Hats off to Adam Thomas, the actor, who has shared his RA story. I’m sure we have all felt misunderstood at some point and public figures coming forward like this can only help in gaining further understanding. I read this article in the Daily Mail but the comments section shows a lack of empathy from the public, which shows we have a long way to go.
So sorry to hear this as I recall him saying he was starting Mtx last year. Seems a lovely guy. Hoping he has better luck re no problematic side effects on Sulfa. 🙏
I can’t believe the really nasty comments people have been making at the end of the article. I can also understand why he pushed himself with dancing. It imagine is very hard when you are young to come to terms with the fact that your old life is probably over and things are different now.
Hopefully he will discover this site and he can post and find ‘his tribe’ who will understand and emphasise with him.
I find it absolutely impossible to get to the comments with all the adverts and pop-ups constantly refreshing but I can imagine, given the site. People are cruel because they are so sure it will never happen to them. The healthiest person imaginable is only one small accident away from being disabled, and none of us know what our genes have in store for us down the road.
Actually these type of celebrity posts make me cross, he's not disabled and the worst thing in my view was the seemingly contrived image of him being in a hospital chair looking so odd. It seemed very self indulgent and I'm afraid it could frighten a lot of people. It doesn't inform anyone, nor make them more aware of the condition and the truth is a lot of conditions have this type of implication. I don't know what it's like to have ME, MS, Parkinsons , etc and it doesn't make me less understanding but it doesn't impact me. It's not selfish but life. I think it actually alienates people who skim over with the 'oh dear he didn't win, did he". It sounds like an excuse and a lot of major sports people have endured health conditions as well as minor soap stars and even major Hollywood players. I just don't like this article as it seems so odd that he was able to act etc. and it appears only took the MTX for a short period so why did he even agree to take part the other year. I'd be a lot more impressed if he'd said how medications were helping and he looked forward to achieving remission and thus give hope to any of his followers who may actually be diagnosed with RA.
Sorry if that upsets any of his fans on here but I'd never heard of him until strictly and didn't think his dancing skills were because of RA but sometimes people just don't dance very well. I've danced with James Jordon and ( big sigh )my feet despite years of lessons were just not up to much.lol xx My husband faired better he tells me with Ola but I've only his version of that. xx
That’s a good thought and you’re probably right. It just gets to me that bad news sells newspaper but positive stuff rarely. It might help new patients if some positivity was published.
It was the Daily Mail wasn’t it? That is sadly true re bad news seliing papers. Let’s hope he has some good, positive news to share soon when his new med works.
I know very little about him but any thing that puts inflammatory arthritis in the fore is good as far as I’m concerned. This disease is individual some can continue with their lives with medication and adjustments but other changes their lives for the worst .
When I was diagnosed I thought this won’t get the better of me ,I will live my life as it is . That’s not what happened to me and I felt it was my fault . That I was weak or a hypochondriac as I was led to believe the medication would allow me to continue a full life. I resent the information out there as it doesn’t tell the full picture. I resent it when people tell me to pop a pill and carry on and battle through . This is my daily problem feeling a failure as I can’t no not matter what . People should understand this is a DISEASE like any other different to MS or Parkinson’s we can all live with it and its limitations. LIMITATIONS is a disability.
I think that’s what I said, but and I’m sorry but don’t really identify with your disease experience. I don’t agree that limitations is a disability. Being limited by not being able to walk a mile is not the same as not being able to walk at all. I’m sorry for your experience but no body has ever said to me just pop a pill and I’ve never said it to anyone. In my experience any disease has effects be they from MS or RA or Parkinson’s but we don’t have to experience that disease to understand effects. My disease never affected my working life and that doesn't mean my disease is less worse or more worse than anyone else’s it’s just that it’s my experience. Sadly feeling a failure may be more to do with being human and we can all experience those feelings regardless of having a diagnosis of any medical condition. I hope that you can find a medication and get treatment that works as remission is the aim for everyone not just a lucky few. I just don’t think his story is more than a publicity stunt. If you look at the NRAS website it’s surprising how many do have it like Bob Mortimer, still standing in cold water in pursuit of fish. If anything the whole subject of being considerate of other peoples irrespective of colour, faith, physical and mental health , height, weight, wealth etc etc could be better addressed in this country and it’s make society much better and fairer.
If you dig into the article, he'd been diagnosed 2yrs before strictly and so I assume he was taking MTX until now as it's usually the first course of action. So I don't think he didn't give it enough time. It is possible that he was doing OK while on Strictly but has had to come of MTX due to side effects which is fair enough.
It said he revealed his diagnosis just before strictly but deeper in the article it says he was diagnosed 2 years ago. I don't do celebrities or Strictly so also have no idea who he is either. I do know that when I was diagnosed, I was completely disabled. My joints all seized simultaneously - it was like I was in a suit of armour that was too small for me. It took almost a year before my diagnosis was confirmed (despite seropositivity).
I don’t know anything about him and I don’t watch any of the programmes he’s been on so - but whatever people think of him he’s a fellow human being, he’s got RD which as we all know is no fun and he’s young - young peple do things differently these days.
He wrote a very clear piece on Instagram about failing on Methotrexate and having steroid injections he is finding his way a young guy struggling it doesn't matter if you have money or fame. He is being given bad advice by people who have little knowledge. Before he failed on Methotrexate for want of a better word he was told by people get on biologics like you can just get them that easily or dont take meds dont eat this or that. He is of the generation that shares on social media there are young people who have RA who hopefully will offer him better information. It has helped my daughter understand my RA by reading his posts than anything I tell her. I wish him well it's bad enough for us getting on in age without being young with this condition
Ummm I might be old now but wasn’t when first diagnosed. That was over 30/35 years ago. I still worked bought up a family and life continued. That’s my main issue, life is not over because of RA and the younger generation might be luckier as will have access to medications that will hold back the disease. And things are still improving as new drugs are developed. I know a lot of research going on as I’m a subject that is part of a research project that will hopefully eventually lead to even more improvements.
I don't think he said his life was over because of RA. As far as I'm aware he's continued to work and bring up his children as best as he possibly can in the way that you describe. He's simply documenting and sharing his life like many people of his age do. My point is that maybe by doing so, a few more people will become aware of the difference between OA and RA. This will hopefully lead to better understanding and support within the general population. Not one of my close friends knew a thing about RA so (as badly written as the article is) his sharing may help to educate people or encourage people to find out more.
I was concerned too some people with insufficient knowledge and experience may be telling him to do things which aren’t beneficial. (Hopefully he won’t read them.) Would be good though if he knew about NRAS and the Helpline.
maybe he’s just getting what we all get. I have a few tactless comments at work this week about me enjoying my day off yesterday. It’s a new part time job, because working full time as a single parent left me in hospital. Just because we don’t let people see our pain or the fact that life is harder than it could be (but not harder than others have it) - people think it’s just a few sore joints and over dramatic- even my gp was like that with me. If this raises some understanding then maybe the rest of us have a chance?
sorry just to add one bit and I promise I’m not trying to stir anything. I just don’t feel very well and am fed up of being told that I don’t know how I feel. But that’s being side tracked.
Anyway the gp that did my occupational health assessment told me that I am technically classed as disabled. Because the Equalty act 2010 states that you are classified as disabled if you need to take medication to prevent you being ill - his words were that without the medication I am on I couldn’t walk - therefore I’m disabled…
Good for him but Joe Public haven’t a clue . The title Rheumatoid Arthritis is misleading people think it’s just lumped in with all Arthritis . Yes still painful but a totally different issue . I feel it should be called rheumatoid Disease or something different.
Helps to educate some. Poor man so related to his comment about never totally pain free.
Can't imagine how he ever managed to do any dancing, love how ones said " try steroid injections" with no idea of the later repercussions. Yes they relieve the pain, help with mobility, but as we know while dancing his body was being effected.
I also wish it was called rheumatoid disease as even people in my own family think it isn't a big deal and that their aches and pains are the same. It's infuriating. I am 39 now but was 35 so same age as Adam when I got diagnosed. I felt young at the time of diagnosis but as I push 40, I guess I am not considered on the young scale anymore.
It's a tough disease. I am glad Adam is speaking out about it.
I don’t know who he is but looked at his insta and he’s missing a really good opportunity to raise awareness. Just calling it his arthritis journey ( mixing it up with OA) I feel it’s another person in the public eye who could really help people understand and his insta does not do that at all. In fact he looks like he’s having a great time. I’m all for being positive but saying you struggle to get up and walk then posting video of you running and sliding along a water slide, I know I can’t be the only one thinking he’s dramatising it can I ? Just my grumpy today thoughts .
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