Inflammatory!

James Hollens joins us on Inflammatory! to share his honest and emotional journey of living with two types of inflammatory arthritis, whilst keeping his sense of humour, it is a very funny and honest episode. He talks about the sudden joint pain that hit in his early twenties, the months of misdiagnoses, and the moment a rheumatologist finally recognised rheumatoid arthritis. At just 21, James had...

Debbie and Katy dive into the chaos, pressure, and unexpected joys of the festive season, all while managing inflammatory arthritis. From flare frustrations and frozen fingers to minimalist Christmases, Santa mishaps, school nativity seating struggles, and the great“real tree vs fake tree” debate, this episode is full of relatable laughs and honest reflections. They explore how stress, weather, fa...

This week, Debbie and Katy dive into how a sudden UK cold snap is affecting their inflammatory arthritis and how the community is feeling it too. Debbie shares her current whole-body flare, why pacing is key, and the importance of looking after yourself when symptoms spike. They also chat about: How cold weather triggers stiffness and flares Your feedback on sleep, boundaries, and slowing down Die...

In true Inflammatory! style, Debbie and Katy bring plenty of humour, honesty, and a healthy dose of real talk in this heartfelt and relatable episode. They dive into what “looking after yourself” really means when you’re living with inflammatory arthritis or any long-term condition — and spoiler alert: it’s about a lot more than bubble baths and early nights! They chat about everything from blue p...

In this week’s episode of Inflammatory with Debbie and Katy , the hosts dive into a conversation that every person living with inflammatory arthritis can relate to - what causes a flare and how to cope when it hits. From birthday party chaos and moving-house stress to hormones, grief, and sleepless nights, Debbie and Katy share their personal experiences, insights, and practical coping strategies....

Final chance to fill Inflammatory! consultation here Trustee Week Special – Behind the Scenes of Running aCharity This week, Debbie and Katy celebrate Trustee Week (3–7November) with an honest chat about what it’s really like to start and run a charity from scratch. They share the story behind Inflammatory Arthritis UK ,from that first message and business plan to launching a national charity, all...

As autumn turns to winter, Debbie and Katy chat about the ups and downs of seasonal change, the darker mornings, aching joints, and staying motivated when it’s cold outside. They share personal stories, warmth hacks, and practical tips for managing energy, mood, and inflammation through the colder months all with their usual humour and honesty. Topics Covered Seasonal changes & mood: Why darke...

Guest: Matt Brown, Physiotherapist & Strength Coach In this week’s episode, Debbie and Katy chat with Matt Brown , a physiotherapist and strength coach, about how strength training can support people living with inflammatory arthritis (IA). Matt shares his journey from personal training to physiotherapy and offers practical advice for building strength safely, even on flare days. They bust com...

In this listener-led episode, Debbie and Katy answer yourmost-asked questions about living with inflammatory arthritis. From managing pain and fatigue to navigating treatment options like DMARDs and biologics, they share their real-life experiences, the challenges, the lessons, and the small wins that make a big difference. The pair also catch up on exciting developments in arthritisresearch and p...

In this episode of Inflammatory! , Debbie and Katydive into an honest conversation about alcohol and its impact on life with inflammatory arthritis (IA). From social pressures to medication side effects, cultural habits to personal choices, they explore how drinking affects their health, fatigue, and flare-ups and how difficult it can be to balanceself-discipline with wanting a “normal” social lif...

In this week’s episode of Inflammatory with Debbie andKaty , the hosts open up about one of the most difficult and often invisible aspects of living with inflammatory arthritis: pain . From describing what the pain actually feels like, to coping mechanisms that work (and don’t work), they share their personal journeys with honesty, humour, and resilience. This conversation covers everything from t...

Living with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Sarah’s Journey from Denial to Empowerment In this episode of Inflammatory! , Debbie and Katy sitdown with Sarah Yorke , who shares her deeply personal journey with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) , from the confusion of her first symptoms to the challenges of getting a diagnosis, coping with denial, and ultimately finding strategies that help her live well with this un...

We need your help. Please do take a few minutes tocomplete our anonymous survey, to help us grow and improve the podcast.  Please fill out the survey here: https://tinyurl.com/mtr7fvz5 Please note: All responses are anonymous. Aggregateresults may be shared with funders, trusts, and partner organisations to highlight the need for Inflammatory! and ensure its sustainability. 🎙️ Episode 26: Is Sitti...

In this bonus summer episode, Debbie and Katy catch up while one of them enjoys a holiday in Crete, navigating the intense heat, a lingering cold, and the added challenges of inflammatory arthritis and being immunosuppressed. They explore the realities of travelling with a chronic condition, from heightened sun sensitivity due to medication, to the constant need for sun protection, shade, and mind...

In this heartfelt episode, Debbie and Katy reflect on recent personal experiences, listener feedback, and plans for the future as they wrap up the podcast season for a short summer break. Topics Discussed: Coping with Heat & Chronic Illness Katy shares a stressful experience with her son falling ill from the heat, leading to missed plans and increased physical symptoms. Both hosts reflect on h...

This week, Katy and Debbie offer a raw and honest conversation about what it really means to live with inflammatory arthritis (IA). As both are currently experiencing flares, Katy facing increasing symptoms and Debbie managing spinal arthritis and severe pelvic pain, they speak from a place of lived experience, bringing warmth, truth, and relatability to the challenges of daily life with IA. &nbsp...

In this powerful episode, personal trainer and father of three daughters (all under the age of 5), Adam Newton shares his journey of being diagnosed with inflammatory arthritis while pursuing extreme endurance goals, including training for a 100-mile ultramarathon. His symptoms began with psoriasis and escalated following a 24-hour charity cycling event. Although quickly referred to rheumatology a...

In this episode, Debbie and Katy explore the powerful role of volunteering, especially for people living with inflammatory arthritis and chronic conditions, to coincide with volunteer’s week. The hosts share personal stories, practical advice, and inspiration on how giving back, even in small ways, can help you reclaim purpose and build a sense of community.  They stress that meaningful volun...

Inflammatory! is making a real difference, helping people feel seen, heard, and supported in their journey with inflammatory arthritis. If you’ve found value in what we do, please consider donating to help us continue creating meaningful content. Every contribution, big or small, makes a huge impact. 👉 Donate here:  https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/inflammatory In this heartfelt and...

Urgent appeal for donations to help keep the podcast running until their planned summer break. Donate here  https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/inflammatory Send us your questions for next week’s Q&A session, especially voice notes:  https://inflammatoryarthritis.org/contact-us/ In this episode of  Inflammatory! , Debbie and Katy firstly reflect on the first Inflammatory Arthrit...

In this episode of  Inflammatory with Debbie and Katy , the hosts celebrate the important role nurses play in supporting people with inflammatory arthritis, particularly in the context of International Nurses Day and Mental Health Awareness Week.  They begin with a light-hearted catch-up about their weekends and segue into a candid discussion about mental health, personal experiences wit...

In this week’s episode, hosts Debbie and Katy welcome their first guest,  Rachell Smith , a leading portrait and fashion photographer who lives with axial spondyloarthritis (axial SpA) and is behind the new national campaign “Faces of Axial SpA”. Rachell opens up about her deeply personal journey, from experiencing symptoms as a teenager to finally being diagnosed over a decade later. She dis...

Inflammatory Arthritis UK are hosting their first ever online event on the 20 May at 6-7pm to raise awareness of World Autoimmune and Autoinflammatory Arthritis Day. Please do join us and a chance to meet Debbie and Katy online to hear more about the charity and be part of our community. More information and full agenda will follow. Please do join us and to sign up email us at:  info@inflamma...

In this episode of  Inflammatory! , Debbie and Katy kick things off with a light-hearted chat about springtime chaos, parenting, and the never-ending battle with household cleaning, offering a humorous but relatable peek into how daily life intersects with chronic illness. The conversation then dives into a powerful and personal discussion about exercise and inflammatory arthritis,...

In this episode of  Inflammatory , Debbie and Katy get real about how even a simple cold can wreak havoc when you're living with inflammatory arthritis (IA). Debbie opens up about a recent bout of illness that hit her hard and amplified her joint pain (especially in her jaw), flaring up her fibromyalgia, and throwing her reactive hypoglycaemia into chaos. Katy, on the othe...