In this episode, hosts Debbie and Katy, or should we say Lara Croft and Donkey (need to listen to understand why this is so) explore the realities of working life whilst living with inflammatory arthritis.

Next week is the Q&A episode so please do send in your questions, especially voicenotes here https://inflammatoryarthritis.org/contact-us/ so you can be on the next episode of Inflammatory!

First, they have a light-hearted conversation about pets especially as it was National Love your Pet Day. Please visit Inflammatory Arthritis UK socials to see Whiskey, Debbie’s dog, debut! They also cover humorous personal anecdotes, including some unusual nicknames.

They both reflect on being made redundant from different jobs and industries last year, highlighting how stress, a known trigger for IA, impacted them and their IA. The ongoing stress of looking for work, discuss what should or shouldn’t be included in your CV and a dive into the evolving workplace landscape. How laptops have moved on, and the sound of dial up still gives Debbie anxiety to this day! Make sure you listen to the end to fully understand.

They explore what it means for employers to offer flexible working from day 1? Do they like working from home or do they prefer the office? How work provides them with routine and a purpose but discuss how they plan their day so they don’t trigger an IA flare.

They also cover how employees with IA can advocate for their needs, how communication is key, what their manager should be doing and how being confident and open about your needs really can help. However, there is support out there for people who may have been discriminated against due to their IA? Support can be found here:

Citizens Advice

ACAS

Equality Advisory and Support Service

Next Episode Teaser:

Please do send us your questions for the next Q&A session.

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🎧 Listen now and remember: You’re not alone in this journey.

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Welcome to #fuckitland (you’ll need to listen to the episode to have any idea what we mean by this!).

Debbie and Katy come out of their comfort zones and dive into an often-overlooked topic: relationships and sex while living with inflammatory arthritis and sex.

They take a deep dive to explore the challenges of relationships and intimacy for those living with inflammatory arthritis. Discuss the physical limitations that affect sex, such as pain, stiffness, fatigue, and medication side effects, and emphasise the importance of open communication and setting boundaries with partners.

They also highlight the emotional impact of the condition, including self-confidence struggles and fears of being a burden. Debbie shares her experiences navigating relationships with arthritis, while also reflecting on how societal attitudes have changed over time.

They also speak openly about their experiences with the condition and emphasize that those affected are not alone. Katy shares her recent hand therapy session, where she learned about pain management and the importance of mobility, strength, and control. Debbie, on the other hand, talks about a difficult weekend due to an arthritis flare-up that even disrupted her plans with her husband. She also discusses the challenges of parenting, especially during her children's stressful exam period, and her new role as a trustee for an art therapy charity.

The key takeaway is that people with inflammatory arthritis can still have fulfilling relationships and sex lives by embracing self-confidence, being clear about their needs, and surrounding themselves with supportive partners.

Resources & Links:

• Visit inflammatoryarthritis.org for more information and resources.
• Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Blue Sky, and LinkedIn for updates and community support.

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🎧 Listen now and let’s keep the conversation going!

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Trigger warning - this episode contains discussions about suicidal thoughts

In this episode, Debbie and Katy open up about the often-overlooked mental health challenges of living with inflammatory arthritis.

Firstly, Katy shares that she is in a better mood, helped by her netball team's rare win and the pain in her wrist didn’t turn into an IA flare. Along with the excitement of her son losing his first tooth and the going rate of Tooth Fairies.

They go on to share their personal experiences with anxiety, depression, and the emotional toll of chronic illness. From the overwhelming fear of their futures made worse by internet searches after diagnosis to the daily struggles of managing pain. They discuss coping strategies, especially in the dark moments including suicidal thoughts, and emphasise small daily victories.

They also explore the importance of acknowledging mental health alongside physical health, and the role of support systems including loved ones and pets, and strength through connection with others facing similar struggles in finding hope.

The conversation highlights the need for better mental health resources, reassuring listeners that they are not alone and it is ok to talk about mental health and to seek help.

Key Topics Covered:

• How inflammatory arthritis affects mental health
• Anxiety, depression, and the fear of the unknown after diagnosis
• Personal experiences with dark moments and the struggle to stay positive

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In this week’s episode, brought to you by Inflammatory Arthritis UK, Debbie and Katy handed the episode over to you, as it is the first Inflammatory! question and answer session.

Firstly, they cover the impact hormones has on their inflammatory arthritis, whether they flare during their period and what research is that out there or to come.

They answer questions in more detail on the mental health of side inflammatory arthritis, how they both try to cope and how they differentiate the emotional side of IA to normal day to day living. Cover what JIA is more detail, and how it can be diagnosis for life.

They discuss openly whether they have tried alternative medicines, to answer a question that came through as a voice note via the website. Does it make a difference, and the importance of taking medication as it can lead to further joint damage, and for scleritis can lead to blindness.

They also cover what they do to relax, how Katy is not good at it, what Debbie’s go to TV show is and answer whether they would prefer a bellybutton for a nose or a nose for a bellybutton!

Also sign up to our newsletter so you are the first to know about upcoming episodes, research opportunities, any events and IA news.

https://inflammatoryarthritis.org/

If you enjoy this episode, please do follow the series. And please do leave us a rating or a review, if you have a few minutes to do so, it really does help us, thank you.

Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. We talk about our personal health journeys and the podcast is not intended to provide professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We are not medical professionals and in no way claim to be medically trained. The podcast does not take responsibility for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of the podcast. The podcast does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of third-party content.

For more information, head to https://inflammatoryarthritis.org/

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In this latest episode of Inflammatory! brought to you by Inflammatory Arthritis UK, Debbie and Katy cover the immediate effect their IA diagnosis had on them, their families, the number of hospital appointments, effects of medications and their emotional reaction.

They explore in more detail the impact on Katy’s work life, having to plan work around the number of appointments. Having conversations with her boyfriend and doctors about whether they wanted children in the future, something they had not even discussed in private. The impact on schooling with Debbie’s diagnosis and that Debbie didn’t realise at the time, how badly her teachers treated her mum and more recently cover an incident at Debbie’s daughter school.

They discuss openly how Katy took years to process the emotional side of the diagnosis, but her immediate reaction was to sign up to the London Marathon and a dancer at the Olympics games. Debbie shares the impact her daughter’s diagnosis had on her husband and her youngest child. But even though history was repeating itself as both Debbie and her daughter had to give up gymnastics after their diagnosis, they both found new passions in life. Covered also in Debbie’s blog

https://inflammatoryarthritis.org/blogs/

Next week’s episode is our first Q&A session, where you can submit questions or leave us a voice note, through our website https://inflammatoryarthritis.org/podcast-2/ They can be IA related or just wanting to get to know us better.

Also sign up to our newsletter so you are the first to know about upcoming episodes, research opportunities, any events and IA news.

https://inflammatoryarthritis.org/

If you enjoy this episode, please do follow the series. And please do leave us a rating or a review, if you have a few minutes to do so, thank you.

Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. We talk about our personal health journeys and the podcast is not intended to provide professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We are not medical professionals and in no way claim to be medically trained. The podcast does not take responsibility for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of the podcast. The podcast does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of third-party content.

For more information, head to https://inflammatoryarthritis.org/

A Boutique Broadcast production

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In this second episode of Inflammatory! brought to you by Inflammatory Arthritis UK, Debbie and Katy cover the day they were diagnosed and the impact it had on them and their family. It also covers the day Debbie will never forget, the day her eldest daughter was diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, the same type of inflammatory arthritis she has.

They explore in more detail the actual day they were diagnosed, how Katy ended up at the wrong hospital, the symptoms they had and how they felt when they heard the diagnosis.

They speak openly about the emotional side of diagnosis, how it knocks your confidence and the impact their diagnosis had on their families. Katy’s mum felt guilty due to IA being evident in her side of the family and Debbie shares how her eldest daughter’s diagnosis impacted her youngest daughter.

They also cover how and why Debbie was piggy backed round France on a school trip by a teacher with most teachers not believing her diagnosis. Whether Katy and Debbie talked about their diagnosis or kept it a secret, how having a supportive employer is vital and they share how they learnt how to cope with it, adapt and not let it take over their life.

If you enjoy this episode, please do follow the series. And please do leave us a rating or a review, if you have a few minutes to do so, thank you.

Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. We talk about our personal health journeys and the podcast is not intended to provide professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We are not medical professionals and in no way claim to be medically trained. The podcast does not take responsibility for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of the podcast. The podcast does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of third-party content.

For more information, head to https://inflammatoryarthritis.org/

A Boutique Broadcast production for Inflammatory Arthritis UK

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this first episode of Inflammatory!, brought to you by Inflammatory Arthritis UK, Debbie and Katy look at what is inflammatory arthritis (IA), their motivation behind creating a new patient led charity (Inflammatory Arthritis UK), and their personal diagnoses.

They explore in more detail their type of inflammatory arthritis; Debbie shares her diagnosis of juvenile idiopathic arthritis and Katy shares being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in her late twenties. They cover their symptoms including the underestimated and misunderstood fatigue that is associated with IA.

And they speak openly about how their lives have been impacted by inflammatory arthritis, joint health and coping with the ups and downs of living with a chronic fluctuating disease. They also have a light-hearted debate about persuading Katy, who is energetic like a puppy, to get a puppy!

If you enjoy this episode, please do follow the series. And please do leave us a rating or a review, if you have a few minutes to do so, thank you.

Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. We talk about our personal health journeys and the podcast is not intended to provide professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We are not medical professionals and in no way claim to be medically trained. The podcast does not take responsibility for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of the podcast. The podcast does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of third-party content.

For more information, head to www.inflammatoryarthritis.org

A Boutique Broadcast production for Inflammatory Arthritis UK

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.