Living with or Manage Inflammatory Arthritis Life?

This week’s episode is packed. Debbie and Katy kick off with huge news - Inflammatory! has officially won Best Patient‑Led Health Podcast of 2026, and the community has grown to over 1,000 Instagram followers. From there, the conversation moves through pets, fatigue, school‑term chaos, NHS frustrations, medical procedures, and the emotional load of living with inflammatory arthritis.

They also dive deep into language: why the word “manage” feels clinical, restrictive, and disempowering, and why “living”, “adapting”, and “being flexible” might serve the community better.

Key Topics

• Celebrating the podcast’s award win and growing community
• Katy’s new hamster, Winter, and the joy of small pets
• September fatigue and the “back‑to‑everything” overwhelm
• Debbie’s eye appointment, dry eyes, and the confusion of NHS systems
• Receiving difficult results via the NHS app at the worst possible time
• How non‑IA medical procedures can unexpectedly trigger inflammation
• Immunosuppression, recovery time, and navigating pain
• The emotional impact of stress on long‑term conditions
• Why Debbie dislikes the word “manage” and what alternatives might empower people more
• Reflections on recent guests Luke and Raj: movement, nutrition, resilience, and lived experience
• School experiences, bullying, and the importance of awareness for young people with IA
• Upcoming guests: Raynaud’s, vasculitis, CPPD, and more stories that need to be heard

Takeaway You don’t have to “manage” your condition, you get to live your life with it, adapt, and grow. And you’re part of a community that learns together.

Key words inflammatory arthritis, chronic illness, JIA, Axial SpA, scleritis, dry eyes, immunosuppressants, arthritis flare, NHS app, patient advocacy, lived experience, autoimmune disease, arthritis awareness, chronic pain, fatigue, gut health, nutrition, Raynaud’s, vasculitis, CPPD arthritis, rheumatology, podcast award, health podcast, IAUK, community supportLinks & Resources

• Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, BlueSky & YouTube
• Sign up for our newsletter: inflammatoryarthritis.org
• New IA Stories blog: Julie Timms on CPPD arthritis
• Previous episodes with Luke and Raj

Disclaimer: Debbie and Katy are not medical professionals. They share personal experiences of living with IA to build connection and community. The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. We talk about our personal health journeys, and the podcast is not intended to provide professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We are not medical professionals and in no way claim to be medically trained. The podcast does not take responsibility for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of the podcast. The podcast does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of third-party content. For more information, head to https://inflammatoryarthritis.org/