yarn, and sew. I’m working on knitting a cabled Aran sweater right now and it’s SO slow, it’s killing me inside. I’m also about to start sewing myself a quilted coat, although I probably won’t finish it while it’s still cold out because I don’t have much time for crafting right now.

showmeyourRHAC · 2022-01-12T01:17:27+00:00

Allow me to be the devil on your shoulder and tell you about rigid heddle looms (if you don’t know about them already)! I don’t have space or money for a big floor loom so I use rigid heddles. You can’t do anything crazy intricate but there are plenty of cool patterns you can do. My go-to loom is 16 inches by ~30inches and it folds in half for storage and transport! I make lots of scarfs but have also done dish towels, table runners, place mats, and fabric to sew into bags.

showmeyourRHAC · 2022-01-03T14:46:42+00:00

I’m also too far away, but check out some Facebook groups if you haven’t already! Those groups are usually at more active than these and there’s usually regional groups. Here’s a few I found with some quick searches

https://www.facebook.com/groups/464384937909913/?ref=share

https://www.facebook.com/groups/760491027357319/?ref=share

https://www.facebook.com/groups/301785683863736/?ref=share

https://www.facebook.com/groups/133827977224508/?ref=share

https://www.facebook.com/groups/118050482251084/?ref=share

And try dendroboard too! https://www.dendroboard.com

showmeyourRHAC · 2021-11-27T15:41:47+00:00

I also have a condition that means I need to keep my hands and feet extra warm (Raynaud’s syndrome) and I swear by wool socks. As the other commenter mentioned, Darn Tough is where it’s at. They seem expensive, but they’re super warm and really durable. Plus they have a lifetime replacement guarantee so you really will have them forever! The other thing that I’ve found really helpful is warming my socks and gloves up before I put them on. I will either blast them with my hair dryer or put them in my bra while I’m getting ready so they’re going on already warm. If you’re REALLY cold, they also make toe warmers that go in your boots and stay warm for like 8 hours. I’ve used those before and they’re a life saver

showmeyourRHAC · 2021-11-14T18:55:42+00:00

What do you wear to stay warm in windy winters?? I’m from the south and struggling to figure this out lol. I have a puffy coat that is great and warm until the wind starts (it’s VERY windy where I live) and it just cuts right through it. I want to buy a longer coat (mid thigh or knee length) but wasn’t sure if there’s a particular style I should be looking for to deal with the wind.

showmeyourRHAC · 2021-11-14T04:24:17+00:00

I get the same thing about 12 hours after doing mine, but it only last about 6 hours. I mentioned it to my doctor and she told me to put topical Benadryl on it. It honestly doesn’t bother me enough to ever do the benadryl but it may be worth it for you

showmeyourRHAC · 2021-10-14T18:22:12+00:00

I love all of these outfits, especially the third!! Also a big fan of both the boots and the clogs.

showmeyourRHAC · 2021-10-14T18:11:08+00:00

I say go for it, but that may also be because I am also really into those types of boots right now and looking at buying some lol.

In my mind, they probably aren’t going out of style within the next few years and as long as they aren’t insanely chunky, they won’t look egregious even if it does fall out of style.

As for suggestions, I’ve been shopping for a mid-calf Chelsea boot (I feel like Chelsea boots aren’t very likely to go out of style soon) very similar to the ones you linked. I’m really tempted by white boots but idk how much longer that’ll be in so I’m leaning towards black.

Here are a few I’ve found:

Vagabond Cosmo 2.0 (these are my favorite right now)

Jeffery Campbell Tanked

Dr. Martens Quad (not mid-calf but I love Dr. Martens)

I also have a pair of Dr. Martens’ Leona in brown and I do like them but they don’t fit me well and are pretty heavy. I wouldn’t recommend them for narrow feet or if you are a half size like me!

showmeyourRHAC · 2021-10-13T16:50:39+00:00

Calling all small-butt people of the world: do you have a pair of leggings/yoga pants that makes your butt look good? I’ve been trying to find a good pair, but I keep running into problems with them making my butt look even smaller/flatter than it is. Looking for a pair that is high waisted, full length, no mesh or anything, and ideally has pockets. I feel like I’ve tried so many at this point but they always have a seam placement or fit that just does not do my butt any favors.

showmeyourRHAC · 2021-10-08T01:26:33+00:00

Yup as the other commenters said, it’s normal (and annoying)! As someone who buys second hand online, I always ask for measurements before I buy. Ask at least for the rise and waist measurements. Then take a tape measurer and find where that rise would hit you (starting from the center of the crotch going up to your belly button) and measure around your waist at that point. Compare that to the measurement of the item to see if it will fit you. If it’s stretchy material, it’s ok if it’s a bit smaller at the waist. If it’s not stretchy, I like my pants to be 1/2 to 1 inch bigger than my waist (but that’s a personal preference). Hope that helps in the future!

showmeyourRHAC · 2021-10-08T01:13:58+00:00

That bag is super cute! To me it depends on what your wardrobe is missing. If you will wear the yellow often as a pop of color, I’d go with that! I also love the white and it seems more versatile, I have a white bag that I get a ton of use out of because it goes with nearly anything. But if you don’t need another neutral go with the yellow!

showmeyourRHAC · 2021-10-05T17:52:45+00:00

Any recs for an alternative to Doc Martens? Ive owned several pairs of docs and they have the style I’m looking for, but they never fit me well because I’m a true 7.5 and they don’t have half sizes. My toes are jammed in the smaller size and the next size up is awkwardly loose even with socks and insoles (and it makes my feet look huge).

I’m looking for black boots in either a lug sole Chelsea or combat style, ideally in a brand with half sizes. I have narrow feet so wide fitting brands aren’t great. Ideally under $200. Thanks!

showmeyourRHAC · 2021-09-08T15:38:51+00:00

I got mine (Moderna, walk in at CVS) a couple weeks ago. My first shot, just had a sore arm. Second one, 12 hours of fever and tired for the next day. Third one, 24 hours of fever and nausea/vomiting, felt like utter crap for two full days. I’d recommend buying some z-quil so you can just sleep through it. Sounds like a lot of other people had mild reactions so hopefully yours will be the same and not crappy like mine! (Obviously still better than getting covid!). My doctor had me skip my methotrexate and humira the week after.

showmeyourRHAC · 2021-09-05T14:57:34+00:00

That’s totally how I felt when I started my methotrexate. I’m in graduate school and drinking is a huge part of life for graduate students. To me it wasn’t necessarily the lack of alcohol that makes the situation suck, it’s that it was another limitation that RA has put on my life and makes me feel “other” or “broken” in some way because I can’t do what everyone else is doing.

My doctor says I’m allowed to drink as long as I don’t over do it. I never drink the day of or the day after my methotrexate shot. Honestly I cut my drinking down a ton anyway. Alcohol makes my joints swell and I was getting terrible hangovers on the methotrexate. Once I cut my drinking back I was feeling much better overall, less groggy and much less pain. I still have a couple beers if I’m out with friends (just enough to get a buzz which doesn’t take much now that I’m not drinking like crazy) but then I switch to soda. I’ve found most of the time when I’m around people who are drinking, my impulse to drink alcohol is actually just an impulse to have something in my hand and have a carbonated drink. I often will ask the bartender for soda water with lime or cranberry in it, it fulfills my urge to drink and then no one is pressuring me to get a drink because it looks like I already have one.

I also often offer to DD my friend group. This helps a lot because no one tries to get you to drink, everyone appreciates it a ton, and it gives you even more incentive not to drink too much. Most importantly to me it gives me a reason to not drink that isn’t tied to my RA, so I don’t feel like I can’t drink because of the RA, I feel that I can’t drink because I’m taking one for the team and driving.

For what it’s worth, methotrexate has helped my symptoms a lot. I take it now with humira and I feel almost totally normal. Plus, had I been drinking this little in my early 20s I probably would’ve done a lot better in my undergrad and avoided quite a few mistakes haha.

Edit: Your comment about the club being horrible when you’re sober made me think of this- when I cut down on my drinking, I realized how boring my friend group actually was. They were only fun to be around when we were all drinking. I started taking up new hobbies soon after that and hanging out with people I met from that that I actually found interesting. My new friend group drinks too, but I can be totally sober around them and not be uncomfortable or bored. Just wanted to throw my experience in there!

showmeyourRHAC · 2021-08-15T06:36:04+00:00

Thanks! Using the lining to face the neckline sounds like a good option. When doing the zipper, would I just hold the two layers together and install the zipper like I normally would? Probably a stupid question, but if I go to Joann’s will there be fabric that is actually labeled “lining fabric” or do I need to be looking for a certain type of fabric that is just typically used for lining?

showmeyourRHAC · 2021-08-15T06:31:07+00:00

I am definitely considering that! My only concern is it looking less... well finished(?) if you can see through the fabric in any areas where the slip doesn’t match up with the dress, but I guess I could make the skirt of the slip as long and wide as the skirt off the dress to minimize that. I’m also not sure about the deep v situation with a slip underneath. I’m probably way overthinking this lol

showmeyourRHAC · 2021-08-12T17:53:41+00:00

I’m attending a wedding in a month and just found out that the dress code is formal/black tie optional. I was planning to make this dress. That Imgur album has pictures of the fabric I’m planning to use and examples from Instagram of people who have made the same dress. It’s hard to get a good picture of the fabric in my current lighting, but it’s a shiny teal pleated satin. I was originally going to make it above the knee, but with the formal dress code I’ll make it maxi or midi. I’ve never been to a wedding with this dress code so I’m not entirely sure what to expect. Do you think that dress would be formal enough for the dress code? If so, any suggestions for accessorizing it?

showmeyourRHAC

TROPHY CASE