Hi! And welcome to my page! I have been posting on and off this blog since 2010, so much has changed! So much life has happened! I started my blog back when I was first diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus because I wanted to show that despite having these invisible illnesses, you could still live a life!
Since 2010, I have earned a master’s and a doctoral program. In those years, I wanted to share my life as a student, full-time employee, and wife. I wore many hats but through the years in school, my determination to succeed only grew. I graduated in May 2015 as Dr. Joanna Tucker. One of the biggest and best accomplishments of my life.
Since 2015 I have started my own Mary Kay business, which I love. I originally started my business to possibly start working from home. And then I succeeded in recieving access to the Publis Student Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. I will continue to work in public higher education for the next 9 years, and my loans after that time will be forgiven! I am so grateful because I do love what I do and my Mary Kay business is a fabulous side business.
I’ve debated for several months whether to keep this blog going since I’m not longer in school, I wasn’t sure what else I could offer. But then I realized, I miss this blog. I miss sharing my life and feelings to the great void. So I will continue to share my life, my thoughts, my dreams, my travels and my passions. I hope that someone out there enjoys it. My goal remains to share that despite having an invisible illness, you too can live a great life!
Dr. Joanna Tucker
WalkingThroughPain 
Hi 🙂 Totally love your point of view… I try hard to be positive with my illness ( I have Psoriatic Arthrtist and also have not been found to have a Rheumatoid factor in my blood. But My disease is so obvious (me knees swell up larger than canteloupes) and I’ve had it since I was 14 so I’ve been in the system for a while now despite having no official blood test stating I have RA or PA.
I have been on methotrexate for 5 years and am adding on Arava starting this Monday since the methotrexate alone has completley failed me in recent months. Can you tell me a bit more about your first few weeks on arava … My wedding is in less than a month…but I want to start the meds so I will be at least on my feet during the festivities… will I have my hair? or should I start wig shopping? lol
Hi!! Wow it is sooo hard sometimes to work with physicians to get them to understand. I am thankful though that I am at least getting treatment, at this point that is all I care about. And CONGRATULATIONS on getting married soon! I was sick when I got engaged..and doctors were refusing to treat me for RA (because I was RF Neg.) and so I was sooo miserable. We pushed up our wedding and did something VERY low key to avoid my stress.
On the Arava, honestly my biggest problem at the begginning was the stomach/diarrhea problems. I had that a lot with the MTX, but if you have not you may not with Arava either. It was not not until probably 3 or 4 months in that I noticed my hair coming out in bunches. I had thick long frizzy curly hair and now since I have been on Arava (been on in it since Nov. 10) thin, thin, thin no so frizzy wavy hair. So it has changed my hair BUT I have tried to make the best of it. I got a hair cut (like this http://www.google.com/imgres?start=69&hl=en&biw=1366&bih=599&tbm=isch&tbnid=tfOOCGQc1PmKHM:&imgrefurl=http://dealofhair.com/282/womens-bob-and-pixie-hairstyles-for-winter/&docid=LaEt2YEbT6XPxM&imgurl=http://dealofhair.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/612e8db0ef9a802a4df0af7a974f07563.jpg&w=755&h=936&ei=XkbKT_eVBcTo2AWY7KXaCw&zoom=1) and I do like it. Def. let me know how it goes!!
Thanks 🙂 I like the posh haircut… though she could do to smile a bit more 🙂 Unfortunately I already have very fine hair… so not a huge fan of the idea of it thinning! But like you said… gotta make the best of it! Thanks for giving me some insight… I’m starting it Monday … so here goes nothing!
Let me know how it goes! I will say a prayer that all goes a ok! As a bride you have many more important things than our medicine! 🙂 you have a major important day ahead of you!
I want to say two things. One, I love your blog. I don’t have the same problem as you, I suffer from Fibromyalgia, Migraines, Depression, Panic Disorder, blah, blah , blah. Two, thank you for reading my blog and nominating me for a Sunshine Award. I am thrilled since I just started blogging and did not know if anyone would read my blog. Oh, three! I am not sure that this is ‘done’, but I nominated you. I know you have 2 already and so you don’t have to go through all those questions and answers again. I just hope to help others find your blog. Have a wonderful day!
Hey! I love your blog, definitely keep it up! I’m glad you like mine, I started just like you a little over a year ago! Fibro alone is a major battle to live with, we share that battle! And together we will fight it l, day by day!
Yes, it is a day by day thing. I had a good day yesterday and I’m having a good day today. I like to read about others’ thoughts on this disease as well as how they are continuing to live their lives as best they can.
This is a beautiful blog and you are a very brave person. Thank you for sharing your journey with us. I have nominated you for a Sunshine Award http://tersiaburger.com/2012/08/26/sunshine-award/
THANK YOU! I really appreciate recieving this honor!
My mom has RA. She has had it since she was 9. She also has fibromyalgia and we are 99% sure that I have fibromyalgia as well. So not fun.
Oh my goodness! since she was nine!!!! I cannot imagine 😦
we now think my fibromyalgia first presented itself between the ages of 12-14
Hi!
I am starting a directory of Bloggers who educate, support, enlighten, inform, inspire and motivate people about and with Fibromyalgia.
I would really like to include you and your blog.
Please have a look at the information for Bloggers on my site: http://fibromodem.wordpress.com/fck-directory/for-bloggers/; and, if you would like to be included, please follow the directions and then email me at fibromodem@hotmail.com.
I hope you choose to be part of this new project.
Regards,
Fibromodem
I have been absent for a while, but now I remember why I used to love this web site. Thanks, I will try and check back more frequently. How frequently you update your website?
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Hi, many thanks for the follow on http://www.postsofhypnoticsuggestion.wordpress.com I really appreciate your support. This is a great blog by the way, so I’ve followed you too!
Wishing you all the best,
Tony
So appreciate what you’ve shared. I was diagnosed with RA 12 years ago, have had ups and downs, and now live med free. I’ve recently started blogging in the hope that I can help others as I share my healing journey with RA. Blessings!
I love hearing from you and the many others who share this journey! I have also followed your blog so we can keep up with each other :).
I have fibromyalgia. In reading your opening paragraph i had to chuckle. I have never heard of people with RA being called “squeakers” and people with fibro being called “spoonies”. Where did you come up with these “nick-names”? On another note, my goodness… you got a triple whammy! Since the symptoms of all three are similar how did your doctors figure out that they were separate?
🙂 thanks! There is a great RA group called “squeaky joints” so the nick name became squeakers. And the spoonies came from the “Spoon Theory.” A great help for people with invisible diseases. Google it if you haven’t heard about it.
In all honesty my rheumatologist hasn’t really figured out where the lines are. I started with RA and then when mtx didn’t work she did more blood work. That’s when she believed lupus come in, she switched me to a drug that worked for both lupus and RA and I began to improve. Six months later I was still in pain but it wasn’t in my joints. That’s when she started me on Lyrica for Fibro. And it helped so she has continued the treatment.
Now she has me on everything she can for sjorgens disease. My eyes are the worst, but the Biotene and Bioten are helping.
🙂 thanks for checking in! I love hearing from readers! 🙂
Your blog is so cool, I nominated you for the Liebster award! Congratulations!
http://trynabpainfreemomma.wordpress.com/2013/10/12/id-like-to-thank-the-academy/
thank you so much! I am so touched
Congratulations! I’ve nominated you for the Liebster Award! The Liebster Award is also known as the “favorite blog award”. And since your blog totally rocks my world, that’s why I chose yours. Check out my post to find out the steps to graciously accept your award, and keep up the great blogging! 🙂 Jenn xx
Thank you! Wow so awesome!!!!
Congratulations! I have just nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award! To learn more about this lovely award and to find out the steps to accept this award, click on the link below. Jenn xx
http://myfibrotasticlife.wordpress.com/2013/10/16/and-now-presenting-the-versatile-blogger-award/
You are soooo kind!!!! Thank you!!!!
I’ve nominated you for the Liebster award, congrats, you can view it here 🙂 http://theneverendingheadache.wordpress.com/2013/10/21/the-liebster-award/
Hey! I’ve nominated you for the Dragon Loyalty Award! Take a look: http://bakingbutterhappiness.com/2013/11/26/dueling-dragons-dragon-loyalty-award/
Thank you so much! You are so kind!
Hey my new friend! Mommy asked me to hit you 🙂 XOXO – Bacon