This is what it’s like: My life, my story - Part 3
Today marks the day that 2 years ago, I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. That was a shock to the system to say the least and it’s changed my life forever!
After waiting an agonising 6 more weeks. It felt like my body just gave up once more, there was no more left to give, I was completely drained. One morning at the end of February, I had such an unsettled night in pain. It was about 6 in the morning when I realised things had escalated so much more than I anticipated. The swelling and pain both became something else. It was to the point where I couldn’t even roll over or sit up in my bed, I can’t even describe it the way I want to which is really upsetting. But I’ll never forget how incapable I became overnight, needing help physically sitting up and getting dressed is something that will never erase from my memory!
I waited for a further 2 days before going up to the hospital. Just because one of my fears at the time, was wasting time that’s valuable and being turned away because everything was “fine” with me. That was far from the truth obviously! During them 2 days I contemplated so many times about going to the hospital because so many things weren’t right with me. I was so tired of all this and just wanted it all to end!
Forward a few days, in the night, I had just had enough. I eventually gave in and went to the hospital. I was only in A & E for 24 hours, however it felt like a lifetime. Needing to get so many X Rays done, as well as blood tests, whilst I haven’t got control over what’s happening in my body was something that I’ll never forget.
Vividly I remember in the waiting room, ( Little context, I had never had any problems with my ankles before.) I began to get this awful throbbing pain in my ankle, and I knew in that moment that it was going to start swelling up. This type of pain was the same as I was experiencing already, but a whole new level! My ankle basically tripled in size, I’m not even joking! I don’t know whether to be impressed or absolutely mortified by that. The whole time that I was waiting, I prayed that I’d been seen soon by the Rheumatologist.
At about 8pm the next evening, I was seen by the Rheumatologist, which was a huge relief after waiting quite a while. This was when I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis at the age of 20. I was prescribed so many different medications in order to help fight this attack, then I was discharged. I got McDonalds on the way back home, that was so needed after such a long day!
The End Of Part 3 - Follow for more! :)
Quote - “You can’t add days to your life, but you can add life to your days.” This is how I changed my perspective on life.