I'm Andrea Dunn

LIVE LIKE A WYLD CHYLD AND GET THROUGH THE WAR

Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom.
For me that included an all-out war,
Me vs. Rheumatoid Arthritis.
I had no allies. Enemy lines seemed to get closer and closer to overtaking the little sanity and joy I had left.
Doctors made RA confusing- even for me
and my Master of Science degree in
Sports medicine. My whole body, not just my joints rebelled;
I felt betrayed!
My spouse thought
I was faking it. I didn't only have adversaries,
I had a mutiny!

Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom.
For me that included an all-out war,
Me vs. Rheumatoid Arthritis.
I had no allies. Enemy lines seemed
to get closer and closer to overtaking
the little sanity and joy I had left.
Doctors made RA confusing- even for me
and my Master of Science degree in
Sports medicine. My whole body,
not just my joints rebelled;
I felt betrayed! My spouse thought
I was faking it. I didn't only have adversaries,
I had a mutiny!

A scrawny pic of me that makes me feel sad and angry as I remember the hopelessness I had at this time. Oh we fake so well!

The Start Of It All

I was probably about 11 when I noticed some aches in my knees. Even younger, I felt the crochety dampness in my back and neck on camping trips. I was very active as a kid, climbing trees, swinging on rusty fences and falling off bleachers haha. But the bruises and sore muscles weren't the pains I remember the most. The knee, shoulder, wrist and jaw pains didn't add up, even to the doctors. Yet, no one checked me for Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. No one checked until age 24 when I personally sought out a rheumatologist. I was tired of being told it was growing pains. I was done hoping for a growth spurt! It has been 20 years since my official diagnosis. I have had many challenges, not just with my joints. Mental health, doctor relations and family interactions all presented obstacles too. I learned a lot; I suffered a lot and I do not want anyone to learn the hard way like I did.

A scrawny pic of me that makes me feel sad and angry as I remember the hopelessness I had at this time. Oh we fake so well!

if I only knew how
in-the- dark I was!

The truth of the matter is I had to get out of my own way!

I wish I had someone to validate me and also show me how to navigate this perplexing disease.

I needed someone to teach me self care, communication strategies with my family and doc and I needed someone to tell me I control my body, not RA.

I would have been so much further along in my battle! I would have not wasted 15 years in pain, dysfunction, emotional struggle and bewilderment. I could have been living and thriving in my life not telling people, "No, sorry I can't" or explaining why I "don't look like there is anything wrong with me".
But there wasn't anyone to talk to, to work with, to skip the line and be ahead of the game.

YOU are the lucky one! You have me!

You can get wild, well become WYLD, with me!
(I spell it different. This way I am reminded to keep a "Y"oung mind and "L"ive with all my heart to the best of my ability.)
Anyway... Becoming wyld can be as simple as following me on social media, getting the RA-life planner/journal on Amazon. Or if you are serious about getting your body back into your control you can grab the course or work one on one with me as your coach!