Profiles

Here, you can find any of the interviews on this site.



Beth

Beth has juvenile idiopathic arthritis. She was diagnosed when she was four years old. She used to take methotrexate and Enbrel injections but is now trying to live without medication.

  • Background

    Beth is a school student. She lives with her parents and is White British.

  • Age at interview 13
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Gemma

    Gemma with juvenile idiopathic arthritis in 1998 when she was 20 months old. She no longer takes methotrexate because she has not had a flare up for over a year. She is being treated for uveitis (an inflammation of the iris and surrounding tissue). She stays active and enjoys climbing and Zumba.

  • Background

    Gemma is a school student and lives at home with her parents. She is white British.

  • Age at interview 15
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Anna

    Anna is a thirteen year old girl who has juvenile idiopathic arthritis. She was diagnosed four months before being interviewed. Her arthritis is not currently being controlled by her medication.

  • Background

    Anna is a school student. She lives with her parents and brothers. She is white British.

  • Age at interview 13
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Charlotte X

    Charlotte has juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). She was upset and confused when she was first diagnosed. She did not want to be different form her friends. She takes Enbrel (etanercept) which helps and is doing well at school.

  • Background

    Charlotte is a school student who lives with her mum and dad. She is white British.

  • Age at interview 14
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Jenna

    Jenna has polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). She is on a medical trial for the drug tocilizumab and has improved lots since being on it. Jenna remains positive about her arthritis.

  • Background

    Jenna is a student studying for her GCSEs. She lives with her parents and younger sister. She is white British.

  • Age at interview 14
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Lucy

    Lucy has systemic arthritis. When she was 7 she had a very sore neck and could not move it from side to side or look up. As Lucy got older her feet and knees began to swell and hurt too. One day she was very poorly and had fluid around her heart. Lucy had an operation to make her heart better. Lucy's takes medicine for her arthritis and the pain is nearly gone.

  • Background

    Lucy is at school. She lives with her mum, dad, three sisters and a brother. She is white Irish.

  • Age at interview 10
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Chantelle

    Chantelle has chronic juvenile psoriatic arthritis. She experiences pain and swelling in most of her joints. Her worst joints are her hands, neck, knees, wrists and back. The steroid tablets have made her put on weight. She has experienced lots of bullying at school because of her arthritis and weight. She has moved schools, made new friends and is proud of her GCSE A-grades.

  • Background

    Chantelle is a full-time school student. She is engaged to be married. She has no children and is white British.

  • Age at interview 16
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Ryan

    Ryan was diagnosed in 2007 as having juvenile idiopathic polyarticular arthritis. He is currently participating in a medical trial for the drug' tocilizumab.

  • Background

    Ryan lives with his mum and brother and is still at school. He is white British.

  • Age at interview 12
  • Sex/Gender Male
  • Leigh

    Leigh has enthesitis-related juvenile idiopathic arthritis. He experiences a 'really achy burning sort of pain' in his lower back, sacroil joints, knee and ankles. His mum gives him Humira (adalimumab) injections. Leigh trains in judo even though he has arthritis.

  • Background

    Leigh is a school student and lives with his parents and brother. He is white British.

  • Age at interview 14
  • Sex/Gender Male
  • Kyrun

    Kyrun has systemic onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis. He was diagnosed when he was six years old. His arthritis has never been managed for more than three months. He has had lots of treatment and spent months at a time in hospital.

  • Background

    Kyrun lives at home with his mum, stepdad and two brothers. He is a college student. He is white British.

  • Age at interview 16
  • Sex/Gender Male