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January 2016 Favorites
in Lifestyle &middot January 29, 2016

January Favorites

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in Lifestyle &middot January 29, 2016

January Favorites

January 2016 Favorites

Another month has come and gone and it's time to talk about the things I loved in January! Don't forget to enter to win a Starbucks gift card! All Monthly ... Read the Post...

in Health &middot January 27, 2016

What’s Up with My Current Health?

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in Health &middot January 27, 2016

What’s Up with My Current Health?

I've talked a little about this in previous posts and on social media, but enough things have changed in my health situation that I think it warrants an entire blog post about ... 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 January 25, 2016

How I Promote My Blog Posts

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in Writing & Blogging &middot January 25, 2016

How I Promote My Blog Posts

No matter how great your blog post is, it doesn't matter if no one reads it. If you don't know how to promote your blog posts, who cares if your post is amazing? About a year ... Read the Post...

Relationships and Chronic Pain
in Health &middot January 21, 2016

Relationships And Chronic Pain

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in Health &middot January 21, 2016

Relationships And Chronic Pain

Relationships and Chronic Pain

Relationships are tricky for anyone of any age. There's a lot of give and take and everyone has some sort of baggage. But what about when your baggage is up front and center? ... Read the Post...

in Writing & Blogging &middot January 15, 2016

How and Why To Make a Novel Playlist

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in Writing & Blogging &middot January 15, 2016

How and Why To Make a Novel Playlist

Writing is a wonderful thing, but it can be tough to get in touch with your story on a deeper level. Yes, you have the plot set and your characters identified and filled out. ... Read the Post...

in Health &middot January 14, 2016

Accepting Your Body with Chronic Illness

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in Health &middot January 14, 2016

Accepting Your Body with Chronic Illness

Interestingly, today's blog post topic was decided on weeks ago. I say "interestingly" because Tuesday was the worst pain day that I've had since I had knee surgery, and ... Read the Post...

Big Magic Quote
in Lifestyle &middot January 11, 2016

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert: A Review

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in Lifestyle &middot January 11, 2016

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert: A Review

Big Magic Quote

If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram, you probably know that I recently read Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, who also wrote Eat, Pray, Love.You probably also know that I ... Read the Post...

Get More Blog Traffic in 2016
in Writing & Blogging &middot January 8, 2016

10 Ways To Get More Blog Traffic in 2016

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in Writing & Blogging &middot January 8, 2016

10 Ways To Get More Blog Traffic in 2016

Get More Blog Traffic in 2016

2015 was a big year for Kate the (Almost) Great. My blog traffic increased dramatically from December 31, 2014 to December 31, 2015, and it wasn't pure luck. It was from a ... Read the Post...

in Lifestyle &middot January 7, 2016

Currently

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in Lifestyle &middot January 7, 2016

Currently

What I'm Up To Reading: I just finished Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert (yes, I'm reviewing it next week because you may know that I'm obsessed with it) and I'm either going ... Read the Post...

Loving Someone with Chronic Pain: What You Should Know
in Health &middot January 4, 2016

Loving Someone with Chronic Pain

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in Health &middot January 4, 2016

Loving Someone with Chronic Pain

Loving Someone with Chronic Pain: What You Should Know

A significantly updated version of this post was published on May 17, 2022. Click here to view it. There are an estimated 100 million Americans who live with chronic pain, ... Read the Post...

Did my blog traffic increase in December?
in Writing & Blogging &middot January 1, 2016

Did My Blog Traffic Increase in December?

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in Writing & Blogging &middot January 1, 2016

Did My Blog Traffic Increase in December?

Did my blog traffic increase in December?

Happy 2016! We're starting off the year with a blog traffic report and I'm excited to see where this here blog goes in the new year. Without further ado, let's try to answer ... Read the Post...

in Lifestyle &middot December 30, 2015

The Best of Kate the (Almost) Great in 2015

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in Lifestyle &middot December 30, 2015

The Best of Kate the (Almost) Great in 2015

Another year is (almost) in the books. I've never been much of one for resolutions, as my abilities and such are completely unpredictable given my health. However, I'm all for ... Read the Post...

Smashbox Palette Giveaway
in Lifestyle &middot December 28, 2015

Christmas Recap + Smashbox Palette Giveaway

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in Lifestyle &middot December 28, 2015

Christmas Recap + Smashbox Palette Giveaway

Smashbox Palette Giveaway

It's hard to believe that Christmas is already over and the end of 2015 is coming up soon. I spent the holiday up in Maine, and it was wonderful. Today I'm sharing a look at ... Read the Post...

What To Wear on Christmas
in Lifestyle &middot December 21, 2015

What To Wear on Christmas or Christmas Eve

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in Lifestyle &middot December 21, 2015

What To Wear on Christmas or Christmas Eve

What To Wear on Christmas

It's hard to believe it - especially if you live in New England in the United States - but Christmas is this week. But because of the warmer-than-usual temperatures, you may ... Read the Post...

1 Blog Post Idea for Every Week of 2016
in Writing & Blogging &middot December 16, 2015

Blog Post Ideas for Every Week of the Year

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in Writing & Blogging &middot December 16, 2015

Blog Post Ideas for Every Week of the Year

1 Blog Post Idea for Every Week of 2016

Start your blog off on the right foot in 2016 with a whole list of blog ideas! I'm giving you a blog post idea for every week next year. That's one blog post each week that ... 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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Kate the (Almost) Great

Chronic health lifestyle blog

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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 ⁣
⁣
As you can imagine, that makes me very aware of my disability via juvenile arthritis⁣
⁣
⬛⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣
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 Bluesky post. The background is dark teal, and it's written by Kate Mitchell | Kate the (Almost) Great with the username katethealmostgreat.bsky.social. ⁣The text reads what's above the first black box.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣
#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. ⁣
⁣
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. ⁣
⁣
It doesn't mean that one person is necessarily worse off than another; they're just different.⁣
⁣
⬛⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣
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: 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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⬛⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣
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. ⁣
⁣
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?⁣
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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: "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
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