Inflammatory!

In this powerful and heartfelt episode, hosts Debbie and Katie, both parents living with inflammatory arthritis (IA), share their experiences balancing parenthood with chronic illness. They discuss the challenges of raising children while managing IA, the importance of awareness, support networks, and resilience. Firstly, they share their recent experience attending an event at the House of P...

In this episode, Debbie and Katy answer questions in their third monthly Q&A session. They start by discussing Katy’s recent 10K race experience, discussing the impact of overexertion and fatigue. They explore the difference between general tiredness and inflammatory arthritis (IA)-related exhaustion, as well as Debbie’s experience with new fibromyalgia painkillers causing...

In this heartfelt episode, in recognition of World Young Rheumatic Diseases Day, Katy interviews Debbie on the realities of parenting a child with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (a type of inflammatory arthritis), offering personal insights and reflections.    The conversation begins with personal updates, including Katy’s reflections on imposter syndrome and...

In this episode, Debbie and Katy dive into the realities of aging with inflammatory arthritis during Autoimmune Awareness Month. Reflecting on their March birthdays, they ask—are they any wiser? Katy shares her experience with a steroid injection in her wrist, detailing the unexpected pain and unique circumstances, while Debbie talks about a mishap with her microphone, sparking a conversation on c...

In this episode, Debbie and Katy start by sharing light-hearted moments, including stories about Pancake Day and how Debbie met her husband. Katy talks about her recent experiences with tennis and netball while managing ongoing foot pain despite using orthotics. The conversation explores who inspires them, a common theme is those who are living with lon...

Hosts Debbie and Katy, go through your questions in this second Inflammatory! Q&A episode.     Next week on Inflammatory! the hosts will be talking about who inspires them to coincide with World Book Day and International Women’s Day. Please do send in details about who has inspired/supported you and the hosts can do their first shout outs in the next episode. You can send them...

In this episode, hosts Debbie and Katy, or should we say Lara Croft and Donkey (need to listen to understand why this is so) explore the realities of working life whilst living with inflammatory arthritis.   Next week is the Q&A episode so please do send in your questions, especially voicenotes here  https://inflammatoryarthritis.org/contact-us/  so you can be on the next e...

Welcome to #fuckitland (you’ll need to listen to the episode to have any idea what we mean by this!). Debbie and Katy come out of their comfort zones and dive into an often-overlooked topic: relationships and sex while living with inflammatory arthritis and sex.  They take a deep dive to explore the challenges of relationships and intimacy for those living with inflammatory art...

Trigger warning - this episode contains discussions about suicidal thoughts In this episode, Debbie and Katy open up about the often-overlooked mental health challenges of living with inflammatory arthritis.  Firstly, Katy shares that she is in a better mood, helped by her netball team's rare win and the pain in her wrist didn’t turn into an IA flare. Along with the excitement of her son losi...

In this week’s episode, brought to you by Inflammatory Arthritis UK, Debbie and Katy handed the episode over to you, as it is the first Inflammatory! question and answer session.  Firstly, they cover the impact hormones has on their inflammatory arthritis, whether they flare during their period and what research is that out there or to come.   They answer questions in more detail on...

In this latest episode of Inflammatory! brought to you by Inflammatory Arthritis UK, Debbie and Katy cover the immediate effect their IA diagnosis had on them, their families, the number of hospital appointments, effects of medications and their emotional reaction.  They explore in more detail the impact on Katy’s work life, having to plan work around the number of appointments. Having conver...

In this second episode of Inflammatory! brought to you by Inflammatory Arthritis UK, Debbie and Katy cover the day they were diagnosed and the impact it had on them and their family. It also covers the day Debbie will never forget, the day her eldest daughter was diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, the same type of inflammatory arthritis she has.   They explore in more detail t...

In this first episode of Inflammatory!, brought to you by Inflammatory Arthritis UK, Debbie and Katy look at what is inflammatory arthritis (IA), their motivation behind creating a new patient led charity (Inflammatory Arthritis UK), and their personal diagnoses.  They explore in more detail their type of inflammatory arthritis; Debbie shares her diagnosis of juvenile idiopathic arthritis and...