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Joint pain in my hands and wrists has been making typing on this laptop (and a lot of other things) somewhat problematic over the last few weeks.  Usually when this kind of thing happens to me it only lasts a couple of days, and I generally try to ignore it.   I’m not at all excited about the prospect of having any additional medical problems.

Although my doctor believes I may have Rheumatoid Arthritis and would like me to get the blood-work to confirm it…I’m resisting.   Instead, I’ve agreed to at least use Tylenol and take other (non-medical) measures to reduce the pain and swelling.  Obviously, if things get worse, I will follow my doctors advice and see a Rheumatologist.

Until then…

One thing I’m going to try is to incorporate more anti-inflammatory foods into my diet.  A few weeks ago I wrote about the benefits of an anti-inflammatory diet, and I think it’s definitely something I should try.

I also plan on checking out a lot more blogs written by women with arthritis.

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One of the best things about being a contributing editor for BlogHer, is being able to showcase other women bloggers. So today, I thought we could take a look at some blogs about nutrition, weight loss, and fitness.

In no particular order, here are eighteen health and fitness blogs that I think you might like. I hope you enjoy checking them out as much as I did.

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As a BlogHer contributing editor, part of my job is to link to other women bloggers. So when I decide to write about a particular topic, I spend a great deal of time searching for other women who have also blogged about that topic. And that can be very time consuming.

Since beginning to blog in 2007, I have been told that using RSS feed readers is very helpful. But it mostly seemed overwhelming to me. How could I possibly keep up with all of the posts on the reader? But then a few weeks ago, another contributing editor mentioned that I could use the Google Reader to search topics (making it easier for me to find links for my posts). In other words, if I loaded up my Google Reader with Health & Wellness blogs by women, I could then search those blogs for topics as I need them for my posts.

To be honest…It really seemed too good to be true. But to my surprise and delight it was very true. And I started almost immediately to compile health & wellness blogs from the BlogHer Health & Wellness blogrolls. And so far I have about thirty-five Health & Wellness blogs written by women. And that’s where YOU come in.

Are you a health & wellness blogger? Are you a mommy blogger who also writes about health & wellness issues? Do you write about your personal experiences with chronic health problems? Dieting? Fitness? Nutrition? Women’s Health? Health News?

If so…I want to add YOU to my Google Reader, so I can link to your blog in future posts for BlogHer. Whether you’ve just started writing your blog last month or last year, I want to add you to my reader. Just check the list below, and if your blog isn’t already on that list – leave me your link in comments.

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Should there be a ban on Vicodin and Percocet? Darvocet or other narcotics containing acetaminophen? What about over-the-counter medications with acetaminophen?

This is what I think…

We can’t just ban every medication that has serious problems associated with overuse. It seems to me that educating people who are taking these medications would be more helpful, than making them totally unavailable.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not denying the seriousness of Acetaminophen overdose…

A Food and Drug Administration advisory committee met late last month to review the actions the agency could take to reduce accidental acetaminophen poisoning. The drug, also found in over-the-counter cold formulas and pain-relieving prescription favorites Vicodin and Percocet, is the most common cause of acute liver failure in the U.S.

In acute liver failure, the organ fails quickly, sometimes in 48 hours, as opposed to the more usual forms of liver failure, caused by disease or alcoholism, which can take years to develop.

I just don’t think banning medications with acetaminophen in them is the answer. And I think this whole controversy is just exacerbating the stigma associated with chronic pain and the use of therapeutic doses of narcotics.

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It was just announced that BlogHer ‘10 will be in New York City next August.  This will be the first time a BlogHer conference is on the east coast.  I am SUPER excited!

If you’re interested in finding out more about the BlogHer conference, you can check it out here…

Announcing BlogHer ‘10 in NYC

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and I wanted to do a little more than the average breast cancer awareness post.  Here is my humble attempt.  I’ve put this post together with; videos of survivors, an interview with Christina Applegate, early signs & symptoms, blogs of note, news, and links to informative support sites.  If I’ve missed something (and I’m sure I have), please share the information with our readers in comments.

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Where should BlogHer ‘09 be held?

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Can a good movie reduce stress? I’ve always believed that smiling and laughing is healing in some way. And, there is a lot of evidence that supports that theory. I also know that for me, music can deeply affect my mood. Some songs are sad reminders of the past, and others are happy reminders of experiences I never want to forget. Seeing the movie Mamma Mia with my daughter, and listening to all the music, is definitely going to be a lasting and happy memory for me.

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Calling All Women Political Bloggers!

The Political Voices of Women started out as a list of 100 Women Political Bloggers. Today, the list has over 400. Well, 497 to be exact, and we are much more than just a list now. We have 10 contributing editors, a community of almost 70 women, and opportunities for all women bloggers to express their political opinions as guest bloggers.

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The Post BlogHer Blues and Bola Virus – How Are You Feeling? (cross-posted at BlogHer)

I had a GREAT time at BlogHer ‘08 in San Fransisco. But, like all good things, it has come to an end. Now, not only do I have the Post BlogHer Blues, but I’m also feeling very sick. I’m totally exhausted, with a headache, sore throat, stuffy nose, and my ears feel like they are going to explode.

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