Saturday, March 20, 2010

Arthritis Today Magazine - Beachcomber - Walking as Therapy


Arthritis Today Magazine is out! It hit major bookstores in late February and you can find it on magazine racks in many drug and grocery stores nationwide.

I am very grateful to Arthritis Today and the team who helped get my story published. It's an honor to share with others who suffer autoimmune disease or arthritis pain some of the ways I've learned to cope.

The article's focus on "Walking as Therapy" is one of the ways I maintain a positive attitude.
Walking can help us get and keep a good mood. There is something about being out in nature that enhances our appreciation for life.
Some of the benefits in walking include weight loss, lower blood pressure, and stress relief which can often lower inflammation and pain.

If walking is too painful, a warm water pool helps tremendously, and water aerobics are excellent to get your heart rate up while being kind to tender joints.

Stress plays a large part in my flares, so anytime I can get out and release pent up emotions by exercising it helps relieve the symptoms.

For those who can't find the magazine or would like to have a copy to share with loved ones here's a direct link.

http://www.arthritistoday.org/community/people-profiles/sandy-guerriere.php


While writing my book I will continue answering email and comments as time permits. Thank you for your patience and support, you're each one an inspiration to me and my efforts.

"Good Health to You"

Please join me on twitter at RASupport and on Facebook at
Rheumatoid Arthritis Support.

© Copyright 2010 Sandy Guerriere. All Rights Reserved.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Arthritis Today Magazine - "Getting The Word Out"


Arthritis Today Magazine visited Wrightsville Beach, NC on December 21st, 2009 for a photo shoot to be published as their cover story in the March/April 2010 issue.
Bryan D. Vargo interviewed me prior to the photo shoot. Bryan is the Lifestyle and Online Editor of Arthritis Today for the Arthritis Foundation.

Susan Siracusa, Art Director at the National office for Arthritis Today and Kevin Garrett, Photographer, are pictured with me. What a delight to meet them, and though we did the shoot in somewhat chilly temps it was so exciting I didn't even notice. *(note everyone is wearing jackets)

Arthritis Today's March issue will feature a few ways in which I've learned to cope with Rheumatoid Arthritis by changes in lifestyle and diet.
Getting the word out is a goal we both share. There are many ways to cope with Rheumatoid Arthritis and manage the flares of this disease.

The photo shoot included me "Walking" at Wrightsville Beach...which is my favorite exercise!!!!
Bryan and Susan chose December 21st for the shoot, it was truly a "window of opportunity" because NC soon dipped into record lows the following week.
The Arthritis Today team were all so gracious, and I appreciate their efforts to make me feel comfortable. I truly enjoyed our day together. Thank you!!!

Special thanks to Stephanie Moore, of "Moore Photography" who shot these 'Behind the Scene' photos and Ty Downing who made a really nice video.
You are fabulous!

"Good Health to You"

Arthritis Today magazine
Arthritis Foundation
National Office
1330 W. Peachtree St., NW, Suite 100
Atlanta, GA 30309

Twitter: http://twitter.com/ArthritisToday
#fb - Arthritis Foundation > http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#/pages/Arthritis-Foundation/25986728672

© Copyright 2010 Sandy Guerriere. All Rights Reserved.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Blog


Welcome to an online support blog for Rheumatoid Arthritis and autoimmune diseases.
I write about my struggles with the disease and ways I've learned to cope. My goal is to give you hope, support, and encouragement by sharing research and personal experiences to help you live a better quality of life.
"Good Health to You"

© Copyright 2007-2010 Sandy Guerriere. All Rights Reserved.


Legal Disclaimer for the Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Blog

The views expressed on the Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Blog ("Blog") are my opinions. My words or any contributions from others should not be taken as a substitute for qualified medical expertise. Materials included in this Blog are intended for general information purposes only and are not intended to provide, and do not constitute, medical, diet, health or other advice. Persons who need medical, diet, health or other services should contact a duly licensed professional.

The information and resources presented on this Blog are for informational purposes only, and I do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, usefulness or adequacy of any information or resources available at or from this Blog.

By viewing this Blog, including, but not limited to, any blog page, graphical element or resource, you hereby agree to comply with this Legal Disclaimer. This Blog may contain other proprietary notices and copyright information, the terms of which must be observed and followed. The information and resources presented on this Blog may not be published, stored and/or reproduced, in whole or in part, in any form, in any media without the prior written permission of Sandy Guerriere. You use the pages contained within this Blog at your own risk.

All Logos, trade marks, service marks, and copyrighted words and/or titles used in these pages, including but not limited to text fields, metatags, within frames, or otherwise, remain the intellectual property of their owner(s) and are used herein for identification purposes only and/or to assist topic searches. This Blog provides news, information and opinion covering a broad variety of health and other topics and may engage in the fair use of trade marks, service marks, etc., which marks remain the intellectual property of their owner(s). All such uses by this Blog herein shall be considered authorized uses of said marks pursuant to the federal trademark laws and similar state and foreign laws.

Information on this Blog is provided "AS IS" without warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including, but not limited to, implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Some jurisdictions don't allow the exclusion of implied warranties, so the above exclusion may not apply to you. You hereby release Sandy Guerriere and everyone associated in any manner with this Blog, or the information contained therein, from any liability whatsoever.

Certain links on this Blog may lead to resources located on servers maintained by third parties over whom Sandy Guerriere has no control. Certain outside links from servers maintained by third parties over whom Sandy Guerriere has no control may lead to resources located on this Blog. Accordingly, Sandy Guerriere makes no representation as to the accuracy, completeness, appropriateness or any other aspect of the information contained on such servers. Inclusion of a link does not imply, or constitute, an endorsement by Sandy Guerriere of the referenced site or of those associated with such site. The jurisdiction for any cause of action related to this Website shall reside in the state of North Carolina and the country of the United States.
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Thursday, January 7, 2010

Rheumatologist? - Finding The Right Doctor















"The doctor of the future will give no medicine but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease." ~ Thomas Eidison

When dealing with chronic illness it's crucial we find the right doctor. You could say,...it's a matter of life or death. One thing that repeatedly comes up in conversatation with fellow sufferers about medical care is the importance of feeling comfortable with their doctors.
Sometimes patients feel because they were referred to a particular specialist by their primary care physician their bound to this doctor's treatment plan.
Don't believe it! Nothing could be further from the truth.
When I was diagnosed with RA I went through several doctors before finding one who treated me with compassion, dignity, listened to my concerns about treatment and encouraged questions.
Some drugs and treatments that are encouraged can cause irreversible damage. Do research and take into consideration your family history. Truly, a good relationship with a trusted doctor or health care provider is one of the most important decisions you will make.

DEFINITE SIGNS OF TROUBLE:

1. You don't feel your doctor listens to you or to what you say
2. You feel uncomfortable asking questions
3. You don't feel you can say NO to a treatment or proceedure
4. You don't think you are getting proper explanations of what is happening
5. You don't trust your doctor.

"Good Health to You"

*Special thanks to my health care professional.

© Copyright 2010 Sandy Guerriere. All Rights Reserved.