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in Lifestyle, Uncategorized &middot March 4, 2015

Top 5 Online UK Shopping Catalogues

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in Lifestyle, Uncategorized &middot March 4, 2015

Top 5 Online UK Shopping Catalogues

The internet is a huge portal of information where a user can easily get lost and wind up wasting time and actually missing what they set out to look for. When it comes to ... Read the Post...

in Lifestyle, Uncategorized &middot March 3, 2015

February Favorites

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in Lifestyle, Uncategorized &middot March 3, 2015

February Favorites

Here's what I loved in February! Listening Today's Top Hits on Spotify Reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows / The Pillars of the ... 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, Uncategorized &middot March 2, 2015

How to Travel By Train in Europe

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in Lifestyle, Uncategorized &middot March 2, 2015

How to Travel By Train in Europe

Hi, Kate the Almost Great readers. I’m Olya, and I blog over at The Siberian American. I love writing about our travel adventures and our journey through medical school. ... Read the Post...

in Health, Uncategorized &middot March 1, 2015

Spoonie Spotlight: Sarah

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in Health, Uncategorized &middot March 1, 2015

Spoonie Spotlight: Sarah

Happy Sunday and welcome to this week's Spoonie Spotlight. Today I'm featuring Sarah! Spoonie Spotlight is my way to use my platform to share the stories of others living with ... Read the Post...

in Lifestyle, Uncategorized &middot February 24, 2015

The Crime Show Deal

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in Lifestyle, Uncategorized &middot February 24, 2015

The Crime Show Deal

If you follow me on Twitter (psh of course you are - why wouldn't you?), you might know that I spend lot of time watching crime shows when I'm not feeling well. This has made ... Read the Post...

in Lifestyle, Uncategorized &middot February 23, 2015

Two Faced Eye Shadow Collection Giveaway

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in Lifestyle, Uncategorized &middot February 23, 2015

Two Faced Eye Shadow Collection Giveaway

Too Faced Eye Shadow Collection Giveaway Kate - Kate the (Almost) Great Elizabeth & Luke - Something Saturdays Kate - Green Fashionista Alison - Simply ... Read the Post...

in Lifestyle, Uncategorized &middot February 21, 2015

On Ridesharing

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in Lifestyle, Uncategorized &middot February 21, 2015

On Ridesharing

Ridesharing is huge now, and I am a big fan of it. I use it to get around Boston because of my knee and everything - even though I live just a handful of blocks away from a T ... Read the Post...

in Lifestyle, Uncategorized &middot February 20, 2015

Top 3 Closet Staples

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in Lifestyle, Uncategorized &middot February 20, 2015

Top 3 Closet Staples

Is your closet cluttered? Do you have 10 pairs of jeans? When you walk into a store, do you get overwhelmed because you do not know what to buy? My best guess is that you do ... Read the Post...

in Lifestyle, Uncategorized &middot February 19, 2015

I’m Alive!

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in Lifestyle, Uncategorized &middot February 19, 2015

I’m Alive!

One week ago, I woke up and was pumped to go to Massachusetts General Hospital to have knee surgery. Today was the first day since then that I was able to wake up, put makeup ... Read the Post...

in Uncategorized, Writing & Blogging &middot February 17, 2015

Using Music As A Writing Tool

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in Uncategorized, Writing & Blogging &middot February 17, 2015

Using Music As A Writing Tool

Hello lovelies! While Kate is recovering from her surgery and 300 inches of snow fall in the Boston area (only slightly exaggerated) she was sweet enough to hand the blog ... Read the Post...

in Lifestyle, Uncategorized &middot February 16, 2015

Cafe Nero: A Place Like Home

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in Lifestyle, Uncategorized &middot February 16, 2015

Cafe Nero: A Place Like Home

Hi Everyone! My name is Sarah Parker Cotham with Parker the Prepster. I am so honored to share one of my favorite spots in Boston on Kate's blog. I hope you enjoy my personal ... Read the Post...

in Health, Uncategorized &middot February 15, 2015

Spoonie Spotlight: Manda

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in Health, Uncategorized &middot February 15, 2015

Spoonie Spotlight: Manda

Hope you're all having a good weekend! Today's feature on Spoonie Spotlight is Manda! Spoonie Spotlight is my way to use my platform to share the stories of others living with ... Read the Post...

in Lifestyle, Uncategorized &middot February 13, 2015

Ten Books Guaranteed To take Your Mind Off of Winter

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in Lifestyle, Uncategorized &middot February 13, 2015

Ten Books Guaranteed To take Your Mind Off of Winter

As I write this, I am looking out my window at all of the snow piled up on the ground. And the snow covering the rooftops and treetops. And more snow is on its way to ... Read the Post...

in Lifestyle, Uncategorized &middot February 12, 2015

Presenting Your Best Self

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in Lifestyle, Uncategorized &middot February 12, 2015

Presenting Your Best Self

Hello everyone! My name is Alyssa J Freitas and I blog over at Alyssa J Freitas (I was so creative with my title, I know). I am so pleased to be guest posting on Kate’s blog ... Read the Post...

in Health, Uncategorized &middot February 11, 2015

On My Upcoming Surgery

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in Health, Uncategorized &middot February 11, 2015

On My Upcoming Surgery

Hi, everyone! Just popping in today to chat a little about my surgery tomorrow and the next couple of weeks. As of right now, my surgery is still on, so cross your fingers ... 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⁣⁣.⁣
⁣
⁣⁣⬛⁣⁣⁣
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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.⁣
⁣
⬛⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣
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⁣⁣.⁣
⁣
⁣⁣⬛⁣⁣
⁣
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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