From healthcentral.com
These three women are pushing themselves beyond their limits and encouraging others to come along for the ride
Around 1.3 million people in the United States live with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)—and most of them are women. This chronic autoimmune disease, characterized by joint pain, stiffness, and swelling, and fatigue, doesn’t present the same path for every person. In fact, no two people have the same RA story. But what’s universal is that it is possible to achieve great things while managing the condition. We spoke to three women whose stories of triumphing with RA are nothing short of inspirational.
“I’m Proud to Call Myself a Triathlete.” –Chem Palarca, 42, Manila, Philippines
My RA story: I was diagnosed with RA in 2006, when I was still very young. It started with foot pain which was initially diagnosed as tendinitis; I thought I got injured during a dance competition. I was prescribed a special type of shoe and given high grade nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) but these had no effect on the pain; in fact, it worsened. As the months went by, it spread from my foot to my bigger joints: elbows, knees, shoulders, and jaw. Getting out of bed in the morning was always a struggle. My lowest point was when I couldn’t walk, chew (because my jaw was affected), comb my own hair, or fasten my bra. I remember one night I just literally cried myself to sleep while my mom and sister were massaging my joints.
My orthopaedic doctor finally referred me to a rheumatologist, where it took one blood test to determine that I had RA. The doctor gave me steroids just to get through the severe pain, which immediately helped. My initial treatment was methotrexate because I couldn’t afford biologics then. While the pain lessened, it didn’t completely go away and I was still in a pain range of 2 to 5 on a scale of 1 to 10 every single day.
It was 2016 when I finally could afford biologics, which are very expensive. On my third month of monthly infusions, I was declared in remission. This lasted for three years, then a very stressful personal experience caused my RA to flare again. Since then, my doctor has been adjusting the frequency of my infusions in the hope that I’ll go back into remission.
My greatest triumph: When I first went into remission, it felt like I got my life back. I threw myself into all sorts of sporting activities: I tried surfing and yoga, I learned how to swim, and I got interested in freediving, which may be considered an extreme sport because it’s a type of underwater diving that relies on you holding your breath (rather than using any breathing apparatus until you resurface). I loved it so much, I trained to a competitive level and started competing in 2022.
Later, I got seriously interested in multisports, taking part in aquathlons at first and later triathlons, too. In my first aquathlon I wasn’t chasing a personal record, so I was able to enjoy just being able to move. It felt great to feel my body swim and run. My first triathlon in September 2022 was in New Clark City in Pampanga in the Philippines. It was the best feeling ever: I was finally able to call myself a triathlete. It brought so many feelings to the surface: I remembered my rheumatologist telling me I could be in a wheelchair in 10 years. I had a great feeling of accomplishment; I felt like I’d conquered my condition.
Last year, I completed the 2.5 kilometre “Swim Junkie” in Lobo, Batangas, Philippines, one of the hardest swim courses in the world due to the strong current.
I used to hate RA—for a time all I felt was self-pity. But somehow, I have learned to embrace it alongside accepting the fact that my body has limitations—and that’s just fine. Throughout it all, I learned to be kinder to my body and myself, which is also a triumph alongside my sporting achievements. There are days I still feel fatigued or my joints are painful and that’s OK because I’ve accepted that I will not always be strong. This journey has taught me to be very patient, to hold on to my faith, and to appreciate the present moment. By striving for my sporting goals, I’ve completely reinvented my “brand”: I’m no longer someone suffering from chronic pain but someone living an active, healthy lifestyle.
“I Exercise, Meditate, and I’m Planning on a Beautiful Future.” –Bex Zisk, 35, Portland, OR
My RA story: I was diagnosed in 2019 at age 29, right before my 30th birthday and right before the pandemic began. My RA journey was tough. I started out on moderate medications, and it was obvious to see that they were not working. My body started to deteriorate very quickly. I was finally able to get on an insurance plan that allowed me to take biologics, but my first med I tried did absolutely nothing for me. Every day, I woke up in pain, and it was getting worse and worse to the point that I needed to start buying walking aids. I soon needed a wheelchair, a walker, and a shower chair because I didn’t even have the ability to stand through a quick shower. I tried about five biologic medications before I finally found a combination that worked—just one part of the treatment plan that has given me my life back. But it took almost two years to find a combination that worked, and in the interim, my joints deteriorated very quickly. My fingers are slightly twisted already, my feet have very little cartilage in them, and I have already had a knee replacement on my left knee. RA can take over very quickly if untreated or not treated properly. I unfortunately had to learn that the hard way. I gained a lot of weight from the stagnation, but since my knee replacement and finding the proper combo of meds, I am down 50 pounds, which has helped me get back to exercising, so I have built back a lot of strength in my knees, feet, and ankles. I am in a much better place today than I was in early 2020.
My greatest triumph: Getting the knee replacement truly gave me my life back. I’m thankful for my team of doctors who worked overtime to get me the referral—most doctors did not want to do it since I am “so young.” Some days are worse than others, but overall, I feel like a new person. I never thought I would even walk again, so I am truly grateful. It has allowed me to work in different areas again, areas I couldn’t do before because I couldn’t stand long or even walk across an office. It has also helped with breaking through my depression and anxiety that naturally came with my RA diagnosis. That’s one part that doctors don’t talk about: How will it affect your mental health, especially when you are young like me? You feel like you are robbed of your future. All these plans you’ve made, travelling, family planning, name it. I stopped planning a future, but now that I have my life back, I’m back to making travel plans. I’m able to hike again, and I can even begin planning my wedding that’s been on the back burner because of how much time and effort it took for my RA to get in control.
I think being able to exercise again is another huge triumph. You won’t believe how much you miss working out when you literally aren’t able to do it! I will never take it for granted again now that I am able to do it! I’ve gotten back down to the weight I was at pre-RA, and it feels so good!
Plus, I have a whole new confidence and outlook on life. I decided to go back to school so I can venture into starting another business, one that I believe is a good field to be in and will be stable for a long time, just in case my RA decides to rear its ugly head again.
At my lowest point, I was drinking almost every night to numb the physical and mental pain. I was a mess. I wanted to die. The pain I was in was unbearable. I also just wanted to know “why me?” Why was I diagnosed so young with this crippling disease? I’ll never know that answer, but today, I have broken out of that depression. I wake up feeling fresh, motivated, and ready to take on the day—even with its challenges because I know that currently, they are nowhere nearly as bad as they used to be. I exercise daily, I meditate, and I am continuing to plan for a beautiful future—and a beautiful future it will be.
RA almost took my whole life away. It took a part of my life away, but I am working on looking past that and accepting it. I have worked hard to show RA that I am bigger than it, and I’m grateful it has worked so far. All I can do is wake up each day and hope that it will never get that bad again. I remind myself to keep moving, keep eating well, and keep positive. I will win this battle. I will not let RA win. It’s my life to live and I am going to live it!
“I’ve Turned My RA Into a Platform to Help Others.” –Catina Morrison, 41, Seffner, FL
My RA story: My RA journey is one that spans decades, even though I didn’t receive an official diagnosis until 2016, when I was age 32. For over 30 years, I lived with unexplained pain, fatigue, and inflammation that were repeatedly dismissed by medical professionals. Despite being a registered nurse for nearly 20 years now, I was misdiagnosed multiple times, most notably with fibromyalgia. I heard far too often that my symptoms were “in my head”—an experience that reflects a painful form of medical gaslighting that so many women, especially women of colour, endure in silence.
I spent years advocating not only for myself but for patients just like me, all while enduring the debilitating effects of an illness that had no name for far too long. It wasn’t until I found a rheumatologist who truly listened and took a comprehensive approach that I was finally diagnosed with RA. That moment was both heartbreaking and validating. For the first time, I had an answer—and with it, a path forward.
Once I received my diagnosis, my treatment plan shifted drastically. We moved away from band-aid solutions and instead pursued a holistic and evidence-based approach. I began an intervention strategy that included disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), lifestyle modifications, dietary changes, and emotional support. Over time—and with patience, persistence, and prayer—my RA entered remission. I don’t take a moment of my journey for granted.
My greatest triumph: My greatest triumph is turning my pain into purpose by founding Inflamed Sisters Thriving, a non-profit organization that empowers women living with inflammatory diseases to thrive personally and professionally. After navigating years of misdiagnosis, medical bias, and physical suffering, I knew I wasn’t alone, and I became determined to create a safe, inclusive, and affirming space for others like me.
Inflamed Sisters Thriving Inc. was born from a simple, radical truth: We are not our illnesses, and we deserve to be seen, heard, and supported. Through our work, we promote diversity, equity, and inclusion with a holistic approach in medical research and business, while advocating for workplace environments that uplift women with disabilities. We host events, retreats, and summits that focus on healing the whole woman—mind, body, and spirit—and equip our community with tools to thrive, not just survive.
Founding this non-profit while managing a chronic illness, pursuing an executive MBA, and working in healthcare leadership is a testament to resilience. I turned my diagnosis into a declaration: that no woman with an invisible illness should ever feel invisible again.
Building Inflamed Sisters Thriving has completely transformed how I view my RA. What once felt like a life sentence has become a life mission. I no longer see RA as something that broke me. I see it as something that awakened me.
RA didn’t just test my limits. It revealed my strength. It brought me to my knees, yes, but it also taught me how to rise with intention and the strength of resilience. It helped me find my voice in advocacy, my calling in leadership, and my tribe in sisterhood.
Today, I live with gratitude, not resentment. I honour the parts of me that were once overlooked and silenced. I’m proud to say I’m in remission, but more importantly, I’m at peace. I’ve reclaimed my story, and now I help other women do the same. RA may have shaped my path, but Inflamed Sisters Thriving gave it purpose.
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