Episode 64 What Impacts IA?

Introduction: Before our summer break, we reflect on our guests, diet and everything in between. Inflammatory! with Debbie Wilson and Katy Pieris, navigating life with inflammatory arthritis.

Debbie: Hello and welcome to Inflammatory with Debbie.

Katy: And Katy

Debbie: How are you, Katy It’s hot again.

Katy: It is hot, it is indeed. But it’s not as hot as the last heat wave, so I’m feeling okay. How about you?

Debbie: Yeah, similar. It is quite hot. I will be getting fans because I can’t have fans when I do this because it’s too noisy. So yes.

Katy: Well, that’s exactly yeah, ’cause I’ve got the big fan in the room next door and in the afternoon this this room gets really hot. so as soon as we finish recording, I’ll be getting the big fan out.

Debbie: What I did last time was I also had a bottle of cold water in it and just sprayed it on my feet with the fan on it as well.

Katy: That’s a good idea.

Debbie: It was so nice. Cause I was actually ill when we had that last heat wave as well. Apologies for the last two episodes. My voice was not great and it’s still getting there. But yeah, I just felt so awful and I just…literally, I couldn’t do anything, the fatigue, the humidity, and I just literally just had to spray myself and have the fan on. There was not much, my brain did not want to work at all. Yeah, so I think for the first time in about three weeks, I’m probably sounding a bit more normal. Still, I was slightly congested. But yeah, it’s taken ages and ages to get over. And I don’t know what it was at all, because it seemed to have gone.

Katy: No, I know you’re feeling better now. You do sound more normal. ‘Cause you did you thought it might have been COVID, didn’t you, at one point?

Debbie: Yeah, but then I don’t know whether it was or not, because it was more of, I was so bunged up and like, know, every time you turn over at night, you just have to then blow your nose.

Katy: Yeah, that’s horrible.

Debbie: So that disrupted my sleep a lot as well. And then I thought it had gone and it sort of came back again. And then it’s so, who knows? But yeah, summer viruses seem to be a thing. Cause everyone I talked to, they’re like, I had something like that.

Katy: Yeah. Sickness bugs going around school, so let’s hope let’s hope none of them make it home.

Debbie: No. Last week, my daughter had her joint injection. And I remember you coming on saying about when you went to your blood test and everything, there’s always a story. my days. So, we were getting ready to go in the morning and we were checking the times, but actually what was on her app was different to the time on the email. And so, the email said 10, the app said 11, and we were planning for 11. And had to leg it to the train station, looked on the Met line, because this is where I go from the Metropolitan line, all a good service. Actually, it really wasn’t. Thankfully, the train we were going to catch was the only one that hadn’t been cancelled in that two-hour period. But then it stopped way before London. I was like, great, had to change for another train. No idea what time the trains were coming. they phoned my daughter to say, actually, are you coming? But by this point, because I knew a few consultants, I was just emailing people and texting people to say, we’re going to be there, but we’re just running a bit late.

Katy: Yeah. And normally the hospitals run late.

Debbie: Well, that’s also what I thought. She had to go into a day. It was a ward that she went into on the bed and everything. Eventually got to the hospital. Everyone was standing outside the hospital and like, what’s going on? Fire engines turned up. There was a fire alarm going off. No one was allowed in. And you’re like, my gosh. And people were coming up to say, what’s going on? was like, well, I think with the fire engine here,

Katy: Why I say could it get any worse?

Debbie: Loads of firemen, not the technical term. I like, don’t, I assume there’s a fire alarm that’s gone off. So, we were standing outside for ages and then eventually went in, buzzed in to go to the ward. No one’s answering. So, we just had to, it’s like, nothing is going right today at all. And then eventually this receptionist came walking because I can buzz you through and then I’ll show you where to go. So eventually got in and yeah, but then by this point the doctors already gone to do the ward round and so we were just waiting on the bed for yeah, a while. I reckon over an hour or so. So, I had to go and do drinks run down to the café teenagers and coffees, my days. I have no idea what all these coffees are. I don’t drink coffee. was just, cost a fortune. but then thankfully her physio came in and spoke to her as well, because I think you’ll know, Katy, probably with your son and teenagers, they don’t listen to their parents at all.

Katy: Ha ha ha. Yeah, we I don’t think we’re quite there yet. Yeah.

Debbie: Okay, oh good luck when it does happen because I say, you know, we’re even going back to the tube, you need to get the lifts you won’t be able to do anything for a couple of days and I was saying can you the physio? Can you tell my daughter this because she won’t listen to me Oh my gosh, if you can’t do stairs, you can’t do much. You can’t drive for at least 48 hours You can’t do this this and this was like excellent that listen to them Yeah, but they took when they then came and did the joint injection they actually took so for people with squeamish, so much fluid out as well. It was really quite big. Even the doctors didn’t say, it didn’t look that big, but to me it did. And yeah, just the amount of fluid that came out, but know, gas and air, she was having a great time.

Katy: Yeah. I mean I loved gas and air when I was giving birth,

Debbie: I’ve never had it.

Katy: So I have you not?

Debbie: No, because I had to have two very emergency C-sections. I think my husband was gutted. He didn’t get to have a go on it, but no. really? And I don’t plan to have any more children. So, I’ll probably, yeah, something I’ve never experienced.

Katy: Yeah, it was brilliant. It was the best thing ever. But some people some people throw up through it, so it’s not for everybody.

Debbie: No. But that’s a really good point of what you just made though, because we had Jamie on and we’ve had Mel on recently and one of their key themes is that everyone is so different. And what was your main reflections on Jamie’s one? Because he was brilliant.

Katy: Yeah, a hundred percent it has opened up a bit of curiosity for myself in terms of actual diet, ’cause I’d looked at diet when I was first diagnosed and actually like gut health and things like that, and microbiome and looking after your gut, all that kind of stuff. I you see it a lot out there, but I haven’t really ever sort of investigated it or tried to understand it that much. I do remember a while back I had a speaker at something who he was a nutritionist talking about building a healthy gut, especially for people living with inflammatory arthritis conditions and about eating at least 30 different fruits, veg, things like that per week.

Debbie: Right, that’s a lot.

Katy: But diff doesn’t have to be a lot, but not 30 portions, but 30 different types of sorts of fruit veg that it can include nuts and stuff like that from memory. Don’t quote me on that. And so, it’s just having that variety as well to build your gut microbiome. But off the back of that, for those who saw in one of our recent newsletters, I did sign up to the arthritis action dietary consultation. We’ll keep you posted on what happens with that. So, I’ve got to do a four-day food diary, which actually I think is going to be quite eye-opening because I don’t think you always realise sometimes what you are putting in your body. Because quite often it’s like a bit of convenience, get in from work, pick my son up from school, quickly make some dinner, and then having to rush out of the door for different things. So, I’m quite intrigued what comes back and what suggestions their dietitian makes. I think that’s how it works. And then I presume ’cause what you have to do is fill in a survey about how you’re feeling, how confident you feel with your diet. So, I’m intrigued what happens and whether I actually then make any changes moving forward, ’cause that’s always the crux of it, isn’t it?

Debbie: That is yeah, because the only time I saw a dietitian was when I was diagnosed with reactive hypoglycaemia and this dietitian just scared the life out of me. She basically said, if you don’t change your diet, you’re going to die. It was very extreme. then what Jamie was saying and how he then found eating that unhealthy, that’s exactly what I went through. And it was just like, can’t eat, I couldn’t eat butter. I was just so strict.

Katy: Yeah, that that’s pretty extreme. It’s going some it can be just as dangerous to be too strict as it can be to be too fluid. I d can’t think of the right word, but too kind of not thinking about that you’re putting in your mouth. So there’s a there’s a balance, isn’t there?

Debbie: It was. That’s exactly how I was. Because I lost so much weight so quickly. This is in my 20s as well. Well over 10 years ago. But yeah, I lost so much weight. And then in my work colleagues, I remember them saying, it looked quite unhealthy for me. How you know some models look unhealthy, that’s how, not that I was I looked like a model at all, but for me I looked unhealthy and they’re like, you need to go and have some chips and it’s like, well I had one chip, but I remember that feeling because I think this dietitian was so, she was so strict with me.

Katy: Right, yeah,

Debbie: That I really felt like, my, I felt bad, shouldn’t be eating this. Yeah, and I think that can then lead to, thankfully it didn’t happen to me, but it could have easily got into more of an eating disorder and things like that. So, you have to be so, so careful.

Katy: Everybody’s healthy weight is different. Some people are naturally smaller, and some people naturally have a little bit more bulk to them. that’s why I always think it’s always difficult talking about diet, because what work and also it depends on how active you are, what you need to eat, how many calories you’re expending through exercise or movement. So there’s so much to think about.

Debbie: There is. Even Mel was saying that stripped everything back, she went vegan for a bit. And then that’s when she started adding things in as well. But then what triggers for her is very different to other people as well. So, it’s very, very personalized. And I think this is what, you just need to be wary of, but also sometimes medications as well. Again, what Mel was saying, one part of it, and we’ve always tried to say that we try to control the uncontrollable and one way to do that is by what we eat. But it is, but so I’m guilty of this, I look in my fridge and it’s like, especially when it’s so hot, I don’t want to be standing in the kitchen cooking.

Katy: I can’t be bothered like it’s so it makes you quite lazy this weather. But then I think, yeah, ’cause salads are the ideal, but then I never feel that full.

Debbie: But it’s not, but for me it’s a faff, and actually, well, it’s just, and the kids are just like, well, let’s just phone something in, let’s get a takeaway, and that’s what I’m really trying to shift, and also it’s so, I didn’t realize how expensive it is, so we’re trying to do it just like.

Katy: Yeah, takeaways are so expensive.

Debbie: Yeah, and thankfully not many deliver to where we are because being countryside it doesn’t happen, which is good, I’m finding. But I do try to plan. But then also with teenagers and that you don’t know who’s in the house every night. And I don’t want it to cook a dinner for five people if any one person shows up. So, it is trying to plan it all. But interestingly what’s come out recently is this NHS walking rewards. I’m not quite sure how I feel about it. I think in theory, it sounds good. But what about those people like us that have a chronic fluctuating condition? We can’t, I might not be able to walk for every day for 30 days.

Katy: Yeah.

Debbie: So then what do I do? Then it’s basically then basically you failed and we feel like I feel like a failure anyway if I try to do things that I try to plan but then not do and then not to try and yeah whereas I would say walk outside your house for 15 minutes because then you’ve got to walk back for 15 minutes but in your head is what made you mine in my head is only 15 minutes I think it probably be on an app

Katy: And it’s thirty minutes a day, isn’t it?

Debbie: How are they going to track it?

Katy: Okay, yeah. But then that’s not very good for people that don’t have smartphones and can’t access an app.

Debbie: Exactly. Yes, that’ll be interesting. And also the rewards, I think from what I’ve read, though, the rewards are coming from private companies. So even though as taxpayers, we pay the into the NHS, it’s then not us paying ourselves to go walk. It is from private companies rewarding us. But again, no one here, no one knows what these rewards are.

Katy: Yeah, yeah, ’cause well, I am on an app at the moment for your steps, then link to you getting money off in local areas.

Debbie: Okay. really?

Katy: Yeah. But then the problem is the app doesn’t link to my watch that actually counts my steps more accurately than my phone. So what I was thinking is with this, if it’s just linked to a smartphone, people don’t actually take their smartphone everywhere. So even if it’s 30 minutes a day, you could do that in one-minute blocks, I don’t think it has to be all at once, does it? I thought it had was in snapshots of time. But if like this other app I use to get it’s to get discounts on coffee.

Debbie: Don’t drink coffee!

Katy: It doesn’t work that well because it doesn’t link to my watch. So, I sort of see the reason for them doing it in terms of trying to get the country moving more, completely see that. But it does need to take into consideration because what I think would be a better way of doing it is around people sort of slowly increasing their activity levels. So, what’s their baseline?

Debbie: Yeah, working out what their baseline is.

Katy: What can they achieve now? It might just be it might just be it might just be one minute. It might just be, very, very small amounts of time. But then is there something about, you know, within a year, building that up by one to five percent? Would that not be a better way of doing it?

Debbie: Yeah, I actually agree. And I think that goes back to our 1 % episode that we absolutely love. And I always go back to that because I think, as you say, everyone is very different. And everyone’s movement wise is different as well. And what you can do and what I can do is different. Yeah, why does it have to be walking?

Katy: But why not include cycling in it? You know, we we I was we were talking about spinning, weren’t we, the other day?

Debbie: Yes, yes. Yeah, you went to your spin class. How was it?

Katy: I went to a my first spin class in I must be like fifteen to twenty years ’cause I used to hate it. but maybe I don’t put the resistance up as high as I used to

Debbie: I love it! you can cheat.

Katy: I was a bit late, and the music was absolutely thumping. It was all dark and blacked out. And it was like absolutely incredible. It was so much fun. Just 45 minutes.

Debbie: did you do a few sort of like dance moves or boxing type moves as well? right. Yep. Yep.

Katy: So we did no, we just did like press ups. So, it was like down for two, up for two, down for four, up for four, and then each side. So it was it was hilarious. I really enjoyed it. ’cause you’ve just got a bike, haven’t you?

Debbie: I have, yes, through my research work that I do, yes, I had loads of vouchers and I just bought myself a spin bike and I’ve used it a few times, I must admit, in the heat, so I need a room with aircon. But I do my own spin class, that’s what I did in lockdown, I got one of those trainers that go on your actual bike in the garden, but that was really noisy. And my actual bike is not, yeah, after kids and everything and my back, it was really hurting, so these spin bikes are a lot better for my back. And yes, I absolutely love it. Got my earphones in. I don’t care who can see. It’s just so much fun. It really is. And also, as you say that you can put in the resistance, you can do as much or as little as you want, but you’re gonna keep doing any kind of activity, just moving and that. it’s good fun.

Katy: That’s good.

Debbie: Getting back to this NHS thing.

Katy: But but I think you should be able to include other forms of movement.

Debbie: Swimming as well.

Katy: Yeah, ’cause swimming, cycling, it might I would presume the problem is they don’t know how to track it and link it to an app. so I think that’s probably the issue. Walking’s easier to track with like steps and most phone most smartphones have a step thing on it.

Debbie: And I suppose it’s walking is generally a lot more accessible than other things because of

Katy: Yeah. Yeah. Not everybody has access to a pool. Not everybody has a bike. Most people can put on a pair of shoes or trainers and go for a walk. So yeah. Yeah.

Debbie: Exactly. But I think though, it’s all down to education though and what’s in our schools. Because if you look at, you know, was it PE, physical education, and then also like doing different terms, it’s like one time you did say cricket, one time you did rounders and if you don’t like those sports, it’s going to put you off.

Katy: Yes, yeah,

Debbie: And it’s not really engaging as such and then to, to keep it going. But you’re great that you have kept your netball and your tennis going. But I sort of, hated PE when I was younger because I couldn’t do things. Yeah.

Katy: Yeah. Yeah. So I loved PE. I loved it. But I didn’t have a physical impairment when I was at school. You know, I didn’t have anything that was going to stop me loving it. So it’s a very different situation.

Debbie: Yeah, but then if you then look at, you know, the private schools, their facilities are amazing in sports. it’s like, if

Katy: Yeah. Yeah. Well, and they all have coaches. So, one of my friends is she’s the swim teacher, she’s the netball coach at a private school. So, they have specialist teachers. It’s not just your and this is a private school that goes from nursery up to A levels. So, some schools though, some primary schools now do have specialist sports teachers. There’s an academy school near us and they’ve got a specialist sports teacher, which I do think then means it’s not just your class teacher who doesn’t understand half they won’t know what half the sports are because they probably don’t play them themselves. but also, it’s understanding why physical activity is important and movement is important, not just we’re learning about like we’re gonna do this today, but why is it important to a healthy balanced lifestyle?

Debbie: Exactly. I think again, and I know there’s lots of conversations about the, the education system at the moment, But we need to show people that actually, this is just a healthy lifestyle. Don’t stop doing this as soon as you leave school. You need and just, you know, getting kids off screens might be another reason the NHS is doing this as well. It’s so good for your mental health just to go outside and do things. I spent most of my childhood when I could just outside and just playing in the street with my friends and you know even just walking to the local park and stuff it was it was fine.

Katy: I used to watch Trans World Sports and they had sports from all around the globe. So, we used to try and like we used to try those sports out on the on the street, but kids can’t play on the street anymore because there’s too many cars. So, it’s totally different. You’d you don’t you wouldn’t just chuck your kids outside until the lamps go off anymore

Debbie: That’s very true. But then that’s why I love the Olympics. You could see all the different sports They’re just so inspiring. But then if you don’t start it at an early age though, it’s very hard to kind of to get into and get into the discipline and routine which is also what sport gives you is that discipline and the routine. Yeah. Yeah. And gosh. And it helps you look after your bodies more as well.

Katy: Yeah, and teamwork and things like that. Yeah. There’s more to sports than actually being physically active. Yeah.

Debbie: And I think actually that’s probably a slight link to having these conditions as well, because we have to try and look after our bodies a bit more because they’re attacking us. So, let’s try and help us live.

Katy: Yeah. Help it not attack us.

Debbie: Exactly. So yes, but it’d be really interesting to hear what gets back with this dietitian though and what the results come out.

Katy: I think I have a call with them in mid August. So, by the time we come back, I’ll be able to feed back. And then what we can do as well is get them on the podcast to talk about not only this sort of study, but also more around sort of lifestyle and building movement, diet, all into everything that you’re doing.

Debbie: That’d be brilliant. Yeah, to get them on and yeah, just any sort of hints and tips as well, but just realizing that everyone is different and what works for someone may not work for you, but I think, that’d be really interesting. I’m cause that is one of the questions we always get asked is What do I eat that triggers me? No, we’ll be millionaires if we knew.

Katy: Yeah, it we don’t know. I think the only way you can work that one out is a food your own food diary, isn’t it?

Debbie: Yes, yeah, I’m actually doing a food diary as well, just because I’m just trying to lose weight, but also just through the conversations that we’ve had with people and actually trying to work out what is, and I think what came up with Mel is trying to work out what is the fibromyalgia side and what is the inflammatory arthritis side, because I am getting so many more pains, especially in my wrists. Still waiting for my joint injections, by the way. Still waiting. Yep, still waiting. I’m sitting there going, I’m quite envious.

Katy: Right. Yes, I was I meant to ask you that when you’re talking about your daughter. Have you chased anybody yet? Go on. Off after this you need I know you’ve got a meeting, but you need to get on that phone.

Debbie: Not yet. Again, that’s I will do. I will do. Yes. But more is now more in my actual wrists as well. And I’ve even had to wear supports recently.

Katy: Have you? Right.

Debbie: And I think that’s where my consultant first saw that that’s where she thought it was more fibromyalgia because of my hands are just so swollen. But she didn’t think there was active arthritis in it. but my brain can’t tell the difference. It’s like, well, my hands are swollen. Surely that’s just what it is. yes, I’m trying to do some sort of diary sort of type thing and just seeing how I feel as well. Actually fatigue is a big killer as well at the moment. And the heat does not help that.

Katy: I think the heat really brings on fatigue. Cause I think for everybody, everybody feels a little bit tired. Cause you cause your body but also your body’s having to work harder to keep you cool. So already our bodies are trying to like are fighting us and then layer on top trying to keep yourself cool. It all but I do still think my body prefers the heat. So up until about thirty five degrees.

Debbie: 35 degrees now, it? Okay, fair enough.

Katy: Yes, it’s changed.

Debbie: Yes, I don’t think mine does, over 30 at the moment. But I think it depends when I’m abroad. But then you have a pool, have it, it’s giving towards the heat.

Katy: Yeah, it’s different. It’s different when you can jump in a pool or you can go in air con that’s really good. I mean our only way to do it is to go down the Asda freeze freezer aisle, isn’t it?

Debbie: Yeah. Other supermarkets are available.

Katy: Yeah. And I’m not even sure about Asda actually, but it was just the one that came to our mind. Yeah, yeah.

Debbie: Cos you’re Northern! But we are going to be having a break coming up because it is the summer holidays. We have children and we have families So have you got any holidays planned, Katy

Katy: Yes, so we’re off the first week of the school holidays actually. So, we’re going to somewhere near Seville. But we’re staying in like a wooden a wooden hut. So, hiring a car, drive around. I don’t know if we’ve got air con, so it could be absolutely horrific because it’s gonna be forty degrees.

Debbie: Ooh, lovely. What? my god, it must have aircon, it’s got to surely. hope. okay. Yeah, just sleep in a car or if not, I was tempted the other day to be fair.

Katy: I’ve no idea. I don’t know. The car will have aircon that I’ve hired. I’ll just sit in the car. But it’s in a national park where we’re staying. So, there’s safari and stuff like that.

Debbie: Okay. lovely. Well, you have the feedback and let us know what it’s about.

Katy: No, I will do. And then I’ve got a week off just just with my son. So just day trips and things like that. Are you off anywhere?

Debbie: No, we’re not this year because we moved.

Katy: Yeah,

Debbie: And that’s, we’ve got quite a few jobs to do around here, but it’s just nice to have a bit of a, bit of a break and plan a lot more for the charity. We’ve got; it’s just been going crazy. Email wise, people want to have meetings and we’ve got some really great projects coming up. So yeah, so I’m going to be focusing on that and just trying to take my kids, well, one of them in away. They’re teenagers. They don’t really want to be with their mum, but I pay for lunch and stuff.

Katy: Yes. So my mum doesn’t pay for lunch anymore, she’s so old, so they need to make the most of it.

Debbie: Right because you went to Wimbledon with your mum, did she buy anything? Did she buy strawberries?

Katy: I did. No because she’s too slow. I just pay because I can’t be bothered to wait for her to get a wallet out. Yeah. I’ve got to show you something I bought. you put your card in this. It’s one one! And then you tap to pay.

Debbie: Okay, so people on the podcast listening through Spotify, etc, it’s like a children’s wand that you put your card in and it looks like you’re just tapping magically. Beautiful, Katy

Katy: So, I’m gonna take that with me and my I got my son one. I’ve got this one and I can’t remember and I’ve bought two of my friends one. So, I’m seeing them for lunch on Sunday. and I knew he’d be upset, so I can’t remember what colour he’s chosen. and we’re gonna go round Wimbledon.

Debbie: It’s pink as well. I have to watch Wimbledon on Friday just to see if they’re on the news.

Katy: Well no, we can’t be because I’m doing a sick day for my son.

Debbie: Educational day, it’s educational. It’s a sports day. That’s what it is. That’s all. Bless. Yeah, well, I must admit, I…

Katy: Educational day. Yeah. What better place to let this be known than on a public podcast? I’m telling him to keep it quiet and then I’m broadcasting.

Debbie: Exactly. And then they get there you go, broadcasting it. bless. Well, yeah, well, I’m sure you’ll have fun anyway. And good luck getting the strawberries. I think last time I went and met 30 years ago, they’re about five, they’re probably about 20 or quid now or something.

Katy: Yes, yes. Well, if you’ve got a Barclay card, you get them for free.

Debbie: So, they’re now sponsored strawberries.

Katy: Yep. Yep. Of course. Everything’s sponsored.

Debbie: Of course they are. Right, right. Yeah, so if anyone wants to sponsor our podcast, please get in touch. We can’t give out free strawberries. But as I say, yes, we are gonna be having a break. So please have a fabulous time over August and summer holidays, whatever you’re up to. And don’t forget, it’d be a great time to catch up with the episodes that you haven’t listened to or go watch them on YouTube.

Katy: And watch us on YouTube and see what my wand looks like.

Debbie: I know. But yes, and there will be a few more blogs on our website as well over the summer. if you want to share your story as well, again, please get in touch with us. You can email at info at inflammatoryarthritis.org. Go visit our website, we’re at inflammatoryarthritis.org and follow us on socials. are on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Blue Sky. So we’re gonna be back in September, which I think is then technically autumn.

Katy: Cold.

Debbie: Yeah, scary. I will probably be, if I don’t, if I must say, if I don’t say this, I’ll probably never do it. I’m planning a fundraiser for the charity and I absolutely hate heights. So, what’s the best thing to do? We go climb the O2. So yes, there will be pictures and I will then feedback at some point about how it went. So yeah, I have to book it and there’ll be a just giving page.

Katy: I’m very excited.

Debbie: So, if you just follow us on the socials, we’ll have it up please donate if you can. But until September, Katy unless anything really magical happens, we’ll be back then. So, it’s goodbye.

Katy: Goodbye.

Debbie and Katy wrap up the season with a candid conversation about heatwaves, illness, parenting teenagers, joint injections, diet experiments, movement, NHS walking rewards, and summer plans. They reflect on the insightful conversations with recent guests Jamie and Mel, explore gut health and food diaries, discuss the realities of fluctuating conditions, and share personal stories from daily life. The episode closes with summer break plans and a teaser for Debbie’s upcoming O2 climb fundraiser.

Key Topics

• Managing heat, humidity, fatigue, and flare‑ups
• Teenagers, joint injections, and hospital chaos
• Reflections on Jamie’s and Mel’s episodes: diet, gut health, microbiome, vegan resets
• Food diaries, dietitian consultations, and personalised nutrition
• Balancing convenience eating, cost of takeaways, and planning meals
• NHS walking rewards scheme: accessibility, chronic illness considerations, tracking issues
• Movement beyond walking: cycling, swimming, spinning, baseline activity
• PE in schools, access to sports, private vs state school facilities
• Fibromyalgia vs inflammatory arthritis symptoms
• Summer holidays, travel plans, Wimbledon wand antics
• Charity updates, upcoming projects, and Debbie’s O2 climb fundraiser

Key Words

heatwave, fatigue, humidity, joint injection, squeamish, gut health, microbiome, dietitian, food diary, fibromyalgia, inflammatory arthritis, movement, baseline activity, NHS walking rewards, accessibility, spinning, PE, teenagers, summer holidays, fundraiser, O2 climb

Resources Mentioned

• Inflammatory! One percent episode
• Inflammatory Arthritis UK (IAUK) – website, blogs, social channels
• NHS Walking Rewards Scheme – upcoming initiative
• IAUK contact – info@inflammatoryarthritis.org
• IAUK socials – Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, BlueSky
• YouTube – watch full podcast episodes

Key Quotes

“Everybody’s healthy weight is different… some people are naturally smaller, and some people naturally have a little bit more bulk to them.”

“We try to control the uncontrollable, and one way to do that is by what we eat.”

“I absolutely hate heights. So, what’s the best thing to do? Go climb the O2.”

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/