Your Stories Each person’s journey with RA is unique. Here are some inspirational stories from real people living with rheumatoid arthritis, who have been in touch with NRAS. Featured Stories “Too young to have arthritis” Carrie is a 21 year old music student from Swansea. Like any normal 21 year old girl, she loves spending time with friends and family, shopping and studying to achieve her chosen career. However, she also lives with RA, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome am Carrie, a 21 year old music student from Swansea, currently living and studying in London. Like any […] A daughter’s letter to her father, who lives with RA Dear Dad, you took care of me within your strong arms until I could walk, then embraced me in hugs every day after, keeping our connection forever strong. You took care of me, and you still do, but I want to talk about the time where this case was inversed. To look back on when […] A mother’s tale: Pregnancy, flares and looking after twins while coping with RA From pregnancy to looking after toddlers, Sandy Winters shares her doubly story about how she took on each obstacle to become a mother to her two beautiful daughters. My consultant kept reassuring me that once I was pregnant there was a good chance my RA would calm down and I would feel a lot better – I […] After 10 years with RA, no one can take my smile from me Alan Wiles is one of our Members; he wanted to share his story with us during RA awareness week and support us to raise awareness and show people what it’s like #behindthesmile Alan was diagnosed with RA 10 years ago; this is his story. I was a typical child, I came from a military family and grew […] Brian’s story – Don’t feel sorry for yourself and don’t let people feel sorry for you They say life begins at 40, well my life did, but some may say it stopped because 3 years past my 40th birthday I was diagnosed with RA. Some would say their life was over, but I was determined not to let it get me down. Oh, life was going to change but not end. […] How I coped with looking after my baby after an RA diagnosis Angela Paterson was diagnosed with RA a short time after her baby daughter was born; a common time for RA symptoms to start. She discusses how this affected her and motherhood and how she found much needed support from NRAS and HealthUnlocked to help her through. When I was diagnosed I searched desperately for any hope, then I found […] Click to close video modal Close Search Stories Try searching our resource hub to find articles, videos, tools and publications most helpful for you. I am… Employer Someone with RASelect topic… Diet and Exercise Family Planning Other Conditions RA Stories Treatment Work and Benefits Clear All Your Stories Learning to live with RA in your 20s and 30s My name is Johanne. I am 35 years old and work as a freelance Costume Designer and Maker. I was diagnosed with RA ten years ago when I was just 25. There have been ups and downs, and lots of necessary adjustments have been made in terms of lifestyle and diet – but I can happily […] Your Stories How medication, meditation and the NRAS Helpline have helped me cope with my diagnosis My name is Harry Bhamrah. I was born in Kenya and moved to London when I was 16. I am married with two daughters, one is a GP (which is handy) and the other an orthodontist consultant, I am also blessed with a 4-month-old grandson. I worked for 30 years in IT and then 10 years in Community Engagement, […] Your Stories Cycling nearly killed me, but it’s still an important part of my life Julian was diagnosed with RA in 2009. In 2012 he suffered a head injury as a result of a cycling accident, which his wife was told he probably wouldn’t survive. This didn’t put him off the sport, and he now competes as a Para-cyclist and recommends cycling to others with RA By way of introduction, I am Julian Earl, and I was […] Your Stories I kept pushing forward, and now I absolutely love my life I am 24 years old, and at aged 19, my world was turned upside down when I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of RA. Somehow I kept pushing forward, and now I absolutely love my life and everything about it! My name is Eleanor Farr – known as Ellie or Ell to my friends! I am 24 years […] Your Stories Hockey and RA Alice Dyson-Jones describes how her life changed in the 8 years since her diagnosis, from being unable to pick up her 6-month-old daughter, to following her passion for hockey to the England Hockey Masters. “You probably need to slow down a bit, you had a sinus operation last month, and your back and shoulders are the stiffest I’ve […] Load more ↓ Share your story Get in touch with us at website@nras.org.uk. We would love to hear about your journey with RA. Help support others Because of your generous donations NRAS will continue to be there for everyone affected by RA. MonthlySinglePay in Funds £3£8£15Other £18.74£41.44£165.75Other £50£100£500Other Donate now!
Featured Stories “Too young to have arthritis” Carrie is a 21 year old music student from Swansea. Like any normal 21 year old girl, she loves spending time with friends and family, shopping and studying to achieve her chosen career. However, she also lives with RA, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome am Carrie, a 21 year old music student from Swansea, currently living and studying in London. Like any […] A daughter’s letter to her father, who lives with RA Dear Dad, you took care of me within your strong arms until I could walk, then embraced me in hugs every day after, keeping our connection forever strong. You took care of me, and you still do, but I want to talk about the time where this case was inversed. To look back on when […] A mother’s tale: Pregnancy, flares and looking after twins while coping with RA From pregnancy to looking after toddlers, Sandy Winters shares her doubly story about how she took on each obstacle to become a mother to her two beautiful daughters. My consultant kept reassuring me that once I was pregnant there was a good chance my RA would calm down and I would feel a lot better – I […] After 10 years with RA, no one can take my smile from me Alan Wiles is one of our Members; he wanted to share his story with us during RA awareness week and support us to raise awareness and show people what it’s like #behindthesmile Alan was diagnosed with RA 10 years ago; this is his story. I was a typical child, I came from a military family and grew […] Brian’s story – Don’t feel sorry for yourself and don’t let people feel sorry for you They say life begins at 40, well my life did, but some may say it stopped because 3 years past my 40th birthday I was diagnosed with RA. Some would say their life was over, but I was determined not to let it get me down. Oh, life was going to change but not end. […] How I coped with looking after my baby after an RA diagnosis Angela Paterson was diagnosed with RA a short time after her baby daughter was born; a common time for RA symptoms to start. She discusses how this affected her and motherhood and how she found much needed support from NRAS and HealthUnlocked to help her through. When I was diagnosed I searched desperately for any hope, then I found […]
“Too young to have arthritis” Carrie is a 21 year old music student from Swansea. Like any normal 21 year old girl, she loves spending time with friends and family, shopping and studying to achieve her chosen career. However, she also lives with RA, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome am Carrie, a 21 year old music student from Swansea, currently living and studying in London. Like any […]
A daughter’s letter to her father, who lives with RA Dear Dad, you took care of me within your strong arms until I could walk, then embraced me in hugs every day after, keeping our connection forever strong. You took care of me, and you still do, but I want to talk about the time where this case was inversed. To look back on when […]
A mother’s tale: Pregnancy, flares and looking after twins while coping with RA From pregnancy to looking after toddlers, Sandy Winters shares her doubly story about how she took on each obstacle to become a mother to her two beautiful daughters. My consultant kept reassuring me that once I was pregnant there was a good chance my RA would calm down and I would feel a lot better – I […]
After 10 years with RA, no one can take my smile from me Alan Wiles is one of our Members; he wanted to share his story with us during RA awareness week and support us to raise awareness and show people what it’s like #behindthesmile Alan was diagnosed with RA 10 years ago; this is his story. I was a typical child, I came from a military family and grew […]
Brian’s story – Don’t feel sorry for yourself and don’t let people feel sorry for you They say life begins at 40, well my life did, but some may say it stopped because 3 years past my 40th birthday I was diagnosed with RA. Some would say their life was over, but I was determined not to let it get me down. Oh, life was going to change but not end. […]
How I coped with looking after my baby after an RA diagnosis Angela Paterson was diagnosed with RA a short time after her baby daughter was born; a common time for RA symptoms to start. She discusses how this affected her and motherhood and how she found much needed support from NRAS and HealthUnlocked to help her through. When I was diagnosed I searched desperately for any hope, then I found […]
Search Stories Try searching our resource hub to find articles, videos, tools and publications most helpful for you. I am… Employer Someone with RASelect topic… Diet and Exercise Family Planning Other Conditions RA Stories Treatment Work and Benefits Clear All Your Stories Learning to live with RA in your 20s and 30s My name is Johanne. I am 35 years old and work as a freelance Costume Designer and Maker. I was diagnosed with RA ten years ago when I was just 25. There have been ups and downs, and lots of necessary adjustments have been made in terms of lifestyle and diet – but I can happily […] Your Stories How medication, meditation and the NRAS Helpline have helped me cope with my diagnosis My name is Harry Bhamrah. I was born in Kenya and moved to London when I was 16. I am married with two daughters, one is a GP (which is handy) and the other an orthodontist consultant, I am also blessed with a 4-month-old grandson. I worked for 30 years in IT and then 10 years in Community Engagement, […] Your Stories Cycling nearly killed me, but it’s still an important part of my life Julian was diagnosed with RA in 2009. In 2012 he suffered a head injury as a result of a cycling accident, which his wife was told he probably wouldn’t survive. This didn’t put him off the sport, and he now competes as a Para-cyclist and recommends cycling to others with RA By way of introduction, I am Julian Earl, and I was […] Your Stories I kept pushing forward, and now I absolutely love my life I am 24 years old, and at aged 19, my world was turned upside down when I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of RA. Somehow I kept pushing forward, and now I absolutely love my life and everything about it! My name is Eleanor Farr – known as Ellie or Ell to my friends! I am 24 years […] Your Stories Hockey and RA Alice Dyson-Jones describes how her life changed in the 8 years since her diagnosis, from being unable to pick up her 6-month-old daughter, to following her passion for hockey to the England Hockey Masters. “You probably need to slow down a bit, you had a sinus operation last month, and your back and shoulders are the stiffest I’ve […] Load more ↓
Your Stories Learning to live with RA in your 20s and 30s My name is Johanne. I am 35 years old and work as a freelance Costume Designer and Maker. I was diagnosed with RA ten years ago when I was just 25. There have been ups and downs, and lots of necessary adjustments have been made in terms of lifestyle and diet – but I can happily […]
Your Stories How medication, meditation and the NRAS Helpline have helped me cope with my diagnosis My name is Harry Bhamrah. I was born in Kenya and moved to London when I was 16. I am married with two daughters, one is a GP (which is handy) and the other an orthodontist consultant, I am also blessed with a 4-month-old grandson. I worked for 30 years in IT and then 10 years in Community Engagement, […]
Your Stories Cycling nearly killed me, but it’s still an important part of my life Julian was diagnosed with RA in 2009. In 2012 he suffered a head injury as a result of a cycling accident, which his wife was told he probably wouldn’t survive. This didn’t put him off the sport, and he now competes as a Para-cyclist and recommends cycling to others with RA By way of introduction, I am Julian Earl, and I was […]
Your Stories I kept pushing forward, and now I absolutely love my life I am 24 years old, and at aged 19, my world was turned upside down when I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of RA. Somehow I kept pushing forward, and now I absolutely love my life and everything about it! My name is Eleanor Farr – known as Ellie or Ell to my friends! I am 24 years […]
Your Stories Hockey and RA Alice Dyson-Jones describes how her life changed in the 8 years since her diagnosis, from being unable to pick up her 6-month-old daughter, to following her passion for hockey to the England Hockey Masters. “You probably need to slow down a bit, you had a sinus operation last month, and your back and shoulders are the stiffest I’ve […]
Share your story Get in touch with us at website@nras.org.uk. We would love to hear about your journey with RA.
Help support others Because of your generous donations NRAS will continue to be there for everyone affected by RA. MonthlySinglePay in Funds £3£8£15Other £18.74£41.44£165.75Other £50£100£500Other Donate now!