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in Lifestyle &middot August 29, 2017

Currently [Vol. 12]

And another month has come to a close! It’s hard to believe that we are now about 2/3 done with the year but I am okay with it. September through New Years is my favorite time of the year, so I’m so glad that we are just about there. This month was kind of all over the place; lots of trips to Maine, lots of family time, writing pretty much non-stop, a ton of medical appointments, starting homework for the new semester, and more.

This post contains affiliate links, meaning that if you click them and buy something I get a small profit. This post also contains a product that I was sent for free in exchange for my honest review. However, that review was not on here and was instead on Sephora’s website. My posting about it here isn’t part of that review exchange. As always, my opinions about everything here are my own. You can learn more here.

Sharing what I've been up to, listening to, feeling, reading, and more!

I’m currently …

looking forward to … fall really getting here, being done with grad school, and the new season of Outlander starting in less than 2 weeks – I started my last semester of school yesterday! It’s hard to believe that 2.5 years of hard work is almost over. But I’m so excited for fall weather, especially since my body apparently hates temperatures over 80, and one of my all-time favorite shows comes back on the 10th. You should really be watching Outlander. It has time travel, intense and well-met romance, war drama, and more. It’s based on the book series, which is some of my all-time favorite books.

wearing … Old Navy boyfriend shorts, The Future Is Accessible shirt, Make Up Forever foundation, Maybelline Lash Sensational mascara, Too Faced Love Light Prismatic Highlighter, Tarte Tarteist Creamy Matte Lip Paint in Birthday Suit – If you want a The Future Is Accessible Shirt, they’re available for 10 more days. They come in 5 colors and 17 styles, and you can pick one up here. (Eyebrow quirk comes separately 😉)

Sharing what I've been feeling, hoping for, reading, wearing, and more! Check out where you can get this The Future Is Accessible Shirt, too! Perfect if you are disabled or you care about disabled people.

feeling … excited for the school year, happy that I finally finished writing the first draft of TLM (my second novel) – After YEARS of work, I finally finished the first draft of TLM on Sunday. I’m so excited to have that done – and now I can start editing.

watching … Gotham, Big Brother, CSI.

loving … the fall-ish weather we’ve been having in Boston – Have I mentioned that I don’t like the warmth any more? Give me fall!

listening to … my Working playlist, the new Old Dominion album, Thomas Rhett’s new song Unforgettable.

grateful for … my medical team, but especially my physical therapy and my gynecologist; everyone who has supported me while writing TLM – Every since I started having episodes of multiple ovarian cysts rupturing, I haven’t gone more than 2 months without having an episode. Until now. I started a new medication for my endometriosis (the cause behind the episodes) back in May and I successfully made it to the next dose this month without having another episode. I’m so, so grateful for that. Additionally, I’ve made the progress that I have with my knee recovery thanks to my physical therapist. I’m super grateful for that.

reading … The Bat, The Problem of Pain, and Moonglow for myself and Framely Parsonage and The Woman in White for school. The Bat is a detective novel set in Sydney in the 2000s. It’s the first Harry Hole novel by Jo Nesbo and I’m really enjoying it! There are some terms used that aren’t considered okay now (transmisic terms really) because it was written in the 2000s, but overall I enjoy the story. The Problem of Pain was a reread and basically it’s perfect for anyone who has asked the question, “If God is real and good, why do bad things happen in the world?” I’m currently listening to Moonglow on Audible and it’s really engrossing. It’s framed as a memoir of the narrator’s grandfather (might be loosely based on the author’s life; I’m confused on that front) and it’s really interesting, funny, touching, and more. I strongly suggest it.

I’ve just about finished re-reading this, and it’s just as good as I remembered. It’s all about answering the question, “If God is real and He is good, how can bad things happen?” If you’ve wondered that, I suggest you read this masterpiece by C. S. Lewis. | #amreading #bookworm #booklover #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #booksofig #cslewis #whatiread

A post shared by Kate | Boston Blogger & Writer (@katethealmostgreat) on Aug 19, 2017 at 7:01am PDT

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All Currently posts, Holy Grail Beauty Products According to Bloggers, My Favorite Face Masks, My Summer Essentials

Kate Mitchell

Kate Mitchell is a blogger, chronic illness patient, and advocate who helps people understand chronic illness and helps chronic illness patients live their best lives.

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Also me: Well maybe this time will be different. I should check the portal every couple of hours just in case.⁣
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I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 10+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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This is the face of coronary artery disease⁣ ⁣ Yup This is the face of coronary artery disease⁣
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Yup, I have heart disease. ⁣
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I've mentioned this in bits and pieces over the last year, but in 2025, I was diagnosed with coronary artery disease.To be clear, I have basically the lowest amount of artery calcification possible to still have heart disease, but I still have it. ⁣
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Coronary artery disease is a complication of rheumatoid arthritis, as cholesterol can be increased by inflammation. As I hung around the border of coronary artery disease, I got COVID. ⁣
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COVID is also an inflammatory condition, which is why research shows that COVID can increase risk of heart disease. ⁣
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We're keeping an eye on it now, and increasing my cholesterol medication has helped keep my cholesterol down. Which is good because I already eat a pretty heart-healthy diet and exercise is tricky for me. ⁣
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If you have an inflammatory condition like RA or Crohn's, you should know that that inflammation can contribute towards cholesterol levels and therefore heart disease, especially if you've had COVID (and every time you get it increases your risks). ⁣
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I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 10+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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ID: Kate takes a selfie. She's a white woman with auburn hair wearing a white sweater, silver Claddagh necklace, and pink glasses.⁣
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I have a rheumatology appointment soon! Here are t I have a rheumatology appointment soon! Here are the things I’m thinking about ahead of time. 

#RheumatoidArthritis #SjogrensSyndrome #Fibromyalgia #AutoimmuneDisease 

Video: Kate’s hand writes in a notebook. She voices over what she’s writing and there are captions.
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💐 Week 8 of 2026 Weekly 💐 1️⃣ When you’ve got to 💐 Week 8 of 2026 Weekly 💐

1️⃣ When you’ve got to do IVIG but also empty the dishwasher (aka chronic illness in a nutsehll)
2️⃣ In progress 
3️⃣ New glasses!

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I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 10+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

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3️⃣ Kate takes a selfie. She’s wearing a blue and white striped rugby shirt with white writing that reads "University of Maine" and green glasses. 

#IVIG #ChronicallyIll #SjogrensSyndrome #Sjogrens #PunchNeedle
“Why don’t you take having 10+ chronic illnesses m “Why don’t you take having 10+ chronic illnesses more seriously”Because I have a ridiculous number of illnesses. Anything over 7 feels made up. Like, obviously it’s not, but I’m up to 10. That’s a ridiculous number.⁣
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I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 10+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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What do you do during infusions?⁣ ⁣ With Rituxan, What do you do during infusions?⁣
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With Rituxan, iron, and IVIG, I spend a lot of time in the infusion chair. That's a lot of time to kill!⁣
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Here is how I spend that time: ⁣
▪ Read on my Kindle⁣
▪ Play games on my phone⁣
▪ Listen to audiobooks⁣
▪ Work - hey, I need all my PTO possible with my health issues. Sometimes I need to work during my iron infusions!⁣
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I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 10+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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ID: In a hospital. Kate’s legs are under a white blanket and her hand (with an IV in the wrist) is next to her Kindle⁣
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View from this weekend as I worked on my next blog View from this weekend as I worked on my next blog post! I’ve posted 3 so far in 2026, including a fibromyalgia FAQ, so go to the blog to read them. Click the link in my bio or go to katethealmostgreat.com 

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👓 Week 7 of 2026 Weekly 👓 1️⃣ IVIG 2️⃣ Annual ey 👓 Week 7 of 2026 Weekly 👓

1️⃣ IVIG 
2️⃣ Annual eye doc appointment! New glasses coming soon, but eye health (especially Sjögren’s) looked good
3️⃣ Needing lots of blood work means more kindle time while waiting 
4️⃣ Getting ready to start my next punch needle project 👀

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I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 10+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

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IDs: 
1️⃣ Looking at Kate’s lap. There are clear tubes coming out from under her shirt going to a pump next to Kate. Her laptop is open and a closed Kindle is on the bed.
2️⃣ Kate takes a selfie. She’s a redheaded white woman wearing a green scarf, beige mask, and pink glasses.
3️⃣ Looking at Kate’s lap. Her Kindle is on her coat on her lap. Her pink cane is in front of her legs. 
4️⃣ The start of an embroidery project, with a printed (but not started) frame, box with the finished project shown, and 2 open packets with instructions. 

#ChronicallyIll #DisabledAndCute #PunchNeedle #DMC #SjogrensSyndrome
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