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in Lifestyle &middot May 30, 2016

May Favorites + J.Crew Giveaway

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in Lifestyle &middot May 30, 2016

May Favorites + J.Crew Giveaway

I know, I know - a few weeks ago, the blog was on a holiday schedule, but this week (when there's an actual holiday), it's not. Don't question that strange schedule that is my ... Read the Post...

8 Lessons My Arthritis Taught Me
in Health &middot May 27, 2016

Lessons My Arthritis Taught Me

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in Health &middot May 27, 2016

Lessons My Arthritis Taught Me

8 Lessons My Arthritis Taught Me

Having arthritis hasn't been an overwhelmingly positive experience, as you can probably imagine. Aside from the constant pain I've lived with since fall 2001, arthritis has ... Read the Post...

Text reads: Buy my ebook for chronic health bloggers, worth $140, but buy for $10! There is also an image of the ebook cover. The ebook is named "Take Your Blog (And Income!) To The Next Level: Resources for Chronic Health Bloggers".
in Writing & Blogging &middot May 25, 2016

The Giant Blogging Mistake I Made

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in Writing & Blogging &middot May 25, 2016

The Giant Blogging Mistake I Made

Part of me knew that this day would come. While I'm much more familiar with blogging now than I was when I started in 2012/2013, I don't know everything, and there are so many ... Read the Post...

in Lifestyle &middot May 23, 2016

20 Great Summer Recipes

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in Lifestyle &middot May 23, 2016

20 Great Summer Recipes

The weather is getting warmer, but the age-old question remains: what are we having for dinner? To help you answer that, I've found 20 great summer recipes. Some are ideal for ... Read the Post...

in Health &middot May 19, 2016

Chronic Pain Confessions

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in Health &middot May 19, 2016

Chronic Pain Confessions

No one's life is exactly like anyone else's. But my life is so incredibly different from the average twenty-something due to my health issues. For those of you scratching your ... Read the Post...

in Lifestyle &middot May 17, 2016

Graduation Weekend

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in Lifestyle &middot May 17, 2016

Graduation Weekend

Like thousands across the country, my younger sister graduated from college this past weekend! It was a jam-packed weekend with a lot of family and a lot of ... Read the Post...

in Writing & Blogging &middot May 13, 2016

The Grammar Mistake Almost Everyone Makes

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in Writing & Blogging &middot May 13, 2016

The Grammar Mistake Almost Everyone Makes

There are a lot of grammar rules in the English language. (Actually, "a lot" doesn't feel like an accurate description of how many rules there are.) Once you get the hang of ... Read the Post...

in Lifestyle &middot May 11, 2016

Spring to Summer Fashion

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in Lifestyle &middot May 11, 2016

Spring to Summer Fashion

This time of year is pretty interesting, weather-wise. It rained all last week (and was generally in the 40s) and this week it's sunny and in the 60s. Growing up in New ... Read the Post...

8 Ways To Help Arthritis Sufferers
in Health &middot May 9, 2016

8 Ways You Can Help Someone with Arthritis

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in Health &middot May 9, 2016

8 Ways You Can Help Someone with Arthritis

8 Ways To Help Arthritis Sufferers

There is a 100% chance that you know someone with arthritis. 1 in 5 Americans live with some kind of doctor-diagnosed arthritis, which can be any of 100 rheumatic diseases. ... Read the Post...

in Lifestyle &middot May 6, 2016

The Beauty Secrets of the Stars

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in Lifestyle &middot May 6, 2016

The Beauty Secrets of the Stars

It's not surprising that some people think that there is some Illuminati conspiracy that explains why the stars look so good. They seem to have beauty beyond that which their ... Read the Post...

in Health &middot May 4, 2016

Answering Questions about Arthritis

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in Health &middot May 4, 2016

Answering Questions about Arthritis

Arthritis is a complex disease masquerading as a simple one, and it's one that plays a giant role in the world. More than 50 million American adults live with arthritis - ... Read the Post...

in Writing & Blogging &middot May 2, 2016

April Blog Traffic Report

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in Writing & Blogging &middot May 2, 2016

April Blog Traffic Report

Oh wow. April was SUCH a tough month for me. Last week, I had another ER trip from another ovarian cyst and a possible infection. With inflammatory arthritis and fibromyalgia, ... Read the Post...

Not All Disabilities Are Visible (with Disability List)
in Health &middot April 27, 2016

Not All Disabilities Are Visible

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in Health &middot April 27, 2016

Not All Disabilities Are Visible

Not All Disabilities Are Visible (with Disability List)

Too often recently, friends or online acquaintances of mine have been accused of faking their disability. If you've ever been around my part of the Internet, you know that I'm ... Read the Post...

Mother's Day Gift Ideas
in Lifestyle &middot April 25, 2016

Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

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in Lifestyle &middot April 25, 2016

Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Did you know that we are two weeks away from Mother's Day? Since it's a holiday that changes dates, it can sneak up on us, but if you haven't thought about gifts yet, now is ... Read the Post...

in Lifestyle &middot April 23, 2016

Healthy Hair Routine

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in Lifestyle &middot April 23, 2016

Healthy Hair Routine

  Are you struggling with unhealthy hair? Check out these 5 tips from Viki Howell. #1: Healthy Lifestyle Balanced diet is extremely important because your ... Read the Post...

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Kate the (Almost) Great® is a chronic illness lifestyle blog. It is a resource for chronic illness patients and their loved ones.

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  • What Is the Difference between Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis?
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Kate the (Almost) Great

Chronic health lifestyle blog

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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. ⁣
⁣
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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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".⁣
⁣
#AutoimmuneDisease #RheumatoidArthritis #PsoriaticArthritis #AnkylosingSpondylitis #JuvenileArthritis
Weekj 26 of 2026 Weekly Scenes of a summer week Weekj 26 of 2026 Weekly 

Scenes of a summer week in Maine! So glad I work from home, which means I can work from my real home (Maine, if that wasn’t clear)

1️⃣ Lots of Harley time
2️⃣ Working from home means saving my PTO for fun things!
3️⃣ Lots of duck families (📸 my dad)
4️⃣ What a lot of my days look like - Harley and my current project (needlepoint). And, yes, I’m still in a cast.
5️⃣ Learned how to play Mahjong, which my parents love
6️⃣ Lake views on the 4th

⬛⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

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 Harley the golden retriever on a deck as seen through some plants
2️⃣ Kate takes a selfie
3️⃣ A duck with little ducklings following on a lake
4️⃣ Harley coming up to Kate. Her legs are out on an ottoman, 1 foot in a walking cast, and an in-progress needlepoint project
5️⃣ Looking down at a Mahjong table with the game set up
6️⃣ A kayak on the shore of a lake 

#MaineTheWay #MaineSummer #Needlepoint #MaineLife
Living with chronic pain is really hard. You’re wi Living with chronic pain is really hard. You’re winning every day you’re still here.⁣
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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: The background image is a lake at sunset. Text reads what's above the first square and also "katethealmostgreat".⁣
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#ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #RheumatoidArthritis #Fibromyalgia #Endometriosis
I've been spending a fair amount of time at my foo I've been spending a fair amount of time at my foot surgeon's office this year, and boy has it been messing with my head. ⁣
⁣
I spent a lot of time from 2001-2010 dealing with my left foot. Long story short, it took until this foot surgeon saw me in 2010 after fixing this foot for me to be diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. But I spent those 9 years going from doctor to doctor, having surgery after surgery, trying to figure out what was causing my pain and to fix it. ⁣
⁣
Was it the tarsal coalition? Did I have another chronic health issue? Etc. ⁣
⁣
I spent from age 10 to 19 unsure what exactly was wrong with me and in huge amounts of pain. We thought we figured it out, and then something else happened. ⁣
⁣
We know exactly what is wrong with this foot this time around: in 2024, I got 3 stress fractures, and no one put me in a boot. They almost fully healed before breaking in 2025, and then the same thing happened in 2026. ⁣
⁣
This is a different part of the foot than I used to deal with, but any problems with my feet and especially my left foot messes with me. While this doctor eventually fixed the problems and even got me diagnosed with RA, every time I go back to his office, I have to fight not to become 17 again. ⁣
⁣
PTSD is a bitch.⁣
⁣
(PS - if you want to know why I'm going back to this guy when it messes with me, it's because I don't trust anyone else to fix my foot.)⁣
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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 takes a selfie in a doctor's office. ⁣
⁣
#PTSDAwareness #ChronicallyIll #TarsalCoalition #RheumatoidArthritis #Osteoporosis
Week 25 of #2026Weekly Happy to be in Maine for Week 25 of #2026Weekly 

Happy to be in Maine for a few weeks! I didn’t get up to a lot, so another week of very few pictures

1️⃣ IVIG 
2️⃣ Lots of beautiful birds have been coming to my mom’s bird feeder!

⬛⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

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 Looking at Kate’s lap. Tubes are coming out from under her shirt and there’s a Kindle
2️⃣ Birds arriving at a bird feeder as seen through a window

#ChronicallyIll #InvisibleIllness #ChronicPain #IVIG
What do you have to do every day for your chronic What do you have to do every day for your chronic illnesses? ⁣
⁣
For context, I have rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, endometriosis, POTS, heart disease, osteoporosis, and more. ⁣
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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: ⁣
Things I Do Every Day for My Chronic Illnesses⁣
Take pills at least 4 times a day⁣
Don’t eat gluten, dairy, corn, soy, or eggs⁣
Sleep 7+ hours a night⁣
Consume 80-100 grams of protein, 120 mg of calcium, 5-10 grams of sodium⁣
Wear a mask whenever I leave the house⁣
Do pilates 4+ days a week⁣
Work from home⁣
⁣
#ChronicallyIll #InvisibleIllness #RheumatoidArthritis #Fibromyalgia
Filmed this back in April (hence the sweater) but Filmed this back in April (hence the sweater) but it applies to whenever I have appointments! 

Video: Kate talks to the camera while holding a purse. She holds up individual items mentioned in the video before putting them in the bag. There are captions. 

#ChronicallyIll #RheumatoidArthritis #Osteoporosis #ChronicPain
There are a lot of medical advancements that I'm g There are a lot of medical advancements that I'm grateful for, but one of them is the ability to do IVIG at home. ⁣
⁣
I'm on IVIG - or, in my case, subcutaneous immunoglobulin replacement therapy - because I have to kill the better part of my immune system. There are, in fact, some parts of my immune system that don't attack me, which is why we add them back in. This helps reduce my chance of serious infection and also made my rheumatologist feel comfortable enough to increase my Rituxan dose. ⁣
⁣
This is a weekly treatment that I do, but it's so much better that I can do it at home than going into the hospital. It takes around 2.5 hours from taking my pre-meds to tossing my needles into a Sharps container. While it's another thing that I have to do, because I do it at home, I don't have to risk exposure to infections at the hospital or deal with Boston traffic, which would add another hour to the process. ⁣
⁣
I can finish my treatment and then go about my day, which I'm very grateful for.⁣
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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: A Kindle on Kate's legs. There are tubes for an infusion coming out of her shirt.⁣
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#IVIG #ChronicallyIll #RheumatoidArthritis #Autoimmune #AutoimmuneDisease
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