 (Dianne
Housego is the office assistant at Arthritis
NSW)
When I
was 14 years of age I started getting
pains in my knees; at that time my mother
thought
it was growing pains. My mother took
me to see my local doctor who sent me to
see
a Rheumatologist. The Rheumatologist
put me on aspirin. Within three months
the arthritis had
affected most of my joints. I ended up
in Royal North Shore Hospital for a month
then eleven months in a hospital for
children in St Ives. It was more like a
children’s
home than a hospital.
My arthritis was very bad for many years.
I couldn’t turn a light switch
on; my mother had to dress me and cut
up my food and do all sorts of things
that most people take for granted. I
was in agony walking anywhere and was
housebound for many years. It wasn’t
until my late twenties that my arthritis
was controlled by medication. When I
first got arthritis a lot of the medications
that are available now weren’t
available then.
Once I had the appropriate medication,
I was no longer housebound. I could now
drive a car and had my independence.
When I was in my early thirties I decided
it was time to become even more independent
and move out of home. My mother and father
were getting elderly and I knew I had
to be able to cope and be able to do
things for myself. It is one of the best
things I have ever done. There have been
times when life has been hard, but I
have learned to make the most of what
I have. I am now working and feel I am
at the best part of my life.
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