Keywords

chronic illness, inflammatory arthritis, support networks,medication management, health transparency, empathy, friendship, diagnosis,patient experience, healthcare

Summary

In this episode of Inflammatory! the hosts reflect on how stress, relationships, and chronic illness shape everyday life. Including the realities of moving house while managing refrigerated medication, highlighting the extra planning people with inflammatory conditions must navigate. They revisit last week’s guest, Haffy, and her experience of being diagnosed with inflammatory arthritis while pregnant and what that means for decision-making and self-advocacy.

A key theme is frustration with NHS systems and the lack of easy access to personal blood test results, despite growing calls for shared decision-making in healthcare.

With February’s theme of love, friendship, and chronic illness, Debbie and Katy discuss how living with inflammatory arthritis affects relationships, including:

Key topics:

• Managing medications during a move can be stressful.

• Support networks are crucial for those with chronic illnesses.

• Transparency in medical data is essential for patient empowerment.

• Explaining chronic illness to friends requires honesty and openness.

• Empathy is key in understanding the challenges of chronic illness.

• It’s important to recognize true friends during difficult times.

• Chronic illness can change social dynamics and friendships.

• Patients should have access to their medical information.

• Living with chronic illness involves a continuous learning process.

• Finding a supportive community can greatly enhance the patient experience.

Sound bites

"Why can't we see our blood test results?"

"It's a new life. It's a new chapter."

Connect with us

• Website: inflammatoryarthritis.org

• Newsletter: Sign up on the website

• Socials: BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn

Disclaimer: Debbie and Katy are not medical professionals. They share personal experiences of living with IA to build connection and community. 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/

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Inflammatory! Debbie and Katy are joined by Haffy, a clinical pharmacist, university lecturer, and mum of two, who shares her journey of being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and undifferentiated mixed connective tissue disease in her late 20s.Despite her medical background, Haffy’s diagnosis was delayed, highlighting the challenges of being a young woman with inflammatory arthritis and the importance of self-advocacy. She opens up about pregnancy, motherhood, cultural expectations, navigating work, and finally finding the right treatment that transformed her quality of life.This is an honest, emotional, and inspiring conversation about resilience, trust in your body, and making the most of the good days.

Key topics discussed

• Early symptoms of inflammatory arthritis and delayed diagnosis
• Living with rheumatoid arthritis in your 20s
• Being dismissed due to age and “normal” blood results
• The emotional impact of misdiagnosis and missed test results
• Pregnancy, fertility, and treatment decisions with inflammatory arthritis
• Balancing motherhood, chronic illness, and a demanding career
• Cultural attitudes toward illness and “just getting on with it”
• The importance of support systems and finding your “village”
• DMARDs, treatment side effects, and finally finding the right medication
• Learning to pace yourself and protect your mental health
• Advocating for yourself within the healthcare system

Memorable takeaways

• You are the expert in your own body.
• Trust your instincts, if something feels wrong, keep pushing for answers.
• Chronic illness doesn’t stop at joints; it affects your whole life.
• Pregnancy decisions with inflammatory arthritis are deeply personal.
• The right treatment can be truly life-changing.
• Good support, family, work, and healthcare makes all the difference.

Resources and links

• 🌐 Visit: inflammatoryarthritis.org
• 📩 Sign up for the Inflammatory Arthritis UK newsletter
• 🎥 Watch the episode on YouTube
• ⭐ Rate & follow the podcast wherever you listen

Disclaimer: Debbie and Katy are not medical professionals. They share personal experiences of living with IA to build connection and community. 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/

Keywords: inflammatory arthritis, AI in healthcare, personalized medicine, early diagnosis, chronic illness, patient care, healthcare technology, living with arthritis, health podcast, medical advancementsIn this episode of Inflammatory!, Debbie and Katy dive into the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare and what it could mean for people living with inflammatory arthritis. They talk openly about the promise of AI, from helping personalise treatment to supporting earlier diagnosis, while also reflecting on the very real challenges of living with a long-term condition.Alongside the tech talk, the conversation keeps coming back to what really matters: human connection. Debbie and Katy explore why empathy, understanding and being truly heard can’t be replaced by algorithms, no matter how advanced they become. They also touch on the everyday realities of chronic illness, including fatigue, invisible symptoms and the importance of learning to advocate for your own health.The episode wraps up with a fun quickfire round, where the hosts share their honest thoughts on AI, data and the future of healthcare.Key topics:

• How AI has been around for decades and why it’s now becoming more visible in healthcare
• Why personalised medicine matters so much for inflammatory arthritis
• The life-changing impact of early diagnosis
• Why human care and compassion must stay at the heart of healthcare
• Fatigue and other invisible symptoms that are too often overlooked
• How AI could reduce trial-and-error when prescribing medications
• The importance of speaking up and advocating for yourself
• Why AI data needs to represent all patients, not just a few
• Living in the moment with a chronic condition
• How AI could give healthcare professionals more time to focus on patients

A thoughtful, honest conversation about balancing innovationwith humanity and putting people first.

Sound Bites

• "You know your body better than anyone."

• "We need to advocate for our health."
• "AI predictions: trust or side-eye?"

Keep connected

Please do rate, follow and download the podcast andsubscribe to our YouTubechannel

Follow us on social media: Search Inflammatory Arthritis UKon Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky and LinkedIn

Sign up to our newsletter at https://inflammatoryarthritis.org/

Disclaimer: Debbie and Katy are not medicalprofessionals. They share personal experiences of living with IA to build connection and community. The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. We talk about our personalhealth 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 anylosses, 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.

· Formore information, head to https://inflammatoryarthritis.org/