ANIMAL PRINT STYLE
One of our members invites you to walk a mile in her shoes:
Q: Current Age?
A: 37
Q: Age of Onset or start of symptoms?
A: 27
Q: Age of Diagnosis?
A: I was diagnosed on my 28th birthday.
Q: Where are you located?
A: Seattle, WA
Q: What is your profession?
A: Non Profit Raiser’s Edge Database Administrator and Prospect Researcher
Q: What are your Medical Conditions or diagnoses?
A: Rheumatoid Arthritis, secondary Sjogren’s, Fibromyalgia, Asthma, Tachycardia, Scoliosis, had Grave’s but now it’s underactive thyroid, Osteoporosis, non-union of left femur and a fractured tibial plateau.
Q: What are your hobbies?
A: Reading, hanging out with my family, especially my nephews, coffee, hanging out anywhere near water, TV and computers.
Q: What is one thing your doctor didn’t tell you about your Autoimmune Arthritis that you wish they had?
A: How tired I would be and I really wish someone would have told me how brain fog could change my life, so when it hit I wouldn’t think I was crazy!
Q: If you could tell your past self something before diagnosis, what would it be?
A: I would tell myself three main things. 1) To get your life in order because you are in for a lot of uphill battles that will make it hard to do later. 2) To do the traveling I always wanted to do that required walking and hiking. 3) Those uphill battles do have an end and to never give up hope!
Q: What would you like to tell others newly diagnosed with Autoimmune Arthritis?
A: Never to give up hope! To be your own advocate and research your disease because it helps to know what you’re dealing with. Never be afraid to talk to your support groups, whether they be friends, family or community groups. You will need them.
Q: How would you describe your personal style?
A: Well that depends on my mood. Some days I like to dress up, wear bright colors, other days I wear all black. I don’t like to say I care about fashion but a part of me does, lol. Though I have my own sense of style for sure.
Q: What part of dealing with your Autoimmune Arthritis has made the biggest impact on you?
A: Admitting that I cannot do all the things I was once able too. Nine years ago I read a statistic that said 50% of all people diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis wind up wheelchair bound in ten years. I was determined I would not be part of that 50%. So most recently the biggest impact has been being okay with the wheelchair I find myself in on a more permanent basis. I have not given up hope yet though!
Q: Favorite quote?
A: When we remember we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained. -Mark Twain
Q: What are three random things about yourself that others may not know?
A: 1) My first car was a 1969 220 Mercedes. I called it my hippy car, hung a goddess from the rearview mirror (even though I wasn’t Wiccan) and had dingle berries hanging in the back window. I was such a dork!
2) I pretend to love scary movies because I don’t want to admit they give me nightmares!
3) My first concert was Erasure when I was 15 and while they put on an amazing theatrical show I hated the music!
Thank you for taking a walk in my shoes!
<em><strong><a href=”https://rachicks.com/category/Blog/walk-a-mile-in-our-shoes/”>Check here to see all the blogs in this series.</a></strong></em>
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