Disability
As a disabled and chronically ill writer, I have to make the decision about how much of my medical information I want to share. It is a very individual decision, but personally I am happy to share some details to raise awareness and encourage others with similar conditions. Through all my experiences, I’ve found writing very helpful. Many of the poems in my poetry collection have been written because of the illness I have, and the time I’ve spent with doctors, and in hospitals, living life in less than perfect health. It gave me a way of expressing myself when I felt very powerless, turning negative experiences into art.
Medical Experiences
At the age of twenty-five, in 2010, I was diagnosed with a chronic inflammatory spinal arthritis and autoimmune condition called Ankylosing Spondylitis (Axial Spondyloarthropathy). I had been having symptoms since the age of 19.
For more information on Ankylosing Spondylitis and its effects, the National Ankylosing Spondylitis Society website is very helpful.
I have also been diagnosed with Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (a connective tissue disorder affecting joints and ligaments) and associated dysautonomia. I had two operations on my ankles (ligament reconstructions) in 2015 and 2016.
In 2017, I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease. This is associated with Ankylosing Spondylitis. For both the Ankylosing Spondylitis and Crohn's Disease, I receive regular infusions at the hospital.
For more information on Crohn's Disease and its effects, the Crohns and Colitis UK website is very useful.
In 2021, I suffered a nerve injury to my leg, following a herniated disc, probably as a result of the Ankylosing Spondylitis. This affected my mobility significantly, and continues to have an effect, although the disc is no longer causing me pain following a discectomy operation in 2024.