Louis Tharp

Exec.Dir @ghlforg Comp swimmer. Board @aidsunited. Former Columbia U Tri Head Coach and West Point Tri Swim Coach. Obama & Biden administration appointee.🌈

[CreakyJoints.org @CreakyJoints]

Explaining what it's like to live with arthritis isn't always easy. Especially to the people closest to you.

How do you explain that you're exhausted even after a full night's sleep? That your pain can change from one day to the next? Or that canceling plans doesn't mean you don't want to be there?

Sometimes, family and friends genuinely want to understand, but they don't know what living with arthritis actually feels like.

And sometimes, finding the words to explain it can be exhausting in itself.

A few things that can help:

💜 Be specific about how arthritis affects your everyday life. Sometimes examples make more sense than medical terms.

💜 Let people know what support looks like for you. Maybe it's help with a task, flexibility with plans, or simply someone who listens.

💜 Explain that symptoms can change. Having a good day doesn't mean your arthritis has disappeared.

💜 Remember that you don't have to justify every symptom or push past your limits to make someone else comfortable.

You deserve to be understood, even when what you're experiencing isn't visible.

If you've been struggling to explain arthritis to family or friends, this guide might help you start that conversation:

https://t.co/ZrHn8kiWdm

💬 What's one thing you wish your loved ones understood about living with arthritis?

#WorldArthritisDay #ArthritisAwareness #ChronicIllness

[CreakyJoints.org @CreakyJoints]

What should people with osteoarthritis know about their treatment options, and what happens when conservative care is no longer enough but surgery isn't yet the answer?

On The Health Advocates, Dr. Vinod Dasa joins us to discuss OA care, access, shared decision-making, and innovation.

Tune in: https://t.co/3QALF3opbX

#Osteoarthritis #PatientAdvocacy

[CreakyJoints.org @CreakyJoints]

Pain. Fatigue. Brain fog. Dizziness.
For Melissa, those were the symptoms that felt most serious. But the clue that led her doctors to a Sjögren's diagnosis? Dryness, something she barely noticed and only mentioned in passing. 💧
If you're living with symptoms that are hard to explain, the "small stuff" might matter more than you think. Hear more of Melissa's story, plus insights from Sjögren's experts, on The Sjo podcast.
🎧 Listen now: https://t.co/j0r2B1iWDN
#SjoögrensDisease #Sjögrens #ChronicIllness #Autoimmune #PatientVoices #TheSjö

[American Disease Prevention Coalition @ADPCVaccines]

October is American Pharmacists Month & we’re celebrating student pharmacists — the next generation of trusted vaccine providers.

Through hands-on training & patient education, they’re preparing to help communities access vaccines & stay protected during respiratory season.

[CreakyJoints.org @CreakyJoints]

Living with Sjögren’s disease?

🎙️ The Sjö, our NEW podcast, is officially LIVE!

Real patient stories, expert insights, and honest conversations about life with Sjögren’s.

Listen now: https://t.co/pgiBwxrfd2

#SjögrensDisease #TheSjö

[Steve Skojec @SteveSkojec]

He’s dead on.

[Louis Tharp @LouisTharp]

hello @ebay My buyer account was permanently suspended with no explanation given. Can someone help?

[CreakyJoints.org @CreakyJoints]

https://t.co/rL8DzqjguM

[CreakyJoints.org @CreakyJoints]

We want to hear from you.
If you’ve experienced:
• Frequent painful attacks
• Tophi (lumps under the skin)
• Joint damage
Your story can help improve care for others.
⏱️ Takes 2 minutes:
https://t.co/Fb5pspiK1o
#Gout #ChronicIllness #PatientVoice #Healthcare

[RespiratoryAVAlliance @RespAVAlliance]

Many high-risk patients who would benefit from COVID antivirals don’t get them. In this episode of HealthcareMatters, @PopovianPharmD & Angela Degrassi break it down & share what to do after a positive test. https://t.co/FKYrNn0Uw9

[CreakyJoints.org @CreakyJoints]

February 2 is Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness Day.

Today is about awareness, education, and believing patients—especially when symptoms aren’t visible. If you live with RA, your pain is real, your experience is valid, and you deserve care that listens.

Speak up. Ask questions. Advocate for your health.
#RheumatoidArthritis #RAAwarenessDay #AutoimmuneDisease #InvisibleIllness #ChronicIllnessAwareness #PatientAdvocacy

[Pete Buttigieg @PeteButtigieg]

Why is Trump going after America's air traffic controllers, today of all days?

It's one more way to distract from his decision to increase your health insurance premiums.

[Brian Allen @allenanalysis]

Bernie Sanders just said it plain:

“Tonight, Democrats voted with Republicans to raise healthcare premiums for 20 million Americans and pave the way to kick 15 million off Medicaid. 60,000 will die every year, so the rich can get a trillion-dollar tax cut.”

This was a betrayal of working people.

[CreakyJoints.org @CreakyJoints]

COVID Isn’t Over — And That’s Okay
“COVID is not in the past. It never will be, because it’s endemic now,” says Dr. Tyler Evans.
That means we need to focus on prevention and protection — not panic. Staying up to date on vaccines helps reduce the impact if and when we get infected again. Listen to our full COVID episode of Informed Immunity — https://t.co/trJKo1fpYw
#COVID19 #Vaccines #PublicHealth #StayProtected

[Badlydone Emma is with her #Harris2024 @chemimommy]

Rep Neguse talking to the press the way Democrats should talk to the feckless media.

He handled that question spectacularly.

[CreakyJoints.org @CreakyJoints]

What’s truly spooky? Having to convince people your pain is real.
#chronicillness

[Zohran Kwame Mamdani @ZohranKMamdani]

The dream of every Muslim is simply to be treated the same as any other New Yorker.

And yet, for too long, we have been told to ask for less than that, and endure hatred and bigotry in the shadows.

No more.

[CreakyJoints.org @CreakyJoints]

Today we kick off #HispanicHeritageMonth — a time to honor the culture, history, and contributions of the Hispanic community.

This month also represents a vital opportunity to spotlight health equity. Many Spanish-speaking families face systemic barriers — known as social determinants of health — that make navigating healthcare and insurance more difficult. Research shows these factors disproportionately impact Hispanic/Latino communities, creating inequities that extend beyond individual circumstances.

That’s why we’ve developed resources in English & Spanish — from health insurance guides and patient stories to guided meditations and podcasts — to break down barriers and provide culturally relevant tools for better health.

💛 This month, we celebrate community while also advancing the conversation on equity, access, and meaningful change. Together, we can build a healthier future for all.

👉 Explore our Hispanic Heritage Month Hub:
https://t.co/oVHQ9t4Z9H

[Louis Tharp @LouisTharp]

Welcome to Little House On The Paririe - no vaccines. We know what happened in those states that refused the covid vaccine -- deaths far outnumbered those states where people got vaccinated. Hate to think about adults inviting their children to meet the same fate.

[CreakyJoints.org @CreakyJoints]

Florida’s proposal to eliminate school vaccine requirements risks bringing back diseases like measles & whooping cough. Protecting kids protects everyone — especially the immunocompromised.
📄 Read our full letter to the Florida Department of Health here:
https://t.co/taLn0A0SYJ
#VaccinesWork #PublicHealth