My RA Story …So far!

05/09/06: Stephanie Phillips

Before I developed problems with my hands, I had played the piano in a restaurant, enjoyed card craft and painting (my work had formed part of a local exhibition). I was a black belt in Taekwondo and had helped in the training of beginners. I had been a volunteer helper for the Lancaster Diocese and assisted the sick and disabled on their pilgrimages. I had been a very healthy active person and with no family history of RA: I somehow felt cheated. However, I resolved not to feel sorry for myself but to do everything I could to fight this condition which overwhelmed me.

At first I naively thought my early morning stiffness was due to overworking at the gym or sleeping awkwardly! I had been to see my GP as my fingers were ‘triggering’ (locking into various positions) but she simply said she didn’t know what was causing it and my blood tests were fine. However, when I could no longer walk without crying from the excruciating pain in my feet, and my hands were so swollen I couldn’t even do simple tasks, I knew it had to be RA: I had studied auto-immunity during my degree. I went to see the practice nurse at my health centre who’d previously worked with RA patients and she arranged for the relevant blood tests to be made which confirmed what we’d expected.

My Consultant told me I had a very rapid progressive form of RA, and it was unusual to ‘present’ with so much damage to the joints. I was started on a high dose of methotrexate. Sulphasalazine was then added, followed by a hospital admission for steroid injections as months of the maximum doses of these drugs were proving ineffective. I then started on an anti-TNF drug. However my injection sites’ reactions to this were hives the size of my whole thigh which itched like mad! I was switched to another anti-TNF drug, but I continued to get huge itchy rashes, which on some occasions spread past my knees. I endured the discomfort for 15 weeks and then strangely and thankfully it just stopped!

Although not a cure, I cannot describe the difference these drugs have made to my life. The good days now outnumber the bad days ten-fold and I am now trying to put my life back together.

I would not have got though these troublesome times without great support from my family, friends and a great Rheumatology team in Sheffield.

I feel it is my vocation to dedicate my career to helping others with RA therefore I applied to NRAS to become a volunteer and to Sheffield medical school to train to be a doctor - with the intention of becoming a Rheumatology specialist of course!

I was thrilled when I received an offer of a place starting in September. However, to fulfil my dream, I am desperate for help towards my tuition fees and without some sort of sponsorship or grant will be unable to go.

If anyone out there would like to sponsor me, knows anybody who could help or would like to help me themselves in anyway possible, I would be forever grateful and you can be assured that I will strive hard to promote awareness of RA, excellent clinical practice and encourage ongoing research.

I would like to thank The Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield and, in particular, my Consultant, Dr Gerry Wilson, and Specialist Nurse, Pauline Mark, for the wonderful treatment and support they have given and continue to give to me.