I was a participant in the Power of Movement fundraiser for Arthritis yesterday. I was one of the featured patient stories.
When I sing in front of people, I get nervous but not so much that it affects my performance in a negative way. I'm not sure if it is that I simply was nervous to speak, maybe it was that I was absolutely exhausted, or even that the bitterly cold -34 degree weather just cut right through to my bones and the pain was too distraction. Whatever the case may be - I didn't say what I had intended to say up there on stage. I got most of it out but the following is more of what I wanted to get across:
I am 27 years old. I have a complicated medical history that didn't start with arthritis. I was diagnose with Colitis at age 14, had two abdominal surgeries, was then diagnosed with Crohn's and a few other illnesses. Even at my worst with my Crohn's, I was still able to attend school, work, have a social calendar, and play sports on a regular basis.
I was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis in November of 2012. This is the first disease that has taken me out. I have been off of work now for over a year and a half, I am allergic to several arthritis meds so we are focusing mainly on pain management, and I have had to quit all of my sports. Yoga has been a saving grace as it has allowed me to continue some sort of physical activity without putting too much stress on my joints. Arthritis has many forms and it is NOT exclusively an elderly disorder or a 'general wearing out' with age. Arthritis can affect anyone at any age.
Funds for research for new medications would have a direct impact on my life. Thank you all for raising funds and participating and donating.
That's my do-over!
:)