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	<title>My Bum Thumb</title>
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	<link>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com</link>
	<description>Understanding and Living with Rheumatoid Arthritis</description>
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		<title>My Bum Thumb</title>
		<link>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com</link>
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		<item>
		<title>I&#8217;M BACK</title>
		<link>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2011/02/03/im-back/</link>
		<comments>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2011/02/03/im-back/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 03 Feb 2011 05:32:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cari Elliott</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Tips]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/?p=343</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Helloooooooooooo!  After several months of stress and numerous wacky health problems, I&#8217;m back and more determined to maintain this blog than ever! Some of you may remember me emailing you asking some questions for an article I was writing.  I got a couple of sweet emails in return from some kind souls that understood that [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=mybumthumb.wordpress.com&amp;blog=11715270&amp;post=343&amp;subd=mybumthumb&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2011/02/03/im-back/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
	
		<media:content url="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/b174ca0a50c2573d2efb5decf9b0d86e?s=96&#38;d=identicon&#38;r=G" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Lena Lou</media:title>
		</media:content>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>10-12-10</title>
		<link>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/10/13/10-12-10/</link>
		<comments>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/10/13/10-12-10/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 Oct 2010 19:41:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cari Elliott</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Tips]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/?p=340</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[World Arthritis Day was yesterday, October 12.  I was originally planning on writing an entry devoted to arthritis awareness, and then posting a link to it on my Facebook so my friends could learn about arthritis, but I changed my mind. I have had a lot more problems with nerves in my right forearm.  I&#8217;ve had to [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=mybumthumb.wordpress.com&amp;blog=11715270&amp;post=340&amp;subd=mybumthumb&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/10/13/10-12-10/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
	
		<media:content url="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/b174ca0a50c2573d2efb5decf9b0d86e?s=96&#38;d=identicon&#38;r=G" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Lena Lou</media:title>
		</media:content>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Magnets: Myth or Medicine?</title>
		<link>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/10/07/magnets-myth-or-medicine/</link>
		<comments>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/10/07/magnets-myth-or-medicine/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 07 Oct 2010 20:43:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cari Elliott</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[magnet treatment for rheumatoid arthritis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[magnets]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[magnets and arthritis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[magnets and chronic pain]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[magnets and RA]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/?p=330</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This past weekend was the annual arts and crafts fair in Hot Springs.  I hadn&#8217;t been able to go for the past two years for various reasons, so I was extremely excited to go with my Mom on Friday.  We didn&#8217;t have long (it seems like we always get there late) but we managed to [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=mybumthumb.wordpress.com&amp;blog=11715270&amp;post=330&amp;subd=mybumthumb&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/10/07/magnets-myth-or-medicine/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>5</slash:comments>
	
		<media:content url="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/b174ca0a50c2573d2efb5decf9b0d86e?s=96&#38;d=identicon&#38;r=G" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Lena Lou</media:title>
		</media:content>

		<media:content url="http://mybumthumb.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/vid00237.jpg?w=300" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">VID00237</media:title>
		</media:content>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Getting On My Nerves</title>
		<link>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/09/30/getting-on-my-nerves/</link>
		<comments>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/09/30/getting-on-my-nerves/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 30 Sep 2010 21:44:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cari Elliott</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[nerve entrapment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[nerve pain]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[nerves and rheumatoid arthritis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pain]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rheumatoid Arthritis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[swelling from RA]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/?p=327</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Instead of sharing some of my experiences today, I&#8217;m asking you about yours. In the four, almost five years I&#8217;ve had RA, it&#8217;s never effected any nerves.  A couple nights ago I was typing a lot, and my right wrist began to swell some.  I kept typing, and eventually I started to notice that the [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=mybumthumb.wordpress.com&amp;blog=11715270&amp;post=327&amp;subd=mybumthumb&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/09/30/getting-on-my-nerves/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>5</slash:comments>
	
		<media:content url="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/b174ca0a50c2573d2efb5decf9b0d86e?s=96&#38;d=identicon&#38;r=G" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Lena Lou</media:title>
		</media:content>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Surviving School</title>
		<link>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/09/27/surviving-school/</link>
		<comments>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/09/27/surviving-school/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 27 Sep 2010 18:00:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cari Elliott</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[going to school with RA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RA and college]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RA and high school]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[rheumatoid arthritis and school]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/?p=322</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Hey readers!  I don&#8217;t have a lot of time to devote to writing this week, but I did want to answer this question really quick.  If any readers have suggestions of their own please feel free to comment on this post! &#8220;Thanks for writing. I am hoping that you can give my daughter some hope. [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=mybumthumb.wordpress.com&amp;blog=11715270&amp;post=322&amp;subd=mybumthumb&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/09/27/surviving-school/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	
		<media:content url="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/b174ca0a50c2573d2efb5decf9b0d86e?s=96&#38;d=identicon&#38;r=G" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Lena Lou</media:title>
		</media:content>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>What If</title>
		<link>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/09/23/what-if/</link>
		<comments>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/09/23/what-if/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 24 Sep 2010 01:30:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cari Elliott</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Tips]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/?p=315</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It&#8217;s a question I ask myself often.  And I&#8217;m sure you do, too.  Everyone does at some point. Life before RA.  It&#8217;s a little harder for me to remember since I&#8217;ve had it so long now and because I was so young when I was diagnosed.   But I still have some memories of being [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=mybumthumb.wordpress.com&amp;blog=11715270&amp;post=315&amp;subd=mybumthumb&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/09/23/what-if/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>4</slash:comments>
	
		<media:content url="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/b174ca0a50c2573d2efb5decf9b0d86e?s=96&#38;d=identicon&#38;r=G" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Lena Lou</media:title>
		</media:content>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Great Debate</title>
		<link>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/09/08/the-great-debate/</link>
		<comments>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/09/08/the-great-debate/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 08 Sep 2010 18:36:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cari Elliott</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Inspirational Thoughts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tips]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/?p=280</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[To exercise, or not to exercise?  That is the question, fellow RA&#8217;ers. The problem is, when you don&#8217;t feel good, there is no way in heck you&#8217;re gonna do anything active.  And when people suggest to us that we would feel better if only we would exercise, we get offended.  &#8221;Do you see my joints? [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=mybumthumb.wordpress.com&amp;blog=11715270&amp;post=280&amp;subd=mybumthumb&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/09/08/the-great-debate/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>5</slash:comments>
	
		<media:content url="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/b174ca0a50c2573d2efb5decf9b0d86e?s=96&#38;d=identicon&#38;r=G" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Lena Lou</media:title>
		</media:content>

		<media:content url="http://mybumthumb.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/19551_272117714820_752094820_3447954_4959858_n.jpg?w=300" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">19551_272117714820_752094820_3447954_4959858_n</media:title>
		</media:content>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Will You Waste Your Rheumatoid Arthritis?</title>
		<link>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/07/12/will-you-waste-your-rheumatoid-arthritis/</link>
		<comments>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/07/12/will-you-waste-your-rheumatoid-arthritis/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 12 Jul 2010 05:24:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cari Elliott</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Inspirational Thoughts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cancer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[jra]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RA and depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rheumatoid Arthritis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[rheumatoid arthritis and God]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/?p=297</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#8220;Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.&#8221; &#8211; Anonymous. Today I flitted through some old posts on the blog The Sullivan Four.  It a family&#8217;s &#8220;story of God&#8217;s faithfulness as [they] traveled the road of cancer and the loss of a child,&#8221; Hannah, who was a former classmate of [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=mybumthumb.wordpress.com&amp;blog=11715270&amp;post=297&amp;subd=mybumthumb&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/07/12/will-you-waste-your-rheumatoid-arthritis/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>9</slash:comments>
	
		<media:content url="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/b174ca0a50c2573d2efb5decf9b0d86e?s=96&#38;d=identicon&#38;r=G" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Lena Lou</media:title>
		</media:content>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Just a Thought&#8230;</title>
		<link>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/07/02/just-a-thought/</link>
		<comments>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/07/02/just-a-thought/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 03 Jul 2010 00:01:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cari Elliott</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[auto-immune disease]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[darvocet]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[flares]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Methotrexate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[naproxen]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NSAIDS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rheumatoid Arthritis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[rheumatologists]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[trammadol]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/?p=286</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I&#8217;ve been considering sharing this story with all of you for a while.  I&#8217;ve finally decided that, even though it&#8217;s a little more on the personal side, this might help some of you.  And that&#8217;s the most important thing.  So here goes: If you flip back a couple posts in my blog you&#8217;ll see this [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=mybumthumb.wordpress.com&amp;blog=11715270&amp;post=286&amp;subd=mybumthumb&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/07/02/just-a-thought/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>11</slash:comments>
	
		<media:content url="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/b174ca0a50c2573d2efb5decf9b0d86e?s=96&#38;d=identicon&#38;r=G" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Lena Lou</media:title>
		</media:content>

		<media:content url="http://mybumthumb.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/sam_0458.jpg?w=260" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">SAM_0458</media:title>
		</media:content>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>An Experiment For More Effective Communication</title>
		<link>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/06/21/an-experiment-for-more-effective-communication/</link>
		<comments>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/06/21/an-experiment-for-more-effective-communication/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 22 Jun 2010 01:51:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cari Elliott</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Inspirational Thoughts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[communicating arthritis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rheumatoid Arthritis]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/?p=269</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It&#8217;s  no secret that a lot of us RA&#8217;ers have a hard to opening up to new people about our disease.  In general, most people don&#8217;t understand, and it&#8217;d difficult for them to understand the severity of RA.  Now, now, we mustn&#8217;t blame them, after all communication is a two way street. (I&#8217;m taking Interpersonal Communications this [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=mybumthumb.wordpress.com&amp;blog=11715270&amp;post=269&amp;subd=mybumthumb&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/06/21/an-experiment-for-more-effective-communication/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>10</slash:comments>
	
		<media:content url="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/b174ca0a50c2573d2efb5decf9b0d86e?s=96&#38;d=identicon&#38;r=G" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Lena Lou</media:title>
		</media:content>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Stress and Your Bones</title>
		<link>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/04/28/stress-and-your-bones/</link>
		<comments>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/04/28/stress-and-your-bones/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 28 Apr 2010 21:25:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cari Elliott</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rheumatoid Arthritis and depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rheumatoid Arthritis and stress]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Stress Management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Stress Prevention]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/?p=252</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Finals are approaching a little too fast for this scared little college girl.  And even though my joints have been doing much better these past couple of weeks, I&#8217;ve notice some swelling in my wrist and a couple fingers, and that awful throbbing pain that likes to surprise my system at the most random of [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=mybumthumb.wordpress.com&amp;blog=11715270&amp;post=252&amp;subd=mybumthumb&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/04/28/stress-and-your-bones/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>9</slash:comments>
	
		<media:content url="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/b174ca0a50c2573d2efb5decf9b0d86e?s=96&#38;d=identicon&#38;r=G" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Lena Lou</media:title>
		</media:content>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>10 Fun Summer Activities for RA&#8217;ers</title>
		<link>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/04/22/10-fun-summer-activities-for-raers/</link>
		<comments>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/04/22/10-fun-summer-activities-for-raers/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 22 Apr 2010 21:11:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cari Elliott</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[arthritis activities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[arthritis fatigue]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[depression and arthritis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rheumatoid Arthritis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Staying Positive with Arthritis]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/?p=234</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Summer is here, summer is here!! Okay, so it may not be technically summer just yet, but that summer sun is definitely shining this week. &#8230;.Why is no one else excited?  I know I am. Yes, some of the fun things we used to be able to do in the summer time are a little out of [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=mybumthumb.wordpress.com&amp;blog=11715270&amp;post=234&amp;subd=mybumthumb&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/04/22/10-fun-summer-activities-for-raers/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>6</slash:comments>
	
		<media:content url="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/b174ca0a50c2573d2efb5decf9b0d86e?s=96&#38;d=identicon&#38;r=G" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Lena Lou</media:title>
		</media:content>

		<media:content url="http://mybumthumb.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/sam_0501.jpg?w=300" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">SAM_0501</media:title>
		</media:content>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>A True Arthritis Survivor</title>
		<link>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/04/09/a-true-arthritis-survivor/</link>
		<comments>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/04/09/a-true-arthritis-survivor/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 09 Apr 2010 23:25:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cari Elliott</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Inspirational Thoughts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cooking with Arthritis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Melinda Winner]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[recipes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Staying Positive with Arthritis]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/?p=222</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Author Melinda Winner has overcome several debilitating diseases to achieve her dreams of being a successful writer and cook, having published two cook books and won many prestigious competitions as well as appearing on the Food Network. The Pittsburgh native attended culinary school as well as film and television production school in North Carolina in her early [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=mybumthumb.wordpress.com&amp;blog=11715270&amp;post=222&amp;subd=mybumthumb&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/04/09/a-true-arthritis-survivor/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>5</slash:comments>
	
		<media:content url="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/b174ca0a50c2573d2efb5decf9b0d86e?s=96&#38;d=identicon&#38;r=G" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Lena Lou</media:title>
		</media:content>

		<media:content url="http://mybumthumb.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/1234041_f248.jpg?w=200" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">1234041_f248</media:title>
		</media:content>

		<media:content url="http://mybumthumb.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/bookcoverforwedsite.jpg?w=190" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">bookcoverforwedsite</media:title>
		</media:content>

		<media:content url="http://mybumthumb.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/key-lime-bunts.jpg" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">key lime bunts</media:title>
		</media:content>

		<media:content url="http://mybumthumb.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/pie-002.jpg?w=225" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">pie 002</media:title>
		</media:content>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Battle Scars</title>
		<link>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/04/05/battle-scars/</link>
		<comments>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/04/05/battle-scars/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 05 Apr 2010 23:01:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cari Elliott</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Inspirational Thoughts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Biologics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bruises]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Embarrassment and RA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Enbrel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[injection site reactions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rheumatoid Arthritis]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/?p=214</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[All of us RA&#8217;ers know that arthritis can sometimes leave a mark, whether it be inflamed joints, disfigurements, or nodules.  This sort of &#8220;mark&#8221; can be recognized by the Non-Ra community as arthritis (even though some, if not most, will not understand it in its entirety). But there are other sorts of battle scars, if you will, that [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=mybumthumb.wordpress.com&amp;blog=11715270&amp;post=214&amp;subd=mybumthumb&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/04/05/battle-scars/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>5</slash:comments>
	
		<media:content url="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/b174ca0a50c2573d2efb5decf9b0d86e?s=96&#38;d=identicon&#38;r=G" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Lena Lou</media:title>
		</media:content>

		<media:content url="http://mybumthumb.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/sam_0462.jpg?w=225" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">SAM_0462</media:title>
		</media:content>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Excuses, Excuses</title>
		<link>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/04/01/excuses-excuses/</link>
		<comments>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/04/01/excuses-excuses/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 02 Apr 2010 01:44:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cari Elliott</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[flares]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rheumatoid Arthritis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[swelling]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/?p=209</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[What&#8217;s my excuse for not posting in so long?  Ladies and gentleman, I give you exhibit A: My apologizes for the low quality, but it was rather difficult to take this pic.  It&#8217;s actually the only one that didn&#8217;t turn out blurry, and I didn&#8217;t even try to get a picture of my right hand, [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=mybumthumb.wordpress.com&amp;blog=11715270&amp;post=209&amp;subd=mybumthumb&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/04/01/excuses-excuses/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
	
		<media:content url="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/b174ca0a50c2573d2efb5decf9b0d86e?s=96&#38;d=identicon&#38;r=G" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Lena Lou</media:title>
		</media:content>

		<media:content url="http://mybumthumb.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/sam_04581.jpg?w=260" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">SAM_0458</media:title>
		</media:content>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>The &#8220;D&#8221; Word (Disabled) Part 2</title>
		<link>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/03/18/the-d-word-disabled-part-2/</link>
		<comments>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/03/18/the-d-word-disabled-part-2/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:56:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cari Elliott</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[disabilities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rheumatoid Arthritis]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/?p=205</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Frustrating.  Disappointing.  Annoying. These are just a few words that come to mind when I think about my college&#8217;s disabilities office.  If you aren&#8217;t up to speed, you can read about my first encounter with the &#8220;center&#8221; in part 1 of The &#8220;D&#8221; Word (Disabled) here.  I was pretty optimistic that their program would help [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=mybumthumb.wordpress.com&amp;blog=11715270&amp;post=205&amp;subd=mybumthumb&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/03/18/the-d-word-disabled-part-2/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
	
		<media:content url="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/b174ca0a50c2573d2efb5decf9b0d86e?s=96&#38;d=identicon&#38;r=G" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Lena Lou</media:title>
		</media:content>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>My Rewards System</title>
		<link>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/03/12/my-rewards-system/</link>
		<comments>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/03/12/my-rewards-system/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:37:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cari Elliott</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Inspirational Thoughts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RA and depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[staying positive with RA]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/?p=199</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I had a minor break down yesterday.  When I woke up that morning, I couldn&#8217;t believe how swollen and painful my hands were.  Not only that, my toes , knees and left shoulder decided to join in the mix as well.  I immediately took my meds (including the newest pain killer my rheumatologist prescribed), got [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=mybumthumb.wordpress.com&amp;blog=11715270&amp;post=199&amp;subd=mybumthumb&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/03/12/my-rewards-system/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>7</slash:comments>
	
		<media:content url="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/b174ca0a50c2573d2efb5decf9b0d86e?s=96&#38;d=identicon&#38;r=G" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Lena Lou</media:title>
		</media:content>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Neaux Sheaux(s)</title>
		<link>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/03/10/neaux-sheauxs/</link>
		<comments>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/03/10/neaux-sheauxs/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 06:58:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cari Elliott</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RA and shoes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RA in feet]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/?p=170</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[What girl doesn&#8217;t like new shoes?? Several weeks ago, my Dad pointed out a New Balance commercial to me.  They advertised all this equipment that could measure your foot and your gait so that they could find the perfect fitting shoe for you.  This sounded like an excellent adventure for my swollen feet and I, so last [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=mybumthumb.wordpress.com&amp;blog=11715270&amp;post=170&amp;subd=mybumthumb&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/03/10/neaux-sheauxs/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>4</slash:comments>
	
		<media:content url="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/b174ca0a50c2573d2efb5decf9b0d86e?s=96&#38;d=identicon&#38;r=G" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Lena Lou</media:title>
		</media:content>

		<media:content url="http://mybumthumb.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/scan0002.jpg?w=300" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">My Feet</media:title>
		</media:content>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>The &#8220;D&#8221; Word (Disabled) Part 1</title>
		<link>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/03/03/the-d-word-disabled-part-1/</link>
		<comments>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/03/03/the-d-word-disabled-part-1/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 03 Mar 2010 21:17:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cari Elliott</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[disabilities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[knowing your limits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rheumatoid Arthritis]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/?p=182</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The recent increase in pain as a result of the extreme weather changes finally drove me to do something that I&#8217;ve put off for four semesters: I went to my college&#8217;s disabilities office.   I know I should have done this from the get go, but I just couldn&#8217;t bring myself to pick up the phone and [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=mybumthumb.wordpress.com&amp;blog=11715270&amp;post=182&amp;subd=mybumthumb&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/03/03/the-d-word-disabled-part-1/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
	
		<media:content url="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/b174ca0a50c2573d2efb5decf9b0d86e?s=96&#38;d=identicon&#38;r=G" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Lena Lou</media:title>
		</media:content>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>RAers and Olympians</title>
		<link>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/02/22/raers-and-olympians/</link>
		<comments>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/02/22/raers-and-olympians/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 23 Feb 2010 04:16:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cari Elliott</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Inspirational Thoughts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[inspiration]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[knowing your limits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[motivation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Olympics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rheumatoid Arthritis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sacrifices]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/?p=157</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I&#8217;ve had a slightly rougher week than usual.  Whenever I have a hard time, I look for motivation.  It was then that I noticed something, and, well, it&#8217;ll  just be easier to let you hear the whole story: Since the return of the winter olympics, I&#8217;ve been thinking a lot about the past.  As a kid, [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=mybumthumb.wordpress.com&amp;blog=11715270&amp;post=157&amp;subd=mybumthumb&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/02/22/raers-and-olympians/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
	
		<media:content url="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/b174ca0a50c2573d2efb5decf9b0d86e?s=96&#38;d=identicon&#38;r=G" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Lena Lou</media:title>
		</media:content>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Jack Frost vs. Us</title>
		<link>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/02/15/jack-frost-vs-us/</link>
		<comments>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/02/15/jack-frost-vs-us/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 15 Feb 2010 07:32:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cari Elliott</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[arthritis and cold weather]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[arthritis and food]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[arthritis and sleep]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/?p=136</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We don&#8217;t see much snow in Arkansas, so when winter weather rolls in four times over two weeks, things get pretty crazy around here.  None of us are used to this white dust falling from the sky, especially my bum thumb and I. However, now that I&#8217;ve experienced several snows days in a row, I&#8217;ve [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=mybumthumb.wordpress.com&amp;blog=11715270&amp;post=136&amp;subd=mybumthumb&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/02/15/jack-frost-vs-us/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	
		<media:content url="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/b174ca0a50c2573d2efb5decf9b0d86e?s=96&#38;d=identicon&#38;r=G" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Lena Lou</media:title>
		</media:content>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Beating the Early Morning Blues and Other Tips for Methotrexate Users</title>
		<link>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/02/09/beating-the-early-morning-blues-and-other-tips-for-methotrexate-users/</link>
		<comments>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/02/09/beating-the-early-morning-blues-and-other-tips-for-methotrexate-users/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Feb 2010 01:52:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cari Elliott</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fatigue]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hairloss]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lightheaded-ness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Methotrexate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Methotrexate and Alcohol]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[nausea]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sun sensitivity]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/?p=67</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In my last blog, I discussed the most common medication among Rheumatoid Arthritis patients: Methotrexate.  This drug is very beneficial to many (including myself), but it can have many side effects that sometimes require treatment themselves.  In today&#8217;s blog I want to share with you the tips I have picked up over the years I [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=mybumthumb.wordpress.com&amp;blog=11715270&amp;post=67&amp;subd=mybumthumb&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/02/09/beating-the-early-morning-blues-and-other-tips-for-methotrexate-users/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>10</slash:comments>
	
		<media:content url="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/b174ca0a50c2573d2efb5decf9b0d86e?s=96&#38;d=identicon&#38;r=G" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Lena Lou</media:title>
		</media:content>

		<media:content url="http://mybumthumb.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/sam_03921.jpg?w=300" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">SAM_0392</media:title>
		</media:content>

		<media:content url="http://mybumthumb.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/sam_03991.jpg?w=300" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">SAM_0399</media:title>
		</media:content>

		<media:content url="http://mybumthumb.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/sam_0416.jpg?w=225" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">SAM_0416</media:title>
		</media:content>

		<media:content url="http://mybumthumb.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/sam_04061.jpg?w=300" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">SAM_0406</media:title>
		</media:content>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Did you just say &#8220;Chemotherapy&#8221;?</title>
		<link>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/01/28/did-you-just-say-chemotherapy/</link>
		<comments>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/01/28/did-you-just-say-chemotherapy/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:20:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cari Elliott</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Medications]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Methotrexate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Methotrexate and Alcohol]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Methotrexate side effects]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rheumatoid Arthritis]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false"></guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There are lots of different drugs out there used for Rheumatoid Arthritis, such as Enbrel, Humira, Orencia, Remicade, Simponi, etc. etc.  Like I said, there's a lot.  And while one medication may work perfectly for someone, someone else may need something completely different.  But the one drug most all RA patients take is Methotrexate.

If you ever watch the tv show House then you will have heard of this drug before.  It is a chemotherapy drug.  Sounds pretty scary, huh?  Cancer patients take methotrexate to slow down and hopefully stop the reproduction of cancerous cells.  It is used to stop the progression of RA in a similar way.  According to WebMD, it works by "competing with folic acid in cells. This blocks the way the cell is able to make genetic material, and the cell dies."  This is also why you will be required to take folic acid tablets in conjunction with the methotrexate.<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=mybumthumb.wordpress.com&amp;blog=11715270&amp;post=1&amp;subd=mybumthumb&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://mybumthumb.wordpress.com/2010/01/28/did-you-just-say-chemotherapy/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>8</slash:comments>
	
		<media:content url="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/b174ca0a50c2573d2efb5decf9b0d86e?s=96&#38;d=identicon&#38;r=G" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Lena Lou</media:title>
		</media:content>
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