A lovely lady.

[dtech]

Sad to see this great tennis player and all round nice person, announce her retirement. She was diagnosed with RA in 2018 and has used her position to promote awareness of the disease. She always had time to stop and talk to fans and sign autographs.

[wishbone]

I wondered what's become of her after announcing she had RA. Very sad, but it was highly unlikely that she could have continued playing professional tennis with RA, even with the best care and treatment available. I'm surprised she carried on playing this long!

Thanks for posting

[dtech in reply to wishbone]

She did carry on playing this year. We saw her at the Australian open when she won😃

[sylvi]

It is a shame, but when I saw it on tv I saw a tennis player who was putting her health above fame, she has had a good run at tennis. I know she wants to start a family as well. I'm am so proud of her for showing the world a light on the disease. xxxx

[AgedCrone]

I read an article in a US paper saying she will still be playing in NZ after

Christmas & in the Australian Open in January....so we will hopefully be able to see that.

It also mentioned her career earnings now topped US$34 million!

When one sees how Venus Williams still struggles on......reportedly having Sjögrens....it’s good to see that Wozniacki is getting on with her life & looking after her health, & not chasing more & more titles & the almighty $!

[3LittleBirds2 in reply to AgedCrone]

I agree but you could also argue, that by continuing to play tennis she’s not letting RA beat her and still enjoying “her work” with the continuous improvements in drugs to control this condition we should all be able to lead fairly normal lives. I think this is especially important for people who are diagnosed young..at the start of their careers, wanting a family etc. I’m sorry but I just think it’s sounds very negative when comments are made that’s it’s good someone has given up they’re career because of RA..not saying your comment is negative by the way! 🙂. This lady is lucky in that she has millions in the bank but others are not so fortunate.

[wishbone in reply to 3LittleBirds2]

I don't have any thoughts on whether or not she should carry on playing. Personally I would think much depends on how severe her RA is, but even if she has a well controlled mild form I'd be very surprised if she could have continued playing for much longer with the extreme demands that playing top-level tennis puts on the body.

I can't even swing a bat, but I'm well past my prime with 17 years of RA having taken its toll.

[3LittleBirds2 in reply to wishbone]

No and neither do I..and I’ve not read the full article to see if RA is the reason she has decided to retire. With the advancements in RA drugs ...we should be able to live fairly normal lives otherwise what is the point of taking them...I can whinge for England about RA but does it help me..nope not at all.

[Amy_Lee in reply to wishbone]

Agree! It is very much depend on the advancement of RA as we are different in our own condition. I could not even walk properly, I could not lift my hands up too for months.

[AgedCrone in reply to 3LittleBirds2]

I don’t really think that having RA is the Primary reason for Wozniacki giving up playing professional tennis.

I think she is around 30, she has been extremely successful, has recently married, is taking classes at Harvard Business School & she is in the extremely fortunate position of being able to switch careers when she wants to ......

I am sure if we asked a lot of school teachers or nurses if they had the financial security that she has, they would jump at the chance of taking another university course to embark on a new career.

Then of course there is ra and then there is RA!

Not everybody has damaged joints ...if they were diagnosed very early as she was, and not everybody has access to the medical facilities she has....

In that respect she is a lucky girl.

She has given millions of people a lot of pleasure playing tennis so I just hope she thoroughly enjoys her new career....& goes on to lead a very happy life!

[3LittleBirds2 in reply to AgedCrone]

Exactly!! 🙂 hope I’m not going to start a debate...it’s just a point of view that we shouldn’t just jump to conclusions people are giving up careers because of RA. Rarely come on now as sometimes it can be very negative ..but saw this and just wanted to comment! She’s a very lucky girl and has probably the best medical care and I agree continuing at a top level with this condition could be hard. Recovering from Rituximab infusion yesterday.

[AgedCrone in reply to 3LittleBirds2]

I should have been having a Rtx infusion on 24/12...but saw rheumy......bloods good & no extra painful joints, so hoping to last until March.

Last time I tried to do it......I lasted three weeks before a flare...but this time I think I may make it.......fingers crossed anyway!

I’m lucky ......as far apart from feeling a bit tired for a few days the infusions don’t cause me any problems.

Hope you feel back to normal soon!

[3LittleBirds2 in reply to AgedCrone]

I hope you last!! I was supposed to be having an operation yesterday but I went into a bad flare and my left hand was getting damaged so they got me in got Rituximab quick..silly booking an operation when Rituximab is wearing off..and you can’t have surgery for a few weeks after..I get about a year out it but was hoping to get longer but I’m more than happy with roughly a year. Yes, I’ve got the steroid flushed face and feel tired but I’m ok...Thank you! Our hospital is at critical level and lots of non-urgent ops being cancelled so maybe I did them a favour. Good luck to you 🙂

[AgedCrone in reply to 3LittleBirds2]

I must be odd I don’t get a flushed face...but I don’t have Pred...maybe that’s why?

I just sleep through most of the infusion, then drive myself home.

I have just had my hair cut & met a friend in there who has Crohn’s & she is starting on Rtx after Christmas! Poor woman has only been diagnosed about a year & she was telling me how desperate she is too eat something tasty....her enforced diet made me feel guilty that I can eat almost anything.

[3LittleBirds2 in reply to AgedCrone]

Oh yes...I agree! My friend has MS and I’m sure she said they are starting to use Rituximab for that also.. I’ve been doing some reading on Rituximab posts on here today, I’m going to ask my consultant if I can have the anti histamine by IV didn’t realise realise they did that.

[AgedCrone in reply to 3LittleBirds2]

I get Paracetamol, & Piriton pills as the anti histamine...hence the sleeping but I have a different steroid IV in with the 30 minute wash out prior to starting the Rtx infusion Pred has nasty side effects for me even in small doses.

I seem to have taken well to Rtx& managed to stay on it when my hospital started using Truxima...but haven’t needed an infusion since they started that drug...but a couple of ladies who I see on infusion days have swapped over & both say they haven’t noticed any difference.

As it is now dark I am going out into my garden to adjust the security light........an electrician installed it in August & he left it at the wrong angle (Damn him) I asked him a couple of weeks ago to come back..but no luck ....If I don’t sort it I will no doubt trip down the steps & break my neck!

[rab1874]

It really brings home how this disease affects us and good that she’s promoting it and saying how it is xxx

[Hidden in reply to rab1874]

I can't help wondering if SOME people might think that if she can play professional tennis, then perhaps RA isn't that bad a disease to have. We all know differently of course.

[wishbone in reply to Hidden]

My thoughts exactly poems!...and there would be plenty of people only too willing to jump on that bandwagon, including in the House of Commons no doubt!

[3LittleBirds2 in reply to wishbone]

Weird how we can all view things differently ..potatoPotato 🙂

[dtech in reply to 3LittleBirds2]

Tomato, tomato. Let’s call the whole thing off😉😂

[dtech]

I was one of the lucky ones. Got diagnosed early and after a year I was able to play golf again, which I still do now....obviously not as good as she plays tennis or I too could retire to a villa in Florida or somewhere 😉

[woodstar1]

Absolutely, great lass and will be missed, very sad D.

[Hidden]

When I read she had rheumatoid I would watch her hit the ball and think wow how do you do that? It must have been have a very tough decision for her. I have always enjoyed watching her play on telly. When I feel sorry for myself of things I have had to give up I think of people like Caroline and it somehow reminds me I am not the only one, far from it.