Living with Arthritis

Peggy Jane

I was 19 when I first noticed a pain in my lower back. I hadn't yet been diagnosed with colitis but had a feeling that is what I had. The pain would come and go and paracetamol didn't seem to help. The days when it was not hurting it felt great but the bad days I couldn't move much. It seemed to stop me from doing a lot of things even playing with my then 1 and 1/2 year old little boy.

I carried on and the doctors were not much help. Slowly it got worse with the bad days out weighing the good days. My knees also began to hurt. Gradually a lot more of joints started hurting including fingers hips feet knees and now the whole spine. I started to use sticks I couldn't do much at all. My husband had to give up his job to help me with everyday things and look after Sam. soon after I found I was expecting Oliver our 2nd.

The pregnancy was very difficult and they then discovered I had colitis and some sort of arthritis which goes hand in hand with it. My world fell apart as I was just 20 and told I had a life long disease with no cure. I couldn't take the medication as it made colitis worse and was too dangerous for me. I had to suffer with no treatment for my joints at all and trough the pregnancy I was told not to take many painkillers. I was up all night as I couldn't sleep.

Pain was and still is constant and has limited me from doing so much. I had Oliver and thought the labour pain was my arthritis pain and nearly didn’t make it to the hospital in time. I started using a wheelchair and began to realise that the disease had taken over me. My husband was now helping me bathes dress and get around i.e. out of bed etc. he stood by me and helps me so much. When I reached 21 I decided not to let it beat me.

I started a degree last year and am starting my own business. Through the Internet so I can work for myself and from home. As I have pain all the time mornings are terrible and some days I can’t move at all. No one is willing to give me a job and I don’t blame them, we had another little boy Daniel 5 months ago and I was told I could have no more. It put a tremendous strain of my body and as I don’t put weight on due to the colitis my baby was very small. He is healthy now. Sam is now almost 5 and started school last January I can’t take him to school as the pavement in this village is too bad for a wheelchair and it is too far for me to walk. I have new medication and have all sorts of appointments with the hospital every month. I still don’t sleep much but get by.

I do the best I can with my lovely boys I taught Sam to read write maths and the alphabet before he started school as I can’t do many physical activities with them. I am now still only 22 but have decided to make something of my life. I suffered a set back a few weeks ago when I was told I have a tumour in my bowel. I am having this removed on the 20th august. Recently I had a routine mire scant get an up to date picture of my bones and they found another lump in my neck which hasn’t been confirmed yet.....despite all this me and y husband have good times. we have been together for 7 years married for 5 and have fun together he is my full time carer and does so much to help. No one understands our life and how much I need him. We were together before this started mad he has stuck by me all the way. We know we have a lot to face but we will get through it. One day at a time......