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My Story: Living My Best Life as a Woman of Color with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Afshin, a rheumatoid arthritis patient, is living her best life despite the complications of her health management.

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Transcript

00:00
[LIGHTHEARTED MUSIC] I think for my future, I want to be able to hike and backpack for several days at a time.
00:07
I would like to just take my cat and my dog and be a little hiking team and take on a lot of trails
00:15
this upcoming year.
00:24
I've had rheumatoid arthritis since I was 14 years old. I think being a person of color, the disease just
00:31
presents differently on you. It definitely leaves a lot of room for misdiagnosing.
00:37
For me, stress is a huge part of why RA flares happen. So this year, I think I can count
00:44
how many flares I've had on one hand because I've taken myself out of a lot of the stressful areas
00:50
that I was finding myself in last year. I feel like finding a health care provider who understands your need is finding water when you're in a desert.
00:59
I found mine pretty quickly. But due to unfortunate insurance changes, I had to explain all of my illnesses to a new team
01:08
of doctors, which was really difficult. They asked me to induce a flare, which was just super stressful
01:16
for me to go through. It is so important to take your medications as prescribed. And that's what my doctor had to explain,
01:24
that you have to do these things as I tell you because these things can get really bad for you.
01:31
And that's when you have to be sure to take the guidance of your doctor. I use a lot of cold therapy.
01:39
I use a lot of ice baths in the morning to relieve joint pain and pressure from my hands.
01:46
I also use a lot of topical creams. Otherwise, I don't think I would be able to function without them.
01:54
I used to be a power lifter, so exercise has always been a big part of my life. I currently do hiking.
02:02
I do brisk walks. And I make sure to get some sort of movement in even if I'm having a bad day, even
02:09
if that means stretching and just walking around my home and having my dog there to support me if I need it.
02:16
So Sammy provides a lot of deep pressure therapy for me when I'm in my flares. She provides a lot of comfort to turn to.
02:25
She can finally start training to be my mobility aid, and I'm just really looking forward to seeing how she grows along with me.
02:34
For others with rheumatoid arthritis, I would definitely say that once you find the right cocktail of treatment, it does get easier.
02:42
I've never felt better. [LIGHTHEARTED MUSIC]

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