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Rheumatoid Arthritis Unmasked: 10 Dangers of Rheumatoid Disease
What if no one confused rheumatoid disease with just arthritis? What if the world understood that people with rheumatoid disease (RD) are not hypochondriacs because they have so many health problems? What if all of the effects of the disease were treated – not dismissed or ignored? Rheumatoid Arthritis Unmasked exposes the true nature of RD revealed in medical research. For about a decade, Kelly O’Neill Young has studied current and past academic research about RA, reading hundreds of journal articles for this book alone. Kelly, widely known as the RA Warrior, has also gained a unique perspective by listening to millions of visitors to her website and social network. Patients will be armed to fight against becoming a victim of the RD mortality gap Doctors will know how to better diagnose and treat RD Friends and family will understand that their loved one with RD has a serious disease Rheumatoid Arthritis Unmasked is more than a gripping account of the dangers of RD - it is a path for change. This book equips all RA warriors to guide their own medical care and safeguard their health. This book will arm you with facts that will save lives. “I admire deeply your ability to collect information, express feelings, write clearly and compelling, and point to why it matters. That’s what the best change agents do, and you’re tops.” e-patient Dave deBronkart EXCERPT FROM CHAPTER 1 One unfortunate effect of viewing the disease solely in terms of joint symptoms is the undocumented smoldering disease activity that takes place even in so-called “responders” to treatment. Nearly every patient I’ve met who has been told she is “in remission” experiences joint symptoms either regularly or in the form of periodic flares. Furthermore, I have observed several people who experienced serious extra-articular illness after long periods of treatment-induced joint-symptom “remission.” Likewise, an editorial by Harvard rheumatology investigator Daniel Solomon points out that even when medical treatment successfully improves joint symptoms, “patients with RA continue to suffer from a variety of extra-articular manifestations, including cardiovascular disease (CVD).”1 Health care professionals are mainly aware that the disease affects hands, but other disease symptoms are less readily acknowledged, examined, or measured. While the disease is referred to as “a type of arthritis,”2 it is difficult for people with rheumatoid disease to obtain appropriate medical attention for non-joint symptoms or for lesser-known “joints” such as vocal cords. Effective treatments do not yet exist to eliminate every disease effect in every patient. However, making health care workers, academics, and investigators aware of systemic disease effects is a necessary first step. Excerpt provided since Amazon does not provide the “Look inside” feature during pre-orders of Kindle books. This book discusses rheumatoid arthritis symptoms that are beyond joints, often mistakenly thought of as rheumatoid arthritis complications. This is a rheumatoid arthritis guide like no other, a medical reference book for patients, medical students, and health professionals who care for rheumatoid arthritis patients. Most people understand rheumatoid arthritis / rheumatoid disease (RD) as an autoimmune disease that results in chronic pain in joints. However the notion of autoimmune arthritis is insufficient for RD since it usually limits perspective to the musculoskeletal disease only.
- GenresHealth
342 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 26, 2017
226 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
November 11, 2017
This book is a must read for all who suffer from Rheumatoid Disease, their doctors, nurses, families and friends.
Bypennypiton October 30, 2017
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
This book is a must read for all who suffer from Rheumatoid Disease, their doctors, nurses, families and friends. This book is so overdue!! My thanks goes to a very brave and courageous, hard working and dedicated woman who has fought for so many years to tell the real story of Rheumatoid Disease. I have followed her RA Warrior webpage and Facebook page for years. Now she has taken her dedication to a new level with this wonderful book. Untold hours of work and the accompanying pain have gone into making this the most complete and relevant book about Rheumatoid Arthritis I have ever read. Having suffered with RA for over 30 years, and as an RN doing my own research during that time, I have read many books about my disease. I know first hand that Kelly has truly unmasked this mysterious, insidious, unrelenting, excruciatingly painful disease for what it really is. She has the respect and love of so many who suffer along side her, but she also has the respect and encouragement of many in the medical community. If only every doctor, nurse, family member and friend of RA patients would read this book, the lives of millions could be changed for the better. I have recommended it to my rheumatologist and her staff.
Bypennypiton October 30, 2017
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
This book is a must read for all who suffer from Rheumatoid Disease, their doctors, nurses, families and friends. This book is so overdue!! My thanks goes to a very brave and courageous, hard working and dedicated woman who has fought for so many years to tell the real story of Rheumatoid Disease. I have followed her RA Warrior webpage and Facebook page for years. Now she has taken her dedication to a new level with this wonderful book. Untold hours of work and the accompanying pain have gone into making this the most complete and relevant book about Rheumatoid Arthritis I have ever read. Having suffered with RA for over 30 years, and as an RN doing my own research during that time, I have read many books about my disease. I know first hand that Kelly has truly unmasked this mysterious, insidious, unrelenting, excruciatingly painful disease for what it really is. She has the respect and love of so many who suffer along side her, but she also has the respect and encouragement of many in the medical community. If only every doctor, nurse, family member and friend of RA patients would read this book, the lives of millions could be changed for the better. I have recommended it to my rheumatologist and her staff.
September 20, 2020
Great effort from a diligent, inspirational soul .. .
توقعت أكثر مما أعرفه، لكن دون شك مجهود شخصي مميز قريب من أن يكون جامع لمصادر موثوقة خلال سبعين سنة الأخيرة من اختراع علاج الكورتيزون ومن ثم الأدوية البيولوجية الحالية
المؤلفةمصابة بمرض الروماتويد من سن صغير ومن عائلة يضم أيضا فيها
أبرز ما لفت نظري والجديد بالنسبة لي هو سعيها لتحديد:
#الروماتويد من نوع من التهاب المفاصل كما هو معتمد عالميا إلى مرض له كيانه الخاص به
ومن كونه يصيب الجهاز العضلي الهيكلي إلى مرض متعدد الأمراض
"Rheumatoid arthritis should be viewed as a multi system disease affecting multiple organs "
ومن مجرد التهاب مفصل إلى مرض قاهر مدمر مهدد للحياة
تبرز عشر أعضاء من الجسم معرضة للتلف ومهددة للحياة نتيجة المرض مباشرة أو الأعراض الجانبية للأدوية المستخدمة وتضاربها معا
تكشف عبر الإحصائيات أن من المرضى بدأت أعراض المرض باطنية (قلب،جلد ،قولون الخ) أو عامة ( حرارة، تعب مزمن،جفاف العين الخ ) وليس ما هو شائع تورم مفاصل اليد أولا
مرضى الروماتويد معرضين لخطر الموت (مثال) نتيجة أمراض الأوعية الدموية أضعاف مضاعفة من غيرهم، لذا وجب استحداث مصطلح
Rheumatoid Vasculitis
ويقاس عليها باقي الأعضاء القلب والكلية إلخ
"A disease that increases mortality deserves a lable enough to provoke concern and curiosity in the medical community "
أطباؤنا ملزمين بإجابة صريحة مباشرة لأسئلتنا بلا خشية من عدم استيعابنا لها أو الخشية علينا من الخيبة واليأس وسوء الحالة !، صراحتهم تبعدنا عن الشعور بذنب الإصابة وسوء تقدم حالة أجسامنا وإعاقتنا، وبعدم تقدير الذات وبعدم الكفاءة بين أقراننا وأسرنا
وخطوة نحو مسح التسميات الشعبية عن التهاب المفاصل
قلة التمويل المالي للبحوث، والمسح المنتظم للمعلومات الجديدة، وقلة الأخصائيين في قسم الروماتيزم وبالتحديد الروماتويد أكثر العقبات في تطوير النظام العلاجي الشامل للطاقم الطبي والمريض والمجتمع
ومما يجعل من علم الروماتيزم أكثر جاذبية وفتنة هو النجاح .. نجاحات مؤقتة لمرض طويل الأجل
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====/====
كتاب ورقي من أمازون ليس له نسخة عربية، وقد ترجمتها للإفادة واختصرت أبرز ما جاء فيها وإن كانت البقية مهمة
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توقعت أكثر مما أعرفه، لكن دون شك مجهود شخصي مميز قريب من أن يكون جامع لمصادر موثوقة خلال سبعين سنة الأخيرة من اختراع علاج الكورتيزون ومن ثم الأدوية البيولوجية الحالية
المؤلفةمصابة بمرض الروماتويد من سن صغير ومن عائلة يضم أيضا فيها
أبرز ما لفت نظري والجديد بالنسبة لي هو سعيها لتحديد:
#الروماتويد من نوع من التهاب المفاصل كما هو معتمد عالميا إلى مرض له كيانه الخاص به
ومن كونه يصيب الجهاز العضلي الهيكلي إلى مرض متعدد الأمراض
"Rheumatoid arthritis should be viewed as a multi system disease affecting multiple organs "
ومن مجرد التهاب مفصل إلى مرض قاهر مدمر مهدد للحياة
تبرز عشر أعضاء من الجسم معرضة للتلف ومهددة للحياة نتيجة المرض مباشرة أو الأعراض الجانبية للأدوية المستخدمة وتضاربها معا
تكشف عبر الإحصائيات أن من المرضى بدأت أعراض المرض باطنية (قلب،جلد ،قولون الخ) أو عامة ( حرارة، تعب مزمن،جفاف العين الخ ) وليس ما هو شائع تورم مفاصل اليد أولا
مرضى الروماتويد معرضين لخطر الموت (مثال) نتيجة أمراض الأوعية الدموية أضعاف مضاعفة من غيرهم، لذا وجب استحداث مصطلح
Rheumatoid Vasculitis
ويقاس عليها باقي الأعضاء القلب والكلية إلخ
"A disease that increases mortality deserves a lable enough to provoke concern and curiosity in the medical community "
أطباؤنا ملزمين بإجابة صريحة مباشرة لأسئلتنا بلا خشية من عدم استيعابنا لها أو الخشية علينا من الخيبة واليأس وسوء الحالة !، صراحتهم تبعدنا عن الشعور بذنب الإصابة وسوء تقدم حالة أجسامنا وإعاقتنا، وبعدم تقدير الذات وبعدم الكفاءة بين أقراننا وأسرنا
وخطوة نحو مسح التسميات الشعبية عن التهاب المفاصل
قلة التمويل المالي للبحوث، والمسح المنتظم للمعلومات الجديدة، وقلة الأخصائيين في قسم الروماتيزم وبالتحديد الروماتويد أكثر العقبات في تطوير النظام العلاجي الشامل للطاقم الطبي والمريض والمجتمع
ومما يجعل من علم الروماتيزم أكثر جاذبية وفتنة هو النجاح .. نجاحات مؤقتة لمرض طويل الأجل
.
====/====
كتاب ورقي من أمازون ليس له نسخة عربية، وقد ترجمتها للإفادة واختصرت أبرز ما جاء فيها وإن كانت البقية مهمة
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March 22, 2018
As a reader recently stuck in the limbo of figuring out an autoimmune diagnosis that is affecting my joints, I wanted to start educating myself on various possibilities of wtf is wrong with me/causing me to wake up in pain every morning. This book was both cheap in kindle amd I recognized the author's bame from hwr website RA Warrior, which I'd browsed some the day before. O'Neill-Young's book is informative and well reaearched and shows her passion for helping patients and the medical community both find answers and take seriously the systemic issues involved in rheumatoid diseases beyond the arthritis factor. She advocates for changing the name of the disease, droppi g the word arthritis because it makes people unfamiliar with autoimmune aspecta of the disease unaware of the other dangerous meducal issues that come with the diagnosis and even gives doctors pause about seeing the disease in young people. Apparently with rheumatoid disease, early amd awidt diagnosis and treatment is a patient's best hope, yet it takes most medical communities years to make an accurate diagnosis for oatienta presenting a wide variety of symptoms. An excellent primer, but also pretty scary to read as someone who still is unsure if this could be the diagnosis I will ultimately be hearing once all the appointments and testing and waiting (and waiting for all of those things, one at a time...) is over. 4 stars.
February 1, 2021
Thought provoking/well researched
I received my rheumatoid disease diagnosis 5 1/2 years ago at the age of 27. After reading this book, I can clearly see the timeline of events leading up to my diagnosis that are made up of “mysterious” symptoms and testing that always led me down an empty path. After all of these years, over a decade later, I find myself wondering how all of those early symptoms were associated in my debilitating state now, and this book helped me piece together how the puzzle could all fit together, prompting me to immediately talk to my PCP about seeing a pulmonologist and a cardiologist as I’ve had many lung and Cardiovascular issues over the past decade that have gone unexplained. This Book was validating to what I experience on a day-to-day basis and educational. The personal stories left me emotional. I just started seeing a new rheumatologist after a several year hiatus trying to take my health into my own hands, and unfortunately, I’m sicker now than I was before. I’m looking for answers, I feel ready to dive back in, and I’m ready to be educated and be an advocate for my health while working with a team of specialists. Thank you, Kelly, for this book, it was extremely timely for it to pop up as a recommendation in my Kindle app. I devoured it in under 24 hours, and will go back through and take notes so that I’m prepared in the next couple of weeks to see my new rheumatologist. Thank you for being a warrior for us all!
I received my rheumatoid disease diagnosis 5 1/2 years ago at the age of 27. After reading this book, I can clearly see the timeline of events leading up to my diagnosis that are made up of “mysterious” symptoms and testing that always led me down an empty path. After all of these years, over a decade later, I find myself wondering how all of those early symptoms were associated in my debilitating state now, and this book helped me piece together how the puzzle could all fit together, prompting me to immediately talk to my PCP about seeing a pulmonologist and a cardiologist as I’ve had many lung and Cardiovascular issues over the past decade that have gone unexplained. This Book was validating to what I experience on a day-to-day basis and educational. The personal stories left me emotional. I just started seeing a new rheumatologist after a several year hiatus trying to take my health into my own hands, and unfortunately, I’m sicker now than I was before. I’m looking for answers, I feel ready to dive back in, and I’m ready to be educated and be an advocate for my health while working with a team of specialists. Thank you, Kelly, for this book, it was extremely timely for it to pop up as a recommendation in my Kindle app. I devoured it in under 24 hours, and will go back through and take notes so that I’m prepared in the next couple of weeks to see my new rheumatologist. Thank you for being a warrior for us all!
November 1, 2017
A Must Read for those Suffering or Caring for someone with RD
Reading this book has been an eye opener for me! I was diagnosed with RA in 2012 and have read so many different articles my head aches. Although I am fortunate to have a very supportive family, I too have dealt with people looking at my hands and saying "you don't look like you have arthritis". It's frustrating and demeaning! After reading this book I would recommend every person with RD also read, have your family and friends read, get your doctor(s) to read this. I had so many "ah-ha" moments. As I stated I was diagnosed in 2012. This year my new Rheumatologist said she would guess I was symptomatic as far back as 2002. Now after reading the data Kelly has spent years compiling, I'm left wondering if my own disease doesn't go back even further. I can't urge you strongly enough to share this information. Become an advocate. Fight for our right to receive better medical care; more research dollars; fight for a cure! Help us, those with RD, get properly educated and get the real medical treatment we need to enjoy the quality of life most people take for granted.
Reading this book has been an eye opener for me! I was diagnosed with RA in 2012 and have read so many different articles my head aches. Although I am fortunate to have a very supportive family, I too have dealt with people looking at my hands and saying "you don't look like you have arthritis". It's frustrating and demeaning! After reading this book I would recommend every person with RD also read, have your family and friends read, get your doctor(s) to read this. I had so many "ah-ha" moments. As I stated I was diagnosed in 2012. This year my new Rheumatologist said she would guess I was symptomatic as far back as 2002. Now after reading the data Kelly has spent years compiling, I'm left wondering if my own disease doesn't go back even further. I can't urge you strongly enough to share this information. Become an advocate. Fight for our right to receive better medical care; more research dollars; fight for a cure! Help us, those with RD, get properly educated and get the real medical treatment we need to enjoy the quality of life most people take for granted.
September 15, 2019
I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid disease in 2013. Since then I have lost the ability to do many of the things I love, and eventually making me unable to work, and had to leave my job of 10 years that I loved. For the past several years as I've struggled to cope with first recognizing myself how severe the disease can be, and also getting other people to not dismiss me. Limping around with my cane, I would have people ask me what was wrong. Saying "Rheumatoid Arthritis" I'd get oh my grandma has arthritis, or have you tried xyz? Until eventually I just started telling people I have an autoimmune disease. I am grateful for this book. I had no idea that for 70 years patients and clinicians alike have been trying to change the name to reflect the disease. It has given me resources which I can hopefully share to get help for my non joint related symptoms being caused by this debilitating disease.
November 11, 2017
This book is backed by over 600 citations from medical journals, proving that the disease called Rheumatoid Arthritis is so much more than joint pain. As one of many patients who have heart and lung disease as a deadly counterpart to arthritis, I believe it is crucial that this book be read by the medical community.
The author, Kelly O’Neil Young, must have taken years to compile all of this information. I commend her dedication, because it gives hope that patients presenting with symptoms other than the standard finger-joint inflammation will no longer be ignored. It is my hope that someday early-treatment will prevent the development of systemic lung, heart, and vascular issues which often lead to excess suffering and early death.
The author, Kelly O’Neil Young, must have taken years to compile all of this information. I commend her dedication, because it gives hope that patients presenting with symptoms other than the standard finger-joint inflammation will no longer be ignored. It is my hope that someday early-treatment will prevent the development of systemic lung, heart, and vascular issues which often lead to excess suffering and early death.
November 17, 2017
RA Unmasked is a book that should be read by all people with Rheumatoid Disease and family members of people with Rheumatoid Disease as well as doctors and researchers. As an immunologist, I know the value of approaching research with full background knowledge of the subject of research. Without understanding the whole aspect of Rheumatoid Disease as a disease and not arthritis, research suffers. This book is not just for researchers though. This is an easy-to-read, well-written book about RD’s effect on the whole body which makes the argument that the term Rheumatoid Arthritis is harmful to people with Rheumatoid Disease. While the author does have experience from her own life fighting RD, and has a wealth of information from countless interactions with other patients, doctors, and researchers, this book does not contain any new information or experiences. Rather, this book is a compilation of published research revealing RD as a systemic autoimmune disease that results in a mortality gap. It is my sincere hope that this book will convince you of the dangers of Rheumatoid Disease and the harm of the term Rheumatoid Arthritis.
November 12, 2017
As a newly diagnosed patient, this book was very interesting and eye opening. I appreciate the honesty and extensive research Kelly has put into this book. We all need to be an informed patient and take control of our healthcare. Thanks for getting us the information we desperately need. I do have to admit some parts of this book was hard to read about the mortality and other aspects of this disease I had no idea about. Here's to hoping for a cure and better outlook for people living with this horrible disease. I also hope this book sheds some light to the loved ones who have someone living with this disease.
February 15, 2018
This book is a must-read for patients, members of the medical community, and families/friends of people with Rheumatoid Disease. Through impeccable research and a vast number of references, Kelly O'Neill Young explains why patients and doctors need to be vigilant about the systemic dangers of this grossly misunderstood disease. This book is written in a manner that will appeal to anyone, from patients, to the medical community, to family and friends, and contains essential information.
February 16, 2018
This book is a must have for patients with RA/RD and medical providers. I have RD, and this book has given me many tools to be much more proactive in my medical care.
This book is well researched, logical, and emphatic in its conclusions. RD is NOT well understood by most medical providers, much less the population in general. A name change from RA to RD will be a fundamental step in the right direction.
This book is well researched, logical, and emphatic in its conclusions. RD is NOT well understood by most medical providers, much less the population in general. A name change from RA to RD will be a fundamental step in the right direction.
November 12, 2017
FINALLY! This is a must read...I have been searching for a book like this since my diagnosis! It not only addresses the A word and how misinformed the public is to this disease, it provides credible research to offer reference for patients, the medical community, etc, Education is critical and with more awareness this book will save lives....
June 7, 2018
A tough read but an essential one for anyone like me with Rheumatoid Disease, or who works in the field.
This disease is so much more than just stiff and swollen joints, effecting the heart, lungs and the eyes amongst other organs, and is so misunderstood across the board.
I shall now be slowly translating the bulk of the text into French for a better communication with my own rhumatologue.
This disease is so much more than just stiff and swollen joints, effecting the heart, lungs and the eyes amongst other organs, and is so misunderstood across the board.
I shall now be slowly translating the bulk of the text into French for a better communication with my own rhumatologue.
August 18, 2018
In her quest to explain the reasons for a name change from Rheumatoid Arthritis to Rheumatoid Disease, the author has put together an amazing compilation of scientific studies, and personal experiences of life with RA. I feel this is a must read for anyone who suffers or cares for someone with Rheumatoid Arthritis.
November 1, 2017
A Thorough Examination of RA
This sincere author tries to provide every single known fact about RA but the book is not too user- friendly to a reader who is seeking early answers. Researchers will find a treasure of references.
This sincere author tries to provide every single known fact about RA but the book is not too user- friendly to a reader who is seeking early answers. Researchers will find a treasure of references.
March 19, 2018
I found this book extremely useful, educational and a necessary read for those of us suffering with RD. It would be wonderful if the many medical doctors, nurses, family, coworkers & employers etc. would also take the time to read it. RD is one of the most misunderstood disease.
October 11, 2024
Not what I thought
, discussed the changes of what to call disease I was hoping for treatment suggestion. I did learn it does give an insight to what is happening in your body. Just not what I was hoping to read
, discussed the changes of what to call disease I was hoping for treatment suggestion. I did learn it does give an insight to what is happening in your body. Just not what I was hoping to read
November 12, 2017
Wow! This book finally tells the true story.
April 11, 2024
From chapter one, you know this author has walked the walk. Great reference!
September 16, 2019
When my primary doctor suggested I may have a rheumatoid condition after looking at my bloodwork, and submitted some paperwork to get it analysed by a rheumatologist (which scared the bejeebers out of my boyfriend as far as I could tell), I decided to calmly investigate this strange phenomenon on my own.
How could this condition be affecting me? I decided whatever was happening was not dramatic; I will proceed with caution. What I found at my doctor's appointment is just a yellow flag.
What I learned from this book was that the term "rheumatoid arthritis" is an easy way to classify a whole bunch of related complex auto-immune diseases like interstitial lung disease, and a bunch of others that called to mind my previous research into the Japanese 1940's bombings and their related effects like when I was folding all the origami paper cranes I could.
I think I have folded something around 5000 or so give or take to date.
Oh wow, that recollection makes me like this book a lot better.
So now I am much happier. Leave your mark however you can, even if it's just in paper cranes, right?
How could this condition be affecting me? I decided whatever was happening was not dramatic; I will proceed with caution. What I found at my doctor's appointment is just a yellow flag.
What I learned from this book was that the term "rheumatoid arthritis" is an easy way to classify a whole bunch of related complex auto-immune diseases like interstitial lung disease, and a bunch of others that called to mind my previous research into the Japanese 1940's bombings and their related effects like when I was folding all the origami paper cranes I could.
I think I have folded something around 5000 or so give or take to date.
Oh wow, that recollection makes me like this book a lot better.
So now I am much happier. Leave your mark however you can, even if it's just in paper cranes, right?
November 11, 2017
Kelly has written a very eye opening book about Rheumatoid Disease! Even after reading every book I could get my hands on, after my diagnosis. This one is by far the best!
November 26, 2017
This is a fantastic book. The best I've seen about Rheumatoid Disease. It's a must read for doctors, people who have this disease, and those who know people who have it. It may be difficult reading for some at times, but you won't be sorry, as you will come away with greater knowledge of the many variables of this disease and more compassion for those who have it. Kelly has done a remarkable job. I hope this book will be read by every general practitioner, family practice doctor, and rheumatologist so no one else has to be misdiagnosed and more will get treated appropriately.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews