I'm Teresa and I've been living with RA since October 2004 (diagnosed May 2005), which was terrifying as Rheumatoid Arthritis had put my aunt into a wheelchair. After failing on conventional DMARDs I was put onto biologics in 2007, which truly gave me my life back. Peri-menopause upset everything until I switched to another biologic and later a JAK-inhibitor. Thankfully I have mostly stayed in remission. I Joined NRAS to improve my knowledge and meet others with the condition. I have been running the Hertfordshire group for a few years now. I am also a community pharmacist by profession, now working part-time.
My experience of physical activity: I'm not someone who particularly enjoyed doing exercise. I used to play badminton and attend aerobics classes because it's good for me. I also used to cycle and go for walks with my family. Rapid deterioration caused by RA made these activities impossible. Later I discovered Pilates, which has helped to keep my joints moving. I can now get down onto the floor and up again unaided! More recently I joined "small groups" at a local gym where the instructor modifies exercises for me so that I can do them effectively and safely. It's made an enormous difference to my mobility, strength, energy levels and general well-being – it's quite sociable too!
Why I wanted to get involved with MISSION-RA: My father-in-law used to say "use it or lose it!". Realising the difference that going to the gym and doing Pilates has made to me, I know he was right! I became involved in MISSION-RA because I'd like to help people like the me of 15 years ago to become more active with confidence that it's not doing any harm and with the expectation that it will improve their lives as much as it has mine.
