I was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE or Lupus) when I was fourteen.

I’ll be turning 21 this year. Have you ever heard the misconception that men don’t get autoimmune diseases?

As a family caregiver or medical professional, you may find yourself facing a range of new responsibilities that can be unfamiliar or daunting. It’s common to feel overwhelmed and isolated at times.

If you’re a caregiver for someone with a chronic illness, you can see the physical effects: fatigue, flares, weight fluctuations, and overall appearance. But do you know what they’re going through emotionally?

After months of hospital visits, numerous malaria treatments, and countless lab tests, I was finally diagnosed. Hearing the doctor say he knew what was wrong and prescribing medication felt like a solution.

When I was first diagnosed at 37 Military Hospital, I thought I was the only one, and this made me cry almost every minute until I met Dr Dey and my Rheusolute family. I realised God has a reason for everything.

When life throws lemons, you make the best lemonade possible! In my making of lemonade, l devised my own way of making life comfortable and less stressful despite the many challenges that come with RA.

Diagnosis was a relief when it finally came because it was wonderful to finally know that there was really something wrong with my body. It was also a relief to my family because they didn't have to be helpless anymore.

I was admitted at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital for two months. During my admission, I was diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) which is a chronic remitting and relapsing autoimmune disease.

After several trips to hospitals, I was finally transferred to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital where I run a lot of laboratory tests and x-rays and was finally diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.

My journey started after the delivery of my first daughter. I started experiencing sharp pains in my wrist so I couldn’t carry my princess without support and my husband had to support me with the house chores. 

In 2016, I shared my diagnosis with members of another group that I belong to and had Dr Dey come to educate them about Autoimmune Diseases in general.

The next day, a lady sent me a private WhatsApp message to find out how I was doing. She didn't stop there and kept checking up on me afterwards intermittently. 

One day, before my diagnosis, I had driven myself to work when all of a sudden I felt the pain building up in my hip so I drove to a nearby clinic. The doctor, after seeing my condition, gave me the day off but by then, I could barely walk to my car.