I've been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease - here are all the warning signs I missed
Nicky, from Plymouth, said she has just been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis by doctors.
This type of arthritis is a long-term condition that causes pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints and usually affects the hands, feet and wrists.
She said she had many symptoms that she thought were normal but were actually a result of her medical condition.
But she got a shock a couple of months ago when she could not get out of bed one day and said that her 'life has changed'.
Nicky spoke about the first sign she ignored and said: 'For the last couple of years I'd wake up in pain and my whole body would hurt, but it would only last for 30 seconds maybe, maximum a minute.
'And then you forget... I thought that was normal.'
The beautician also said she felt very achy while sitting down after working for the day, but she just put this down to having a busy job.
She added: 'But then it started when I wasn't working and I haven't done anything and when I say aching, I mean [it felt] like I had ran a marathon.'
Nicky said that she has also not been able to control her body heat for 'many years', adding that she could not sit in the sun for long periods of time.
She said: 'It could be winter but I would be boiling hot and sweating. I can't sit in the sun [as] I'd get rashes and I feel like I'm cooking from the inside out. I thought that was normal.'
Nicky said that she has also experienced joint pain in her hands over the years, but she thought that this was because she is a hairdresser.
'I used to put that down to my job and thought that was normal,' she added.
She's also had problems sleeping and said that she has not been able to go for a kip for many years.
She said: 'I just couldn't function, fatigue, tired constantly, again, I thought that was normal. I work a busy, busy job, I run a salon and I've got my own business so I just put it down to that.'
Nicky urged anyone who is experiencing these symptoms to get themselves checked out, as it could be an underlying health issue.
The clip racked up more than 560,000 views on TikTok and Nicky got thousands of comments from people sharing their thoughts
The clip racked up more than 560,000 views on TikTok and Nicky got thousands of comments from people sharing their thoughts.
One wrote: 'I have psoriatic arthritis, I'm on so much medication... it's so hard,' to which Nicky responded: 'I feel you.'
Another penned: 'I was diagnosed with RA as well but two years later they changed the diagnosis to Psoriatic arthritis. I only have psoriasis on my nails so it confused them. The pain was as you say, debilitating.'
A third said: 'I was first told I had fibymalgia then menopause and then rheumatoid arthritis, I think it's a bit of them all to be honest.'
A fourth commented: 'I have the same symptoms as you. But I've been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. I've got so bad I had to give up my job.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
14 minutes ago
- The Independent
Why dancing is good for the physical and mental health of seniors
Inspired by Strictly Come Dancing, experts highlight the extensive health and wellbeing benefits of ballroom dancing, particularly for older adults. Dancing significantly improves physical health by enhancing muscle strength, endurance, mobility, balance, and coordination, while also boosting cardiovascular fitness and reducing the risk of falls. Cognitively, learning dance routines stimulates memory and brain function, with research suggesting benefits for individuals living with dementia. Beyond physical and mental advantages, dance classes foster social connection, combating loneliness and improving mood through shared activity and endorphin release. Experts advise those interested to seek out beginner classes at local community centers or dance studios, ensuring proper warm-ups and cool-downs to prevent injury.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Questions on CPR to be added to driving theory test
Learner drivers are to be tested on their CPR skills in an update to the theory test. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) – which oversees driving tests in Britain – said motorists are often 'first on the scene' when someone suffers a cardiac arrest. Therefore, adding questions on CPR and defibrillators to the theory test from early next year means candidates will 'have a better understanding of the skills to use in an emergency', it added. More than 40,000 people in the UK suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest each year, with fewer than one in 10 surviving. Research has found survival rates can be as high as 70 per cent if CPR is given and a defibrillator used within three to five minutes of collapse. DVSA chief driving examiner Mark Winn said: 'Part of being a safe and responsible driver is knowing what to do in an emergency – how to step in and make a real, life-saving difference. 'Learning CPR and how to use a defibrillator is a very simple skill, and adding this into the official learning resource is a great way for DVSA to support the drive to raise awareness.' The push for the change was led by Professor Len Nokes – chair of the Save a Life Cymru scheme – whose 24-year-old daughter Claire died in 2017 from complications following a cardiac arrest. He said: 'When Claire, my daughter, had her cardiac arrest, some knowledge of CPR might have made a difference. 'I don't want any other family to go through this experience. 'All of us in this partnership hope that by making CPR and how to use a defibrillator part of the theory test, we will be able to significantly increase the number of people who have this life-saving awareness.' James Cant, chief executive of charity Resuscitation Council UK, said: 'By embedding these life-saving skills into such a widely-taken assessment, we can help ensure that more people, from all communities, gain the knowledge and confidence to act during a cardiac arrest.' Learners must pass the theory driving test before booking a practical test. Theory test candidates are required to get at least 43 out of 50 multiple-choice questions correct, covering areas such as road signs, traffic laws, vehicle safety and first aid. They must also pass a hazard perception video test.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
CPR questions to be added to driving theory test
Learner drivers are to be quizzed on their CPR skills in an update to the theory test. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) – which oversees driving tests in Britain – said motorists are often 'first on the scene' when someone suffers a cardiac arrest. Adding questions on CPR and defibrillators to the theory test from early next year means candidates will 'have a better understanding of the skills to use in an emergency', it added. More than 40,000 people in the UK suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest each year, with fewer than one in 10 surviving. Research has found survival rates can be as high as 70% if CPR is given and a defibrillator used within three to five minutes of collapse. DVSA chief driving examiner Mark Winn said: 'Part of being a safe and responsible driver is knowing what to do in an emergency – how to step in and make a real, life-saving difference. 'Learning CPR and how to use a defibrillator is a very simple skill, and adding this into the official learning resource is a great way for DVSA to support the drive to raise awareness.' The push for the change was led by Professor Len Nokes – chair of the Save a Life Cymru scheme – whose 24-year-old daughter Claire died in 2017 from complications following a cardiac arrest. He said: 'When Claire, my daughter, had her cardiac arrest, some knowledge of CPR might have made a difference. 'I don't want any other family to go through this experience. 'All of us in this partnership hope that by making CPR and how to use a defibrillator part of the theory test, we will be able to significantly increase the number of people who have this life-saving awareness.' James Cant, chief executive of charity Resuscitation Council UK, said: 'By embedding these life-saving skills into such a widely-taken assessment, we can help ensure that more people, from all communities, gain the knowledge and confidence to act during a cardiac arrest.' Learners must pass the theory driving test before booking a practical test. Theory test candidates are required to get at least 43 out of 50 multiple-choice questions correct, covering areas such as road signs, traffic laws, vehicle safety and first aid. They must also pass a hazard perception video test. More than two million theory tests are taken each year, with a pass rate of about 45%.
