“我从未遇到过另一个患有关节炎的孩子” - 菲利克斯的故事

Felix, 22, is a Filmmaking student atBristol UWE。他被诊断出少年特发性关节炎（JIA）at age six and is now in remission.

Growing up with JIA, Felix often found that people didn’t understand the impact of his condition, and now he's creating a film to raise awareness of arthritis in young people.

“在如此年轻的时候，您只是接受它的状况，因为您不知道。”

When I was diagnosed, the drugs and blood tests started quite quickly, and I began having lots of hospital appointments.

I was given甲氨蝶呤打开和关闭两三年，这太可怕了。更糟糕的是，我绝对可怕星期五，我的治疗日。

At first, I was taking it in pill form. One of the side effects was that I had no appetite, and I became worryingly thin. It also wiped me out for about two days.

I then started on injections, but I developed a phobia of needles and had to have therapy when I was 10 to try and overcome this fear.

Another horrible side effect of taking methotrexate was the bad dreams I had. I became scared of going to sleep.

• Read Aimee's story onwhy it’s important for young people to speak out about side effects of methotrexate。

“I would say that most people at secondary school didn’t understand.”

I liked primary school, although I did miss days for appointments and had to take time off when I was in pain or not feeling well. I actually used to quite enjoy the trips to the hospital because I got to spend time with my mum who was my main carer.

Secondary school was a lot harder, with lots of new people who didn’t know about my condition. The school was very sporty and into rugby, but I couldn’t enjoy sports with arthritis, so I felt like I didn’t really fit in there.

In PE lessons the rugby boys would ask me why I couldn’t take part. When I explained that I had arthritis, they would say things like, ‘That’s a granny’s disease, why do you have that?’

“关节炎肯定有助于以一种很好的方式定义我的个性。”

Instead of doing the same as most people at my school – sports – I was pushed to be my own person.

I eventually found the drama people, and this is where I made my closest friends. They knew about my condition and were more understanding, although I still don’t think they were aware of the full impact it had. It was difficult with guys in particular because we communicated less with each other.

“I didn’t think my condition was bad enough to go to a support group.”

I didn’t get involved with charity support groups as a kid. I think it was mainly teenage boy stubbornness – in my head. I thought I’d have to hang out with older people, which I didn’t want to do.

在参与关节炎之前，我从未见过另一个患有关节炎的孩子。beplay体育怎么下载参加儿童和年轻人的慈善活动是与他人见面并获得支持的好地方。

人们对社会中的少年关节炎的认识并不多，尤其是当它是一种隐藏的自身免疫性疾病时，因此，如果没有这些事件，就很难结识人们并通过他人了解您的病情。

我现在只回头看我的关节炎有多严重，这对我有多大影响。

“Through my film, I want to encourage young people with arthritis to meet each other.”

When I was about 11 or 12, I found YouTube and started making my own things. I used to do Lego stop motion films and stuff like that.

I stayed interested in film and after school I went on to do Filmmaking at Bristol UWE.

制作一部患有与关节炎的电影的想法都是来自我第二年的纪录片。beplay体育怎么下载这个故事是关于一个想成为厨师的人，但由于关节炎而感到被阻止。它是如此动人，真的让我感动了我，这让我意识到，这么多年轻人可能正在经历我所做的同一件事。

但是视频的质量是如此糟糕，以至于我想自己讲这个故事，所以这就是为什么我拍电影的原因。

“If I get arthritis again when I’m older, I’ll just have to deal with it.”

当我16岁左右时，我陷入了缓解，但是有些人从未从Jia中长大。

Although it’s completely gone for me now, the condition has had a lasting effect on my immune system. For example, I catch a cold for longer and nights out hit me harder.

I’m always expecting it to come back, but it doesn’t worry me. I’d say I’m a very positive, upbeat, and happy person and I think my condition has pushed me to find what I love doing.

Our services

If you or a family member under the age of 25 has arthritis, we run a Young People and Families service that provides information and support and puts on a range of events across the country.

Our service helps young people and children offers advice on how to live well with arthritis, medication and potential treatments, as well as creating a safe space to ask questions, receive information and develop support networks.

Find out more aboutour Young People and Families service。 

每当您需要我们时，我们都在这里

• If you need advice or support, you can call our freehelplineon 0800 5200 520
• Chat to ourArthritis Virtual Assistant
• Join ouronline community
• Stay in touch and follow us on推特,Facebook和Instagram。