About the Blogger

     Hello!  My name is Cristen.  After being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 2004, I hit the road of prescription drugs and hit it hard.  Go to the doctor and get well, that's how I always did it before.  Six years on this road, my enthusiasm for taking whatever my rheumatologist prescribed hit quite a few egregious pot holes --osteopenia, elevated liver enzymes, and considerable weight gain.  Ouch! Fear set in.  When I would sit down to shoot my thigh with methotrexate which was never an issue, I would get nauseous and the prick hurt about fifty times worse than it ever had before.  The drugs offered relief from the pain, but they also always seemed to fizzle and the pain would come back after several months subdued.  In turn, I began to explore other options.  Something was begging me to wake up and make some changes.  So, I did just that.
     Today, I manage my disease with a more integrative approach.  Yes, I am on prescription medication, but I also mediate, practice Pangu Qigong, watch my diet, take herbs and supplements, and approach life with an attitude full of gratitude.
     The changes that I have made particularly qigong and meditation have opened me up to an inner voice.  I write about these loving communications that I have with the divine that help me cope with rheumatoid arthritis.  I have a feeling my experiences will help you.