Amy's story: "I suffered with chronic pain and hypermobility from a young age."

Finding support at university

Diagnosed with inflammatory arthritis as a teenager, Amy from Dundee, Scotland, was silently struggling in constant pain at school and had to fight to get the support she needed. Now training to be a doctor, she faces long working hours and is worried how she will cope managing her condition at work.

"I suffered with chronic pain and hypermobility from a young age. Then I was diagnosed with inflammatory arthritis as a teenager and put on medication almost immediately which stabilised me.
I was also referred to a pain clinic which helped me to manage my chronic pain effectively. Without this, I think my mental health would have really deteriorated."

Lack of support at school

"I felt my health was not a priority for my teachers because I did well at school. This made things hard for me in school as I was silently struggling. It’s the small things that make the biggest difference. At one point, I asked my school for a supportive chair, but I was refused. I had to fight to get the smallest things in place."

"Now, I’m at university and training to be a doctor. I’d love to specialise in paediatrics. My university is supportive, and I get extra time for my assignments and exams."

"My rheumatology team is good, but I’m sometimes frustrated by the attitudes of other healthcare professionals who look at me and take pity because all they see is a young person with arthritis. It’s annoying as I feel quite positive about my life and I’m excited for my future."

Managing fatigue

"I’m finishing university this year and about to enter the workforce. I’m excited about becoming a doctor, but I am concerned about how I’ll manage my fatigue. Junior doctors work long hours with
few rest breaks, and that makes me nervous. My concern is that I won’t specialise as quickly as my peers. However, I hope by telling my story I can change things for other young people with arthritis.
It’s not all bad news, and we can thrive with the right support."