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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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July is: ⁣ - Disability Pride Month ⁣ - Juvenile A July is: ⁣
- Disability Pride Month ⁣
- Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month ⁣
- the anniversary of when I was diagnosed with autoimmune arthritis at age 19 after 9 years of symptoms ⁣
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As you can imagine, that makes me very aware of my disability via juvenile arthritis⁣
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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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#DisabilityPride #JuvenileArthritis #RheumatoidArthritis #AutoimmuneDisease
There are a lot of reasons why you shouldn't doubt There are a lot of reasons why you shouldn't doubt someone's chronic illness, but this is one of them. ⁣
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I'm always amazed by how people can have the exact same illness or set of illnesses and still have different experiences. Sure, there will be similarities, but which symptoms are the worst, what medications you respond to, and your quality of life can vary significantly. ⁣
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It doesn't mean that one person is necessarily worse off than another; they're just different.⁣
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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. A white text box reads "Chronic Illness Looks Different in Each Person"⁣
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#ChronicallyIll #RheumatoidArthritis #Endometriosis #Fibromyalgia #POTS
This basically sums up my summer so far: Harley, a This basically sums up my summer so far: Harley, a sewing project, and my foot in a cast⁣
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⬛⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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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: Harley the golden retriever has his head on Kate's lap. Also on her lap is an in-progress needlepoint project and Kate's leg (in a walking cast) is elevated.⁣
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#Osteoporosis #RheumatoidArthritis #GoldenRetrievers #Needlepoint #Needlework
Week 28 of 2026 Weekly A very busy week! 1️⃣ Foo Week 28 of 2026 Weekly

A very busy week!

1️⃣ Foot checkup! Walking boot is on occasionally from now until September 
2️⃣ Boston 
3️⃣ IVIG
4️⃣ Dentist 🦷 All good! 
5️⃣ Not a filter - this was the Boston area the second half of the week 
6️⃣ Physical time!

⬛⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

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⁣⁣.

⁣⁣⬛⁣⁣

IDs:
1️⃣ Kate takes a selfie in a doctor’s office
2️⃣ Looking at TD Garden, the bear statue for the Bruins, and Zakim Bridge in the background 
3️⃣ Looking at tubes coming out from under Kate’s clothes. There’s a Kindle on her stomach
4️⃣ Kate takes a mirror selfie before leaving
5️⃣ Medford Square looking like there’s a yellow filter over it
6️⃣ Kate takes a selfie in a doctor’s office

#ChronicallyIll #InvisibleIllness #AutoimmuneDisease #Bostonian #IVIG
Also, if this is how you’re finding out, I’m sorry Also, if this is how you’re finding out, I’m sorry. I’m fortunate enough to have a lot of people who care about me and this is the fastest way to tell everyone. 

Video: Kate talks to the camera while putting on makeup. There are captions. 

#RheumatoidArthritis #AutoimnuneDisease #ChronicIllness #Arthritis #ChronicPain
Week 27 of 2026 Weekly (Delayed because last Sund Week 27 of 2026 Weekly

(Delayed because last Sunday was baaaaad)

1️⃣ Due airport difficulties, we got a few more days with Emma. Harley was THRILLED!
2️⃣ Beautiful bird/squirrel visitors
3️⃣ A beautiful Maine summer day

⬛⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

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⁣⁣.

⁣⁣⬛⁣⁣

1️⃣ Harley the golden retriever putting his front legs up on Emma’s legs to demand hugs.
2️⃣ A bird feeder and hummingbird feeder on a deck. There is a hummingbird at one and squirrel at the other.
3️⃣ A barn, a pond, and the Maine woods

#207 #MaineLife #MaineTheWay #NewEnglandSummer #IGMaine
Reminder: you can be proud of your disability comm Reminder: you can be proud of your disability community while wishing your body cooperated more⁣
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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: Screenshot of a thread post. The background is dark teal, and it's written by katethealmostgreat. ⁣The text reads what's above the first black box.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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#DisabilityPride #ChronicallyIll #InvisibleIllness #Disabled #Disability
I don’t know the exact date of my RA diagnosis, bu I don’t know the exact date of my RA diagnosis, but this is from right around then in July 2010. ⁣
⁣
When I was diagnosed, I had been having symptoms for 9 years. ⁣
- 9 years of foot pain (partially from tarsal coalition)⁣
- Arthritic damage in said food⁣
- Carpal tunnel off and on for several years⁣
- And more⁣
⁣
I was finally diagnosed because I woke up one morning and was unable to open my jaw more than 8 mm. It turned out that I had horrible arthritic damage to my TMJs, which got me off the waiting list at MGH rheumatology. I left that appointment with an autoimmune arthritis diagnosis. ⁣
⁣
The fact that July is not only my diagnosis anniversary but also Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month has always seemed right. I may not have been diagnosed with JA, but given the amount of arthritis I had along with my many years of symptoms, it's generally accepted that I had it. ⁣
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This year marks 16 years since diagnosis and this fall marks 25 years since my symptoms started. It's pretty weird that so much time has already passed!⁣
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⬛⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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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 at 19 at Fenway Park for a Red Sox game. ⁣
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#RheumatoidArthritis #AutoimmuneDisease #Arthritis #JuvenileArthritis #JRA
Dos and don'ts for when someone in your life is di Dos and don'ts for when someone in your life is diagnosed with autoimmune arthritis! What are some that you would add?⁣
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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: "So someone you know was diagnosed with Autoimmune Arthritis". Under the Do column (indicated with a green checkmark) is:⁣
"As how they feel about it⁣
Offer specific ways to help⁣
Treat them normally⁣
Ask follow-up questions⁣
Wear a mask around them when sick."⁣
Under the don't don't column (indicated with an x in a red circle) is:⁣
"Say “At least it’s not xyz!”⁣
Say that and not follow through⁣
Assume nothing about their lives has changed⁣
Conflate autoimmune arthritis with osteoarthritis⁣
Pass your cold to an immunosuppressed person".⁣
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