Interview 16 - Rheumatoid Arthritis

Age at interview: 63

Age at diagnosis: 36

Brief Outline:

Diagnosed 1977 after shoulder pains. Diclofenac retard 100mg/day, Methotrexate 15mg/week & 5mg/day folic acid. Partial wrist & 2 finger joints replaced, thumb tendon repairs, 6 toe joint operations, ankle fusion & a back operation (not due to RA).

Background:

Retired physiotherapist, married with two adult children. Part private healthcare (latest surgery).

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Has complete faith in her doctors and has never felt a need to get involved in treatment decisions.

I feel if I'd questioned it [treatment], I would have had a choice. But I have complete faith in the people that look after me. I've never felt any need, if somebody says to you look this is a hard drug, this is methotrexate, I think you should take this, or try it on this dose, you gonna have to have a blood test every four weeks 'cos I want to monitor the this, that and the other, you feel confident about that 'cos you know in four weeks you'll have a blood test and when the results come back, it's gonna tell the rheumatologist whether it suits you or not. I, the way it's been presented to me, has been the correct way, and I've never felt any need to say why or, I've just thought, right, if you think it's a good idea, it's always been adequately explained to me and I've been quite happy with everything I've taken. Maybe that's not a good thing, but it suited me fine and it's, I've not been let down.