Narrative Analysis - Research

[LillieMedStudent]

Hi all,

I am a third year medical student at King's College London. My mum was diagnosed with seronegative RA about 4 months ago, after suffering for over a year (retrospectively, possibly longer!)

As a result of seeing first hand the effects that RA can have on the body apart from joint pain, I am very interested to hear about what other non-joint-pain effects people with RA have experience, both physically and mentally (psychologically).

As part of my third year studies, I have to do a 'Scholarly Project' (essentially a research project with a fancier name). Due to my interest, I have chosen to do a thematic narrative analysis on how people experience RA symptoms that aren't joint pain, as well as how they experience their treatment and its possible side effects. However, I am struggling a bit to find the kind of narratives I need, so I would massively appreciate any suggestions from anyone for where to look! I need around 15-20 narratives, and so far I have found 1 (help!)

Thanks in advance!

[helixhelix]

Have you contacted NRAS - who are the admins for this site? They generally like to check requests from research students to keep us safe.

However, if you search this site with words like fatigue, brain fog and depression you should find loads of non-joint misery.

For side effects use words like hair loss, nausea, vomiting.

Good luck to your mum, and how great to have you on hand. I hope you're going to specialise in rheumatology - we need more!

[Hidden]

Good choice of subject!! Nras will advise, but I would request that if you want to use anything from this site, other than generalisations, you ask the posters permission. Thanks.

[Ruth12345]

Sounds really interesting. Will look forward to hearing about it and contributing once you have sorted it with NRAS.

[HappykindaGal]

Oh my, the exhaustion and consequent damage to my business and social friendships. I'm more than happy to help you if you'd like me to.

[Jarden_20]

Hi LillieMedStudent. Hope you get the permission from NRSA. Sounds like it will be a very interesting paper. I was diagnosed with seronegative RA and now 2 of my children, both in their 20's have been diagnosed. We discuss our symptoms, treatment and side-effects regularly to help each other through simply living with this terrible disease. Look forward to hearing about your research... autoimmunology is a very interesting area of medicine and biology!

[LillieMedStudent]

Thank you all so much for your help - I have contacted one of the admins to see what I need to do, so hopefully all will be well. I have already found some really good narratives on this page and I would love to find some more from here so I’m hoping I will get the permissions I need. Thanks again