Life with an Autoimmune Disease

Hi! Just checking in with some of my new followers. I live with Rheumatoid Arthritis and have been sick for 34 years (possibly born sick? Who knows.)

I’ve been on Enbrel (biologic TNF inhibitor) for 20 years which means I’ve given myself around 1,500 needles 💉.

There’s a lot of misconception about RA out there, so in simple terms:

My body’s immune system spends its energy fighting healthy tissue (ALL bodily tissue: organs, joints, bones & blood) - the drugs tell my immune system to “calm down” and stop fighting. Immune system goes away and stops killing healthy cells. This means I do not have a proper defence against viruses or infections of any kind. If I get the common cold, it has the power to totally take over my body. A paper cut, if not treated, can be the welcome wagon to a life altering infection.

Autoimmune diseases are tough and there are many co-morbidities, shortened life expectancies and mental tolls to juggle every day.

If you’d like to learn more about autoimmune diseases or arthritis, please reach out. I’m happy to share my experiences to educate others.