MY STORY: Young & living with Rheumatoid Arthritis | Auto-Immune Disease| Jessica Alzate

I hate the phrase “ you’re too young to get arthritis “ RA is an autoimmune disease . it’s frustrating to always explain. I’ve had RA for 16 years and I’m 27 it’s comforting to know there are others 💖🥰Thank you for sharing.

Just found out today I have RA. Everything you said with the pain & people lookin at you crazy cuz they have no idea. Your video really hit my soul. I’m a tattoo artist and worry this will end my career. But just like u, I refuse to believe it will. I pray for you, me, and anyone else dealing with RA. Thank you for sharing your story.

I was diagnosed at 17, now 52. 4 joint replacements and 2 tendon repair surgeries later..I’m STRONGER than this disease...I’m a mom to a healthy 18 year old. An art teacher, business owner.. I admire your strength, your journey. I can relate to you. It sure helps to hear from others who go through this. I’m on xeljanz now, most days minor pain.

I was diagnosed a couple of weeks ago. I'm watching this with tears in my eyes. I needed to know I was not alone in this pain and frustration. Thank you for this video.

I forgot how it feels without pain 🥺

I know exactly how you feel! I am 26 years old and just got diagnosed with RA. The pain is horrible but the loneliness in that pain is the hardest part. Thank you so much for sharing this video!

I’m crying while watching this. Especially when u said you like to take control. I’m the same. Hearing you talk about this damn disease it was like a mirror. it’s hard I feel your pain literally and mentally. I thank you for making this video I’m 32 and everyday I struggle with RA and fibromyalgia. I’m a mother and some days I feel like even a hug is too painful. I hope your feeling better hun.😞❤️

I was diagnosed when I was 18 years and I am 57 years old. I am praying every day because I don't live with people who understand. I have to push myself to get through the day...sometimes it feels like you literally fall apart into 1000000 pieces and nobody knows and understands because it is not showing on the outside. I still need to support myself as I am alone...dark future because there is no cure....depression is also something you have to deal with because of the pain...

I had RA at 31 years .lhad gone through all that you have gone through.I am 72 .l took Arava .now I am taking leflunamide.It helped me a lot.

I am 28 and diagnosed with RA 2 months ago. And even though I am myself a doctor and I have studied the fact the RA can happen at any age, I needed to feel that I am not alone at this. I hope you're doing better now.

I’ve had RA symptoms since I was 7 and was diagnosed at 9. Thank you for sharing your story because it’s important for young people who are recently diagnosed to know that they aren’t alone.

I have RA too. I am 24. And I hate when they say "the pain will go away, you are too young have an arthritis." Much love to you 💕

Thank you for this video, I admire your strength. I have had RA for 8 years, I was diagnosed with severe RA in my last year of college and it was something I was so unprepared for. I felt into a severe depression, lost a lot of weight, among other things. Luckily I have always had the unconditional support of my family. This disease has taught me to appreciate the little things in life and also the important like my relationship with God. I'm a believer of faith and even though doctors might say there is no cure I do believe in the higher power and for me he has the last say. God bless!

I was diagnosed with RA a year ago at 27. I was alway in pain but doctors always thought it was something else till the pain was unbearable to where walking and going up a stair was painful. Unfortunately I was going through separation at the time. When I told my exwife she thought and still does that I made shit up even after she knew I was alway in pain driving the car . A week later I ended up living in my car for a month. At work I was working overnights at a pipe coating company 12 hour day . I would stay late after work waiting for Everyone to leave so I could use the restroom sink to take a bird bath I then got let go because i couldn’t stay up anymore and my pain was not helping. Fast forward a year I lost 28 pounds started running up mountain trails( same guys who couldn’t jump an a trampoline with my 5 year old and 2 year old .. I hitting the weights covid didn’t stop me from losing the weight and turning plant base I can say I feel healthier than I did in the past 10 years .. over all I can finally run around with my baby’s and yes I can get on that trampoline now with them. Yes The pain is there almost all the time. But I learned to take control of it along with my life .. I got out of my financial situation . I do personal training and try to help ppl break out of that shell of felling worthless. life doesn’t happen to you it happens for you. So keep your head up proudly and know your worth the fight.. take care everyone.

I just turned 20 and was recently diagnosed. I 1000% understand your struggle. Thank you for this video and know that you aren’t alone in this battle.

I’m 24 and an currently going trough the beginning stages, & it’s been really really difficult, crazy to think that this is something that can happen to someone, & so young also. But like you said, it is helpful hearing that other people understand this pain. Keep growing strong, you really are an inspiration. Appreciate this wholesome & honest video, so glad I got to see this video, TY! 💗

I was diagnosed with RA one week ago . I'm 33 and a single mom . Thank you for sharing your story .

So grateful to see several young people surviving arthritis! Imagine having to care for a baby with arthritis in both shoulders and couldn't hold my pain with excruciating pain. I avoided having a child for so long. Thank you for sharing your story!

I’m 19 years old and I just got diagnosed with RA and put on methotrexate and watching this video has made me so happy to hear someone just talk about exactly what I’ve been going through mentally and physically. This has helped me understand a lot more about my chronic disease so thank you. 🙏🏽🙏🏽

Love the video. I’m 28 and I was diagnosed with ra on March 20 2024. My birthday is dec 13. So when I first started getting pain in January of 2024 it started off with my jaw, then hands, then shoulder, then ankles. It really impacted my life. Had to call out of work, not eat, no gym. Was prediabetic cause my body was so under stress from the pain. I started to get depressed and say “why me”, “what did I do wrong”. Coincidentally pain started happening right after my 28th birthday so I was linking the cause to me getting old……but with the help of my rhumetology and your video, it help me get back to my regular. Just hearing there was young people like me who also have ra made slightly happy. Just to able to relate to others made not blame myself. So hearing your story and many others help me recover my mental state. I currently have little to no pain and working with my rhumetology in order to not let the disease take over my life. Just wanted to share my story to you and any other people who read this and thank you for sharing your story and personally help me from my lowest point of my life. Love from the U.S❤