From Terrified to Empowered: Erin & Heather’s Rheumatoid Arthritis Stories

Erin & Heather share their diagnosis journeys for rheumatoid arthritis, and how Cheryl’s “Rheum to THRIVE” program helped them become more empowered and supported. This conversation originally took place as an Instagram Live discussion in September 2021.Episode at a glance:Erin shares her diagnosis story: originally ankylosing spondylitis, then changed to rheumatoid arthritisHeather shares how she felt “desperate to find answers” after her rheumatoid arthritis worsenedErin and Heather share how they became more empowered through joining the Rheum to THRIVE programHeather shares how important it was for her to have access to a consistent set of resources and how she benefited from learning skills to “be the CEO of her care team!”Erin shares what it meant to her to have a supportive communityErin reflects on how she previously did not ask for work accommodations due to shame and guilt, before she became empowered and understood the power of counteracting your own internalized ableismHeather reflects on how she used to “fake it til you make it” or “power through,” then she gained the courage to talk to her boss about her needs for accommodations at workErin and Cheryl reflect on how their experiences with Facebook “support groups” is different than  Rheum to THRIVEAmy shares what she got out of Rheum to THRIVECheryl answers some FAQs about the programMedical disclaimer:All content found on Arthritis Life public channels was created for generalized informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.Episode SponsorRheum to THRIVE, a community support & education program Cheryl created to help people with rheumatic disease go from overwhelmed, confused and alone to confident, supported and connected. Registration is open now through March 31st, 2022 - it’s only open twice a year so join now if you’re interested!Full Episode Details + TranscriptGo to www.MyArthritisLife.Net for full details including a full transcript. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.