Livin' With RA

Hello there!! Thank you for stopping by. My name is Nikki and I am chronically ill and trying to navigate an able bodied world while not being so able bodied! I started this blog to raise awareness of RA and other chronic illnesses and as a support outlet for me. Please feel free to message me, I am always open to answering questions or just chatting.

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Welcome! For my first photo I decided to do an oldie but, one of my faves, While in Forks a few years ago I came accross this car and just had to photograph it!

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It’s crazy how much pain I am experiencing from just working at home. I don’t have a home office, desk or even a dining table and chairs so I am working on my room on my bed. I was not prepared for the increased pain and swelling in my hip and the increased pain in my tailbone. Luckily I only work 4 hours a day and I am so, so happy I still have a job. I just wish I had a better set up. So, how is working from home affecting your pain/stiffness/swelling???

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😂 yeah, seems right.

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Anyone else with autoimmune joint disease/chronic pain/RA have increased pain and fatigue when you have more stress and emotional turmoil? The last week has been tough on me and my family and now I am really feeling it. As if I don’t have enough to deal with! Damn. Settle down body, settle.

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That’s the thing about pain,

It demands to be felt.

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It’s unbelievably hard to be ill and be working sometimes. I’m only working part time currently which is good for me. However, I’m not eligible for FMLA which means I had to find a way around that and still be able to take the time needed for flares, or illness from this damn immune system that is broken. I ended up having an ADA accommodation written up and signed by my doc. Side note, if you’re in the same predicament keep that in mind. It will save your job should you need more time off. Anyway, that accommodation allows me to be gone 2 days a month for my illness. The thing is, I know that my bosses don’t understand and therefore feel a coldness from them. I always feel like they just don’t like me because I’m gone more than others. It’s so frustrating. And this is the issue. Even if I can get the paperwork for the time off I’m still going to have that underlying feeling of dislike from my bosses and co workers. I am lucky that most people I work with don’t question it and never seem angry but, my bosses do. I guess the point of this is no matter if you have all this documentation, you still have to deal with misunderstanding and a general air of suspicion when it comes to your illness. I’m not faking, not trying to get a long weekend and although I may look ok, I’m not. I wish that others could just have an understanding of what we go through and if they don’t I wish they could ask us. I’m so thankful to be working again. Most days I’m pretty good. Just need some understanding!

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Take No Shit

https://www.instagram.com/sickandstones/

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26 'Hacks' That Can Make Showering Easier If You Have a Chronic Illness

If you struggled to shower today, that's OK. You're not alone.

Some good tricks!

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Slowly but surely

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Because every blog deserves flowers! I love coming home to these in the bedroom! It’s always important that you have someone in your life that helps take care of you. My man goes above and beyond. I know it’s not easy for him but, he never complains!

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Working while chronically ill is a struggle for sure! Most people don’t really understand and since they cannot see pain it sometimes feels like you have to prove your illness. I am lucky to have understanding co workers. I love my job and am so lucky to have found an amazing place to work and people to work with.

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