Abi's Story
Abi had to fight for a psoriatic arthritis diagnosis at the age of 19 after being told she was "too young." She shares her story and how she manages her condition now.
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When my nan passed away suddenly, I started having a sore ankle and noticed my elbow wasn’t straightening properly. I went to the GP who said it was grief.
For months it was getting worse and I could hardly walk in the mornings. I suddenly lost my Grandad in August 2024 (who I lived with) and things took a turn for the worse.
I started experiencing serious scalp psoriasis and all over body aches. Went back to the GP who told me that it’s not arthritis as I’m too young. Soon enough, come November, my family could tell something was wrong. I wasn’t myself and lost a lot of my umph! I started experiencing serious fatigue and felt so unwell.
Went back to the GP and spoke to a lovely doctor who sent me to rheumatology. In the first appointment (in Dec 2024) I was diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis. I was instantly started on a course of steroids and methotrexate injections. I thought I would gain my life back, but then after a few weeks of steroids, it got worse so I took another DMARD alongside methotrexate injections. It gave me awful side effects so then after a trial of 3 months (and a few steroid injections into my muscles to help me all over) they started me on a biological therapy which I’m yet to have taken long enough to see results.
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I’m only at the start of my PsA story however, I have seen such a significant change in my life. I have good and bad days and at only 19 years of age when I tell people I have PsA they look at me and say "I would never know."
Sometimes it upsets me when I see people I know out travelling the world going out drinking knowing that my body wouldn’t tolerate it at the moment. One day I will be able to. I just need to remember that!
Arthritis isn’t an on show disease and I wish people would stop judging. It can affect anyone of any age and it doesn’t make us different.
In recent months I have learnt to pace myself, work on reduced hours and listen to my body. PsA may have caused a significant change in my life however, I won’t let it stop me from enjoying life and the simplicity of a quiet life surrounded by people I love.
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