Episode 40 – Does life with IA ever go to plan?

Katy: I’ve got the notes as well, so can sort of see. Okay, cool.

Debbie: Yep, I’ve got them in front of me. ⁓ Brilliant. Off we go.

Debbie: Hello and welcome to Inflammatory with Debbie.

Katy: And Katy

Debbie: We were meant to have a guest on this week, but life unfortunately does get in the way so it’s us today. So how are you?

Katy: I’m very, actually, I was about to say I’m really good. I’m not absolutely knackered. It’s just that time of year where like last week was just so busy. Just sort of Thursday to Sunday just felt like it was nonstop. So, this week feels like it’ll be a little bit more chilled, thankfully. How about yourself?

Debbie: Yes, I am slightly tired trying to get the energy for the rest of the week, but I have to have a shout out. Nan’s 100th birthday on Saturday and we went down and saw her and actually she looks better than I’ve seen her in years so she could live forever. But yeah, so happy 100th birthday to my Nan whose birthday does coincide with Dick Van Dyke birthday he’s 100 as well. Yes did you notice it? Yeah yeah they actually share the same birthday but I celebrate my Nan’s birthday so yes it was it was lovely just but to think the things that she has gone through since 1925 that’s it’s crazy and she did get the card from the King and Queen it was a very sweet card and they did actually have to write to my mum to actually probably ask is she still alive and also where is she living that so yes we’ve got that all sorted and it’s a beautiful card so King Charles if you’re listening thank you very much

Katy: I’m sure he is, I’m sure he tunes in every Friday.

Debbie: I’m sure he does too. But actually, what I’ve been going through, obviously we’re over Christmas period, we are going to be sharing some of our bloopers and our outtakes. And Katy do you know it takes us longer to do our two sentences of intros than it generally does to record the episode.

Katy: Doesn’t surprise me. It takes us a long time to think about it.

Debbie: It does and then to say it right as well. we have lots and lots of edits on that. So, it is quite amusing as well. And going through some of the ways that sometimes we just say things that they’re in our heads and they just come out completely wrong, like most of the sayings and that as well. So that is quite, quite amusing. Yes, and also.

Katy: Yes, yeah, I remember a few of the sayings that I’ve said wrong throughout the recordings of the year.

Debbie: This isn’t my usual outfit, by the way, for people on Spotify and Apple podcast, if you are listening through the podcast way, I am dressed in my Christmas reindeer onesie because why not?

Katy: Keeps you warm.

Debbie: It does, it’s actually really warm, it’s lovely. And Katy, you’re wearing a very sparkly top.

Katy: Yeah, a little Christmas jumper. Little champagne glass.

Debbie: Champagne! Nice!

Katy: Because it’s not actually showing on camera like I thought it might. Yeah, never mind. Yeah.

Debbie: No, you really just, it’s like a cream jumper, but you made the effort, so thank you so much. But also I do want to say it isn’t just Christmas, is Hanukkah as well. And what’s gone on in Australia, we are sending all our love and support all our friends out there, we hope that everyone is okay. It is horrible to hear what’s happened, but sending all our love and best wishes to everyone.

But Katy, are you now ready for Christmas?

Katy: No. I haven’t brought my son any presents yet. We finally got him to do… So on his list,

Debbie: What’s on his list?

Katy: FIFA 26. He’s quite difficult. He’s not into anything. We’re probably going to get him some Harry Potter books. and then just bits and bobs. He’s not into anything specifically like last year, I think, did we get him a basketball net or something like that? there’s nothing he really wants. So it’s really tricky. And my husband wanted, he’s got an arcade machine. So I have given him the money cause he wants to upgrade it to get whatever bit of technology you use to upgrade an arcade machine? I have no idea. It’s generally either a graphics card from a husband or something that I don’t know what it is because I’m not very technical. He won’t let me buy him surprises So I don’t bother.

Debbie: Fair enough. I must admit I’m not really ready for Christmas either at the moment. We did put the tree up because we haven’t moved yet so but it’s not decorated it’s just our artificial tree from the loft that we got down because we needed to rent it the loft anyway so it’s just sitting there looking very sorry for itself.

Katy: Have you got a moving date?

Debbie: It’s some point in January now, so we will wait and see. Yeah, so we’ve got Christmas and the holiday period just to clear the house really and get that sorted. But talking about January though, we want to start a campaign called hashtag my pace not yours. We mentioned that we generally don’t do New Year’s resolutions anymore, but that could just be because we’re too old for them. We’ve been there and done it. So maybe, but I would like to think I could have a challenge and trying to get through it. But then obviously living with inflammatory arthritis, that does get in our way. But what we want the community to share, is actually for those that do, how do you set those realistic health and life goals? Knowing that inflammatory arthritis is so uncontrollable, how do you try and control that within these goals that you have? So, we’d love to hear from you. And we’ll be putting some things over social media and talking a lot more about that in January as well. I can’t believe it’s gonna be 2026, Katy. Oh my gosh. Yeah, it’s…

Katy: Yep. I know it’s wild. It just goes so fast.

Debbie: But since September it really has, it’s gone so quick.

Katy: The whole year for me has just gone really quick. I can’t believe how fast it’s gone. I still feel like it should only be like spring.

Debbie: Well, it will nearly be spring, know, we’re just in a different year.

Katy: Yeah, yeah, it’s insane.

Debbie: So yeah, then in February, obviously that’s still a little bit far away, but we’re going to be, I think we mentioned last week, Katy, in the episode that the one about sex and relationships was our most uncomfortable one. So, we’re not going to do a deep dive into that, but we are going to be talking about love and friendship whilst living with chronic illness in February as well. So, if you’ve got anything that you’d like to share on that as well, then please do get in touch with us. So, Katy I don’t think there’s much more to say but to thank everyone for listening. Don’t know if you want to say anything.

Katy: No, I mean, I just, I’ve just been blown away this year that people have been tuning in on such a regular basis. All the feedback has been absolutely phenomenal. Hold on. Bluffer. ⁓ All the feedback has been phenomenal. Phenomenal.

Debbie: We’ll keep that in, we’re going to keep that one in. What’s it been?

Katy: Why can’t I say that word? It’s been amazing. And just thank you for, you know, supporting us and giving us a bit of, you know, positive reinforcement that this was the right thing to do.

Debbie: Yeah, I completely agree. It has been so, so overwhelming, but it has shown that yes, there’s a need for us to we are definitely getting a new guest on, we were meant to be having one on today, but that is now going to be coming out in January. So please do look out for that. But yeah, this is just a shorter episode because I think we’ve said everything that we needed to last week are highlights of the year. So please do go back and listen to all the episodes. Since September they are on YouTube so you can now actually watch us on YouTube. You can sit down instead of the King’s speech you can put us on. Why would you not on Christmas Day?

Katy: Why not?

Debbie: It’s got to be done at some point. But yes, thank you again so much for your support and for listening to us in 2025 and 2026 is going to be such a bigger and better year. don’t forget to follow and rate the podcast from wherever you get the podcast from. You can subscribe to YouTube as well and please do review the videos on there. Follow us on social media. We are on Blue Sky, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. And thank you to Katy, to all your work on Instagram. You are the Instagram genius behind how far we’ve got with nearly 800 followers. So, thank you, Katy. You’ve been amazing.

Katy: That’s amazing. Thanks for everyone for following us for a starter.

Debbie: Yeah, it’ll be great if we could get to a thousand by say February next year so please if you share all our posts that would be absolutely amazing

Katy: Yes.

Debbie: Have a really relaxing couple of weeks of whether you celebrate Christmas or not. We are back in January, date yet to be confirmed, but we will be back. But sign up to our newsletters. We are at inflammatoryarthritis.org and if you sign up to our newsletters, we will give you the most up-to-date information. And when we’re back all the episodes any upcoming research that you can get involved in any IA events as well. But until next year, Katy, it’s…

Katy: Next year. Wow!

Debbie: I know, it’s goodbye.

Katy: Goodbye.

OUTTAKES

Debbie: Hello and welcome to Inflammatory with Debbie.

Katy: And Katy.

Debbie: Sorry, can I just do that again? That something came up there. Hello.

Katy: Sorry

Debbie: Hello, actually let me just stop and start again.

Katy: how you managed to do your prick and pick in so many locations. don’t know if you want to… yeah. Do want to explain a little bit more?

@JamesHollens: Yeah, yeah, yeah, I’m… ⁓

Debbie: Yeah, it’s not what everyone thinks, by the way. Let’s just go through that, we?

@JamesHollens: It is exactly what you think it is.

Katy: putting yourself first because it’s like what everybody always says is if you’re in an airplane crash, you’ve got to put your own life mask on before anybody else’s air mask, whatever, oxygen mask. That’s the one. Life mask.

Debbie: Yep. Oxygen mask. Say that again

Katy: It’s like what everybody says, you need to put your own oxygen mask on before helping anybody else because you can’t help other people if you’re not feeling well yourself.

Debbie: perfectly said I completely agree

Debbie (10:20)

Do you like the early dark mornings?

Katy: No, and I don’t really like, hate it I mean, cause even this morning, it was pretty dark when we woke up and none of us wanted to get out of bed. Didn’t want to get ready for the day. You just want to stay in bed and sleep. And I know it’s only going to, does it get worse? I always get a bit confused. Cause it goes backwards, doesn’t it? So it’ll actually be, would it be darker in the evenings, lighter in the morning or the other way around? This is what confuses me.

Katy: That’s not good.

Debbie: Hang let me just stop that.

This week is a quick end-of-year catch-up with just Debbie and Katy. A planned guest couldn’t make it (because, well… life), so we took the chance to slow things down, have a chat, and reflect on the year that’s been.

There’s tiredness, laughter, festive outfits (watch on YouTube to find out!), and plenty of honesty about how busy seasons can feel when you’re living with inflammatory arthritis.

Make sure you listen right to the end of the episode to hear our bloopers and outtakes, they’re too good (and too embarrassing) not to share.

What we discuss:

• How exhausting this time of year can be (even when good things are happening)
• Debbie celebrating her Nan’s 100th birthday 🥳, including a very special card from the King and Queen
• The reality of podcast bloopers, outtakes, and why our intros take longer than the actual episode
• Christmas onesies, sparkly jumpers, and making an effort (even when you’re knackered)
• Sending love to those celebrating Hanukkah and to friends in Australia during a difficult time
• Being very unprepared for Christmas
• How hard it is to buy presents for kids and partners who “don’t want anything”
• Moving house stress and a Christmas tree that’s up… but not decorated
• Why New Year’s resolutions don’t really work for us anymore
• Introducing our January theme: #MyPaceNotYours
• How do you set goals when your body doesn’t always cooperate?
• A look ahead to February, where we’ll be talking about love, friendship, and chronic illness
• A huge thank you to everyone who’s listened, followed, messaged, and supported us this year

Stay connected:

• We’d love to hear your thoughts for #MyPaceNotYours
• Follow, rate, and review the podcast wherever you listen
• Watch full episodes on YouTube
• Follow us on social media (and thank you for helping us grow!)
• Sign up to our newsletter at inflammatoryarthritis.org for updates, research, and events

We will be back in January with new episodes (and a postponed guest!).
Until then, take care of yourselves, rest when you need to, and go at your pace. 💛

Disclaimer: Debbie and Katy are not medical professionals. They share personal experiences of living with IA to build connection and community. The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. We talk about our personal health journeys and the podcast is not intended to provide professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We are not medical professionals and in no way claim to be medically trained. The podcast does not take responsibility for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of the podcast. The podcast does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of third-party content.

For more information, head to https://inflammatoryarthritis.org/