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in Lifestyle &middot April 22, 2016

How Studying Abroad Can Change Your Future

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in Lifestyle &middot April 22, 2016

How Studying Abroad Can Change Your Future

Hello regular Kate readers! My name is Amanda, and I usually blog over at Rhyme & Ribbons, I have the good fortune to be spending some time with you all today. Now, I try ... Read the Post...

How To Start Writing a Book
in Writing & Blogging &middot April 20, 2016

So You Want To Write a Book

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in Writing & Blogging &middot April 20, 2016

So You Want To Write a Book

How To Start Writing a Book

There are a lot of people out there who want to write a book. In 2014, 325,142 people signed up for NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month. As you can gather, that means ... 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 Lifestyle &middot April 18, 2016

Where I Went the Past 2 Weeks + an Etsy Giveaway

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in Lifestyle &middot April 18, 2016

Where I Went the Past 2 Weeks + an Etsy Giveaway

I'm back! I (obviously) took an unexpected 2-week blog vacation, but I'm back now. If you follow me on Twitter, you know that I had a small medical emergency last week, which ... Read the Post...

in Health &middot April 4, 2016

We Need To Talk about Ableism

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in Health &middot April 4, 2016

We Need To Talk about Ableism

As a society, we have become a lot more "politically correct" in the past decade. There a lot of people who think this is a bad thing (*cough* Donald Trump supporters ... Read the Post...

in Writing & Blogging &middot April 1, 2016

March Blog Traffic Report

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in Writing & Blogging &middot April 1, 2016

March Blog Traffic Report

What's really exciting to me today is that this marks 1 year of monitoring my blog traffic. For the past 365 days, I have been actively trying to grow my blog traffic and ... Read the Post...

March 2016 Favorites
in Lifestyle &middot March 30, 2016

March Favorites

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in Lifestyle &middot March 30, 2016

March Favorites

March 2016 Favorites

And suddenly we're 1/4 of the way through the year! It's hard to believe that, and I know that before long it will be summer and then winter again. March has been an ... Read the Post...

in Writing & Blogging &middot March 28, 2016

4 Reasons Why I Self-Publish

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in Writing & Blogging &middot March 28, 2016

4 Reasons Why I Self-Publish

As you may or may not know, I self-publish my books, which so far are Aureole and The Essential Grammar Handbook. There's no doubt that self-publishing is a lot of work, and ... Read the Post...

2016 Arthritis Foundation Advocacy Summit
in Health, Lifestyle &middot March 23, 2016

Arthritis Foundation Advocacy Summit 2016 (Plus $115 Gift Card Giveaway)

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in Health, Lifestyle &middot March 23, 2016

Arthritis Foundation Advocacy Summit 2016 (Plus $115 Gift Card Giveaway)

2016 Arthritis Foundation Advocacy Summit

Well, it took me nearly a week, but I finally have a recap of my trip to the Arthritis Foundation's Advocacy Summit! I'm going to talk about what I did on that trip, who I met ... Read the Post...

in Lifestyle, Writing & Blogging &middot March 21, 2016

My Morning Routine

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in Lifestyle, Writing & Blogging &middot March 21, 2016

My Morning Routine

My life is in a weird place at the moment. Two days a week, I work in Cambridge, and since I start at 7:30 AM, I'm up at 6 at the latest. Two other days a week, I have class ... Read the Post...

in Lifestyle &middot March 18, 2016

On Spring Beauty Products

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in Lifestyle &middot March 18, 2016

On Spring Beauty Products

Hello! I'm Lindsay and I blog at Bourbon, Lipstick, and Stilettos. I'm a 30-something Kentucky gal who believes in strong bourbon and a bold lip. I share my opinions on ... Read the Post...

in Writing & Blogging &middot March 16, 2016

5 Tips To Beat Writer’s Block

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in Writing & Blogging &middot March 16, 2016

5 Tips To Beat Writer’s Block

Hello readers of Kate the Almost Great! My name is Cherie Jamison and I blog over at Modern Yet Nostalgic. I write about pop culture, books, and my life as a single twenty ... Read the Post...

Splurge vs. Save
in Lifestyle &middot March 14, 2016

Splurge vs. Save: Spring Sandals

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in Lifestyle &middot March 14, 2016

Splurge vs. Save: Spring Sandals

Splurge vs. Save

Hello! I'm so excited to be guest posting for Kate and sharing my favorite accessory about spring; sandals! Of course this spring there are so many amazing design and style so ... Read the Post...

Spring 2016 Fashion
in Lifestyle &middot March 11, 2016

What I Wear in March

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in Lifestyle &middot March 11, 2016

What I Wear in March

Spring 2016 Fashion

March is a difficult month to dress for, especially in New England. We hit 70 the other day - which was a record, or at least very close to one - but last week it was 20s-30s. ... Read the Post...

How To Be a Better Blogger
in Writing & Blogging &middot March 9, 2016

How To Become a Better Blogger

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in Writing & Blogging &middot March 9, 2016

How To Become a Better Blogger

How To Be a Better Blogger

There's a lot that goes into blogging and, more specifically, into getting your blog set up. But whether you're brand new at this or you've been doing it for years, you can ... Read the Post...

in Health &middot March 4, 2016

4 Questions To Ask Before Sending Medical Advice on the Internet

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in Health &middot March 4, 2016

4 Questions To Ask Before Sending Medical Advice on the Internet

One of the most common things that happens on social media and this blog because I'm so open about my health issues is that I am contacted at least once a week (if not more) ... Read the Post...

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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!⁣
⁣
⬛⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣
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?⁣
⁣
⬛⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣
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⁣⁣.⁣
⁣
⁣⁣⬛⁣⁣⁣
⁣
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.⁣
⁣
⬛⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣
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.)⁣
⁣
⬛⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣
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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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⁣⁣.⁣
⁣
⁣⁣⬛⁣⁣
⁣
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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