Patient Stories
While there may be challenges to living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), you’re not alone. From getting diagnosed to finding a treatment that works, hear from real CIMZIA (certolizumab pegol) patients about their journey with RA.
Individual results may vary.
I’m not having the stiffness that I was having before; I’m not having pain that I was having before.
- Fellicia, CIMZIA patientIndividual results may vary.
Early diagnosis and honest conversations with your rheumatologist about your symptoms are key to success in managing your rheumatoid arthritis.
You know your body. You know what symptoms you’re having…so, having a doctor who can actually listen and understand helps a lot.
- Australia, CIMZIA patientIndividual results may vary.
Meet Australia
Even as a child, Australia knew her dream in life was to make a positive impact and inspire young people. By working together with her rheumatologist, she was able to find a treatment that would help her stay on track with her goals.
Individual results may vary.
AUSTRALIA:
My name is Australia, and I’m making this video in hopes that it will help someone else live a better life with rheumatoid arthritis. If it’s only one person, I would like to make a difference in their life by telling them there is hope. So, I’m super excited.
0:34
I remember when I first learned that I had RA. I started to develop symptoms when I was a senior in college, and it started off, um, in my feet. Actually, like, the ball of my foot on one side felt like I was walking on golf balls.
But it wasn’t until I began to experience pain in my shoulders that I actually went to the emergency room and the doctor diagnosed me with rheumatoid arthritis. And I was, like, completely devastated. I’m getting ready to, you know, start my career, take over the world, and I had all of these dreams. It was just life — life-changing for me.
1:12
There were various medications I tried that did not work. Some worked for a while, and then they would stop working. But when my doctor introduced me to CIMZIA, I was so excited.
Since I’ve been injecting myself with CIMZIA, I’ve noticed that, uh, my pain level is not as great. It’s helping with the inflammation, and the inflammation is what causes the pain.
At this point I have noticed a reduction in the symptoms. It’s less pain. I’m able to move my joints even more.
But early treatment is very, very, very important. I cannot stress that enough. The longer you wait, the more damage you can experience to your joints. And you — you don’t want that, because once the damage is done, it’s irreversible.
You know your body. My rheumatologist tells me that all the time. You know what symptoms you’re having. You know about the fatigue and — and the pain. So, having a — a doctor who can actually, um, listen and understand helps a lot.
2:20
When I’m going through a flare, I continue to take my medication, and I tell myself, “You can do it.”
I own my own newspaper. I share a lot of my personal experiences. And it’s given me the opportunity to write articles to inform people about rheumatoid arthritis and how to live with it.
I am also a teacher, so I spend time with a lot of students within the school system. I’m also a foster mom – and I take pride in that.
There are times when I have to just take it, like, one day at a time... One hour at a time... One minute at a time. And then there are days when it’s like, one second at a time. But I keep pushing.
I’m a fighter. I got this. I got it. And you can have it, too.
