Living with a chronic illness like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) presents countless challenges, both physically and emotionally. In this Hurdle2Hope®️ Story, I sat down with Anita Shaw to explore her journey of living with RA for over 30 years. From receiving her initial diagnosis to finding strength in family, work, and creative expression, Anita’s story is a testament to resilience, adaptability, and hope.

 

Receiving a Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosis

 

Anita was diagnosed with RA at the age of 27, after experiencing persistent pain in her hands and feet. It wasn’t an easy diagnosis to accept, especially being so young, but early detection made it possible for her to begin treatment and manage the symptoms. Finding the right medication took time—trying one treatment after another to see what worked best for her body—but Anita remained determined not to let the pain define her life. For those newly diagnosed with RA or any chronic illness, Anita’s experience highlights the importance of perseverance and working closely with healthcare professionals to find a treatment plan that works.

 

Traveling the World While Managing a Chronic Condition

 

One of Anita’s passions is travelling, and she didn’t let RA stop her from fulfilling her dreams of exploring the world. After carefully managing her symptoms and medications, Anita spent a year backpacking solo across the globe. Travelling with a chronic illness can be daunting, but for Anita, it was empowering. Her journey emphasizes the value of preparation, from carrying essential medications to getting approval from doctors before taking long trips. More than that, her travels taught her to live life fully, despite the limitations of RA. For anyone facing chronic illness, Anita’s story is a reminder that our conditions don’t have to limit our capacity to experience life’s greatest adventures.

 

Family Planning Challenges with Chronic Illness

 

Living with RA also shaped Anita’s family planning decisions. After facing challenges along the way, Anita and her husband took different approaches to building their family. Although the path wasn’t what they initially expected, it led them to a deeply fulfilling family life. This experience highlights how chronic illness can affect major life decisions, but with perseverance and flexibility, it is possible to create the family life you dream of, even if the journey takes unexpected turns.

 

 

Managing Work and Rheumatoid Arthritis

 

Like many people living with chronic illness, Anita’s RA began to impact her work as she got older. Walking around her job as a high school integration aide became more difficult, and stress exacerbated her symptoms. Instead of letting RA stop her, Anita found a way to adapt. She cut down her workdays and turned to her creative passions, starting her own macramé business called Knots by Anita. Creating macramé was therapeutic for her hands, providing both physical relief and emotional fulfillment. Anita’s ability to pivot her career path shows the importance of flexibility in managing chronic conditions while still pursuing passions and purpose.

 

Finding Strength and Hope with Rheumatoid Arthritis

 

Through all of these challenges—diagnosis, travel, family, and career—Anita’s story is grounded in her resilience and determination to live a full life with RA. Her ability to adapt to physical limitations while maintaining her joy and creativity is inspiring for anyone facing a chronic illness. She emphasises the importance of being kind to yourself, listening to your body, and taking time to rest when needed.

 

Anita’s journey reminds us all that while living with a chronic illness is tough, it is possible to lead a rich, fulfilling life when we embrace adaptability, find new passions, and hold on to hope.

 

 

Transcript 35. Hurdle2Hope®️ Stories Meet Anita Shaw Living with RA 

 

[00:00:00] Teisha: Hey there, Teisha here and welcome to Wellbeing Interrupted. It's been a windy week here at our property. I'm actually down at my parents house at the moment. When the winds stopped, I was able to get down here, which was good and had physio, having a massage later today. Just really spending some time to look after my body, which has been a bit neglected since moving. 

[00:00:33] Today, I'm really excited to bring to you another Hurdle2Hope story featuring Anita Shaw. Anita and I met on a day retreat a few months ago and instantly connected. We were both there to take some time for ourselves and for our healing. Anita lives with rheumatoid arthritis. I'd heard of this over the years, but I wasn't exactly sure of a definition that I could share with you. 

[00:01:07] So I hopped on the Arthritis Australia website and this is their explanation of what Rheumatoid Arthritis is. It's an autoimmune disease that causes pain and swelling of the joints. In RA, the immune system targets the lining of the joints causing inflammation and joint damage. RA usually affects smaller joints, so joints in the hands and feet. 

[00:01:41] However, larger joints, such as the hips and knees can also be affected. So thank you, Arthritis Australia for that definition. Um, but I loved my chat with Anita. We share a passion for traveling or definitely did in our twenties. I'm very grateful for Anita opening up to her emotional journey in having children. 

[00:02:08] And then we chat about her amazing new business, Knots by Anita, which we'll chat about more. So what this highlights though is that yes, in living with chronic conditions, it is difficult. There are so many challenges. physically and emotionally, and Anita's life could be absolutely dominated by the challenges of RA, but as you'll find out, Anita has a really full life and she's such a joy to be around, and I hope you enjoy our chat. 

 

Wellbeing Interrupted Intro 

[00:02:49] Welcome to Wellbeing Interrupted, the podcast dedicated to exploring the transformative power of a healing mindset. I'm Teisha Rose, your host and the founder of Hurdle2Hope. If you're on a quest to not just survive but thrive after a life changing diagnosis, then you're definitely in the right place. 

[00:03:11] Living with MS and now starting Stage 4 breast cancer has taught me a vital lesson. In the face of a life changing illness, our mindset is everything. Each week I'll share insights, tips and strategies to help you build a happier, healthier, more balanced life. So let's begin your journey from hurdle to hope starting right now. 

 

Receiving a Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosis 

[00:03:41] Okay, so welcome Anita. I've done a bit of an intro, um, so my audience already knows lots about you. Um, but thank you so much for being part of Wellbeing Interrupted. Pleasure. Thanks for inviting me along, Teisha. You're, you're welcome. Um, so we'll get into it and I guess as I've said in the intro, you've got, um, and I always hate this because it's not, you know, we're not defined by our illness, but you live with rheumatoid arthritis. 

[00:04:14] So I guess to give us a little bit of a background, when were you diagnosed with that and how did it present?  

[00:04:24] Anita: Okay, um, yeah, good old rheumatoid arthritis. Um, it's actually in my family. My father had it badly. Um, and his mother was crippled, absolutely crippled with it, but I vaguely remember her. Um, but yeah, Dad suffered all through his life, but just kept going and kept going. 

[00:04:45] Um, I'm 60 now. I did the big 6 0 this year. And I was diagnosed at the age of 27, so more than half my life now. And it came about, um, back when I was a career lady before children, um, in the 80s when computers were just really coming in. And I'm, I've been a medical secretary for 20 years or so, all up, but back then they were setting up the computers and the keyboards weren't set up properly in the whole practice. 

[00:05:18] So a lot of us audio typist girls were speed typists. We were just going about our daily work. We were zipping along on the keys and a couple of days later, everyone's hands were getting sore. And we're having a chat and this and that and we got the ergonomic guy back in and he said, Oh, someone hasn't set the keyboard up properly with the legs on at the back. 

[00:05:40] So we were typing over, our fingers were typing over our hands sort of thing, not on an angle where they should be. So everyone got sore hands and then a week or so later, everyone's hands were fine, but mine stayed. So I think that was the trigger. Um, so look, it was probably, definitely all those disorders are in your system anyway, in your blood works and all that, I think, and mine just triggered the rheumatoid, unfortunately. 

[00:06:12] So I had a shocking time, you know, young, you know, it was probably mid. Um, and then just trying to go, My God, I can't work. My hands are not working. I can't type. So it was a long list of hand therapists and, um, this and that. And then the hand therapist said, Have you had blood tests? And I said, No. She said, I really think you're rheumatoid. 

[00:06:40] So she was the one who picked up on it. So off we go to blood tests. Because at the same time, it's my sore hands. Right underneath my feet. I couldn't walk. It was the front, it was the ball of my feet were like had needles in them when I walked. And I was telling the hand specialist this and she said, Hmm, that sounds like a bit more going on. 

[00:07:05] So, um, yeah, she was right. It was rheumatoid. So that, um, started, uh, the whole, yeah, my life with rheumatoid now.  

[00:07:15] Teisha: Wow. But, um,  

[00:07:16] Anita: yeah. Yeah, it was a journey. Like being young, you're like, what? No, you know, dad's got it. I'll be right. But I was so sore. Oh my God, I was so sore. Just to get around. Day to day living was extremely painful. 

[00:07:34] So, Doctors and GPs and then two specialists in Geelong, Hedley Griffiths. He's an amazing rheumatologist and I've been here with him since day one of my journey. He's just a gorgeous man. We've been on a journey together. Um, so yeah, he. We've started on a long list of um, you know, start off with medication and then trying to find the medication that suits you. 

[00:08:02] So I think I went through three or four different sorts of tablets because you've got to be on one for a month to see if it works or not. Then, oh no, that doesn't work. So we'll try another one. So it was just getting the pain relief under control to start with. And once that happened, I was fine, really and truly. 

[00:08:25] Um, I was carefree, young, carefree, still able to, um, do heaps because tablets did the job back then, um, which was fantastic. And I've also, um, always had a really good positive, um, state of mind, which I think has helped also. Um, so yeah, tablets work I thought, nothing's going to stop me. I'm not going to let, you know, my dreams fade away because of some pain. 

[00:08:58] Um, but I wasn't in much. Once the tablets worked, I must say, I was really, really good and so bobility wise and joint-wise, really, really good.  

[00:09:09] Teisha: Yeah, and so that was sort of into your 20s and, you know, I was diagnosed with MS at 22, so it's full on in your 20s, but I think, you know, yeah, but then it sort of sets you up as well for if you deal with it, know, work out how to cope with it, then it sets you up for other challenges, I guess, in your life as well. 

[00:09:33] Anita: Yeah, so true. You've got that young mindset that, oh, you know, you know, I'll get through this and oh, I'll be right. I'll cope. You know, when you're young, you're like, you know, try this, try that and you don't let things get you down. Yeah. And so did you then, what happened work wise? Work was fine, continued, got back, um, the keyboards were set up properly, which was a good help. 

[00:09:58] So I was still able, and with the process of audio typing, your fingers just skip across the keys anyway, so being a speed typer, so it was like therapy, really. for my fingers. And still to this day, I can type so much better than what I can write. So, um, so I think that was really good exercise for me, for me fingers. 

 

Traveling the World While Managing A Chronic Condition 

[00:10:22] So, no, I worked. Audio typist, medical secretary, worked and worked and worked. And I always had a dream, always had a dream. I just wanted to see the world. So I saved and I saved and I thought I'm doing it. I'm not letting anything And I thought I could take medications with me. Who cares? You know, it's only tablets. 

[00:10:45] I can take a supply of medication with me with a specialist letter. And, um, so that was my next big goal. Got myself under control, um, medical wise. And, um, Yeah, I was walking and hiking and I was doing everything like I used to at home, um, back then, and I thought, I'm saving. So I thought I wanted to go for 12 months overseas. 

[00:11:14] I just wanted to. It was just in my head for years and, um, No one from my family had ever traveled OS before, and I just wanted to, and I'm one of seven kids. Wow. So I was just, I know, so I just, well, the like, the odd, not the odd one out, but I was, everyone else seemed to be happy at home. Like Ocean Grove is gorgeous place to grow up in. 

[00:11:37] That's where I had my childhood. Fantastic. But I just had this calling to travel and my two, um, older sisters were married at 21 and, you know, kids and I'm like, no, I'm not having that. So, um, I just always thought, right. Yep, I'm traveling the world. So once I had my health under control, I planned, I saved hard for 12 months. 

[00:12:05] So I thought I'm going, I'm going for around the world. I'm going for 12 months. I'm not rushing back. So I did the old backpacking trip in the early 90s, um, in my late 20s. And, um, medications in me bag and a rheumatologist specialist letter to show at the airports and all of that and, um, it off. Yeah, so that was a big, big 12 month adventure, which I still remember very fondly. 

[00:12:33] Teisha: Ah, you see, this is why we've connected, Anita, because I was exactly the same. I was, when I was 25, I was, in hospital for months and months. And I was like, if I get walking again, if I get better, I'm off. I'm out of here. And I did the same thing. I, I packed up, went by myself and lived and worked in Scotland and travelled around. 

[00:12:55] And it was amazing. And I think that's what I was mentioned before, having a health condition in your twenties, doesn't that make you go grab life, you know, and really embrace  

[00:13:06] Anita: life. Yes, totally agree. Yeah, it's like, nah, I'm not letting this define me. I'm like, no, I'm out of here. I'm out of here. Big time. 

[00:13:16] Yeah. No, it doesn't set you up. It really doesn't set you up. It does. I agree.  

[00:13:21] Teisha: Yeah, and I think too, you know, traveling on going and traveling by, yourself, I would never have done that. But I thought, no, part of me spending time in hospital, I realised that at the end of the day, we are alone. Not that I didn't have support from family and friends, but you're alone in those scary nights. 

[00:13:42] And it's like, well, I want to be comfortable in my own company, you know, and I'm just  

[00:13:49] Anita: Yeah, no, the supports are all around you, aren't they, at home? When you're sick and down and all that, but you think, no, there's got to be more. More to life. There has to be more.  

[00:13:59] Teisha: Yes, I agree. And the medication's interesting because I then did another trip to Romania and went through, um, different places. 

[00:14:09] And my neurologist, um, I had the letter translated into Italian, Hungarian and Romanian, and he signed it, and he's like, everyone will think I'm multilingual because I had injections I had to take, so I was so nervous, but I thought, no, I don't want that to stop me.  

[00:14:26] Anita: No, no. Once you decide, us stubborn women, once we decide something, it's like, nah, nothing can stop me at all. 

[00:14:35] And, um, I agree. Yeah, good on you for doing your trip.  

[00:14:39] Teisha: Yeah, it's amazing. And so did that give you a new perspective on life, travelling?  

[00:14:44] Anita: I'd always been very independent. Like I said, one of seven in the 80s growing up, um, Ocean Grove, you're allowed lots and lots of freedoms, um, out to, you know, riding your bike or at the beach or whatever and just home by dark sort of thing. 

[00:15:01] So really independent. Really right from an early age. Um, it just, with the travel, it just, um, really solidified the fact that, yeah, there's a big, big wide world out there and out there to enjoy. It's like, not little stuck in a little coastal, gorgeous little coastal town in Ocean Grove. There is worldwide things going on out there and that was just, um, traveling by yourself. 

[00:15:28] I felt so empowered. That I got myself around the world safely, like, in meeting people and on and off planes and trains and living in questionable hostels and, you know, just empowering, seeing the world yourself off the backpack on your back and off. Yeah. Yeah. I just, um. It's a great big adventure.  

[00:15:56] Teisha: Yeah, it is. 

[00:15:57] And I also thought going by myself was good with a health condition because I didn't feel the pressure of making others not go at the pace they wanted to. I thought, well, it doesn't matter. If I'm a bit tired, I can sit down and watch the world go by under no pressure. Oh,  

[00:16:14] Anita: totally. Isn't it good though, in Europe or wherever, people watching. 

[00:16:18] Teisha: Yes.  

[00:16:20] Anita: The best, it's you get a cup of coffee or whatever and you just sit. in a cafe and your watch. It's fantastic.  

[00:16:28] Teisha: Yeah. No, I love we've both had this experience because if people listening, uh, going through something in the twenties, it doesn't signify the end. You know, I think it really motivates you to when you're feeling well to do things, you know, and take that opportunity because now dealing with cancer, I don't have a bucket list of travel. 

[00:16:51] to do because I've already done it. You know, now I just want to sit still on our new land and enjoy watching birds,  

[00:16:59] Anita: you know. Yeah, playing with the dogs or what you want to do. You know, I love enjoying the simple things in life like you now. Because you think, well, I've done the trouble and I'm so grateful I did the travel in my 20s.  

 

Family Planning Challenges with Chronic Illness  

[00:17:13] Teisha: Yeah, 100%. Yeah. And so the next area I thought it'd be good to chat about, because we're sort of coming from two different angles, um, and in terms of, I went through the heart wrenching decision, In when I was about, gosh, I'm about to turn, my next birthday is 50, so I'm a decade behind. But when I was sort of in my mid 30s, we, I was with my partner Andrew, we assumed we'd have children, um, but then made the heart-wrenching decision not to have children because at that stage, it's different now with MS, but I'd have to come off my medication. 

[00:17:59] I tried that, I got really sick. Andrew was going through really significant mental health issues and it meant that could be triggering. We spoke to his doctors, it could be triggering. It meant if I wasn't working, having a child, he would then have to, you know, there'd be pressure. So for whatever the reason, we came to it. 

[00:18:22] Independent but together decision. It wasn't part of our journey because we knew we were meant to be together, but we both assumed we would have kids. So it was the worst form of grief I've ever experienced doing that, but we were on the same page so we could support each other through that. And now we know it was the right decision. 

[00:18:44] So, but you've gone through it. absolute grief, um, for different reasons. But I think it's so important to share these stories because our lives aren't always as planned, you know, and living with an illness means that sometimes these decisions are taken away from us. So yeah, so I thought I'd just, yeah, see if you want to share a little bit about your journey to, you know, when you decided to have a  

[00:19:14] Anita: Yeah, yeah, well, I always Thought, you know, coming from a large Catholic family, one of my sisters having kids very young and I'm like, oh, yeah, one day, it'll happen one day, but yeah, I wanted to get out and be Miss Independent and travel the world and, which I did, um, and I never ever thought I'd get married because, um, you'd have, I had relationships and that, but nothing ever stuck. 

[00:19:38] I felt like I was too flighty and wasn't settled yet. Um, so I'd bought my own house after my travels. I came back to Geelong, bought my own house in Geelong West, a gorgeous little cottage, and, um, I thought, well, this is it, Anita. This is it. It's me and the dogs and a little cottage. Um, and then the age of 34, met my husband on a night out. 

[00:20:03] and um, at Harish Murphy's in Geelong. Um, and I'd spotted him through the beginning of the night and I thought, I'll keep an eye on him. He looks all right. And um, then after, you know, a few Guinnesses and things like that, I went up and asked him to dance and he's like, no, I don't dance. And I said, as taking the Guinness out of his hand, I said, yes, you do. 

[00:20:28] And that's it. That's we've been together ever since.  

[00:20:31] Teisha: Wow.  

[00:20:32] Anita: So, um, from never ever thinking I'd get married. I'm like career girl. That's it. Um, so yeah, instantly fell in love. Um, and it was, he proposed 12 months later and 10 years younger. So I've got a toy boy. 

[00:20:50] So, um, we're setting up house and things like that. And Yeah, family were on our mind, and we tried naturally for a couple of years, and that didn't seem to work very well. It didn't work. It's like, because I was getting on to late 30s by then, and with my rheumatoid, I'm thinking, is there, you know, a problem here? 

[00:21:12] And I think we ventured off to IVF then. And to see what could be done. And they said, well, with your age and things like that, your eggs are probably low. So we tried a couple of cycles of IVF with no luck at all, and we're sort of deflated. And then we're thinking, is it meant to be and, um. Then we heard someone that had had a similar story and they did DonutX from someone else. 

[00:21:42] So we looked at that as well and, um, back then you could advertise in the paper, not give your name or anything, but just ask for anyone interested in DonutX. I know this is, I'm talking, what is it? Early 2000s. You just don't do that now. You don't see it in the local paper. There was heaps in the little classified area. 

[00:22:03] So we popped it in and met families and met couples and oh my god it was really interesting experience. And we got down to two or three couples and you know had a really good chat and coffee and you know kept meeting up and got on to one lovely couple and they'd had their children. And they were very happy to donate eggs. 

[00:22:25] So then we went through the IVF cycle with that lady and myself and my husband and so there was all like getting my womb ready, her with injections and donating eggs and oh, it was a really, really big, yeah, rigmarole. So we first try, we were pregnant, which was like, what? You know, this is great. So, um, We're setting up the nursery and off to the 19 week ultrasound and lo and behold, there's no heartbeat. 

[00:22:57] So we lost our baby boy, William, he, uh, yeah, at the 19 week ultrasound. He died a week or so beforehand, apparently. So that was major grief. Um, and, I just cried for two or three weeks. I couldn't stop crying. As well as had the, you know, we thought we'd had the plan in place, the baby was happening and been through all this to get to this stage. 

[00:23:24] Um, and then, yeah, it was a lot of grief. It was a lot of sadness. Um, so it was like, Picked herself up and 12 months ago, um, down the track, we tried again with another couple who actually my husband's best mate from high school, his wife, um, offered. So, Danny, so that was great. So she, we went through the whole process again, um, IVF and lo and behold, yes, pregnant again, first IVF. 

[00:23:57] So, um, all joy and, but I held my breath every week of that pregnancy. I held my breath thinking, please just get to the next week. Please just get to the next week. And I couldn't even speak at the 19 week ultrasound for Lachlan. I couldn't even speak. They just said straight away, look, we know what you've been through. 

[00:24:16] We'll just quickly, quickly check for a heartbeat. So that was terrific, the ultrasound people. And straight away they just said, yes, there's a heartbeat. So then I could relax. So we had the ultrasound and then it was week by week. So we got through. We got through the pregnancy and Lockie arrived. He just turned 18 this year. 

[00:24:39] He arrived in 2006, so we had our baby boy that I'd always wanted. Um, I always knew I'd have boys, so I just knew. So that was joy, and I just held him. I just kept looking at him, holding him for months and months and months. Are you really here? You are, you are here. So yeah, it was just a joy, just a joy. 

[00:25:02  Teisha:  Yeah, that's beautiful. That's beautiful.  

Anita: From that, um, after we had. Lachie for a year or so, the doc, my rheumatologist said, Anita, really, you cannot have any more children or you cannot carry any more with your health, because I'd been off medication for four years, IVF, yes, and you had to go off everything. 

[00:25:24] So, that's when all bad degeneration of my hands and feet really happened, but I was determined, I'm like, I wanted family. So, I was determined as. Um, so yeah, so it's fair enough. I said, fair enough. I'll get back onto the medication and, um, take care of the baby boy we have and that sort of thing. And then, um, Yeah, Lachie got to about the age of two and I'm like, I really would like, you know, being from a large family, I'm like, you know, I don't want Lachie to be the only grandson of who he was at the time. 

[00:26:01] And she said, well, why don't we revisit foster care? And I went, yeah, that could be good. So we did the course. It was a rigorous, rigorous course. Um. I don't know, a three month course. Wow. We'd go to every session.  

[00:26:19] Anita: Us versus a couple, and there would have been, um, 10 other couples there at the time, and you'd see them drop off, drop off, not come back, and this and that, but we stuck it out, and there was about four of us couples who got through the course, um, and then they said, just wait, all right, just wait, we're We'll phone you if there's anything because you can choose with foster care, emergency care, respite care, long term care. 

[00:26:50] So we wanted long term care because we didn't want a revolving door with kids coming through and Lockie getting attached and then having them leave. And we just wanted, you know, Um, another child really for long term. So, um, four weeks after the course, had a phone call late one afternoon to say, Anita, we have a baby boy. 

[00:27:14] Six days old at Geelong Hospital. Um, Would you like to come and get him? I'm like, wow! All my eyes out and I'm like, oh my gosh, I couldn't breathe and we had to go and pick him up at THS and I was like, oh my god. So that was Joshua. So he's our permanent care boy and he's 15, just turned 15. So we've been great friends all through their childhood and still are. 

[00:27:45] You know, they fight like normal siblings do. It wouldn't be normal, would it? Exactly. Exactly. So that's been a whole nother process, foster care, permanent care, um, keeping in touch with the other families, um, It's been rigorous, rigorous, rigorous, rigorous. So, um, but look, we, we, yeah, my philosophy is take it day by day, but get through day by day. 

[00:28:13] Teisha: Wow. So what a beautiful family you have with your two boys. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. They're great.  

[00:28:20] Anita: Yeah. So I've got my two boys, always dreamed I'd have two boys and I did. Wow,  

 

Coping with Rheumatoid Arthritis in Daily Life 

 

00:28:24] Teisha: that's beautiful. That's so beautiful. So what does life look like for you today? I mean, you've got two teenage boys, so I'm assuming, are they both at school? And then what do you do?  

[00:28:36] Anita: Well, that's it. Life is busy. Um, Lachie's year 12. Um, 18 and year 12, so he's nearly there. It's August now, so not far to go and he wants to go to uni. So he's looking at that. Josh is 15 and never took very well to transition from grade 7 at the same school. Um, just didn't, didn't connect, didn't, didn't go up from the next level up. 

[00:29:08] Um, and. Yeah, we've had trials and tribulations there, but the long shot of it all is, is a home with Virtual Schools Victoria. So he's learning at home. Right. So that's working well. So, yeah, so he's Year 9 doing that for the second year. Um, and he wants to travel as well. He just wants to get his license and, and, um, travel around Australia. 

[00:29:33] He doesn't want to do the world. He wants to do Australia with the van done up and his dog. He So sounds, sounds good. A good plan. Yeah, exactly. So both boys have got a plan, which is good. So it makes me happier, like they've got a plan. Yeah. Hubby works full time in hr. Mm-Hmm. . And he's a great support to me. 

[00:29:52] Mm-Hmm. . Um, and the boys. I work part time now. I never went back to full time work after Lachie. I thought I'm 8. 30 to 5. 30 or, no, I've got my child. I'm, you know, the kids now, I'm going to, so I just, I was at home for nearly 10 years with the boys and then, yeah, doing stuff at their school and this and that. 

[00:30:16] And then I thought, well, I'm I'm helping so much at a school. Why don't I do integration aid? Wow.  So I did a course at Deakin Geelong and got in. I'm at a high school now in Geelong, and I'm down to 3 days a week. 5 days was just too much. I did 5 days for about 5 years and with teenagers, a lot of issues and sitting in classrooms and that with them and coming home to my own too. 

[00:30:46] It was busy, busy, busy. But I've cut down to three days a week and it's a lovely life balance.  

 

Managing Work and Rheumatoid Arthritis 

00:30:53] Teisha: That's great. And do you find that with work, um, that your rheumatoid arthritis has impacted your work choices?  

[00:31:02] Anita: Yes, I'm finding now getting older, um, I just, yeah, with stress affects me. And my rheumatoid stress is not a good thing for me, hence meditation and all of that. 

[00:31:17] So about walking around the large, you know, high school and things like that, and I'm finding that it's difficult. My feet are sore, rheumatoid wise, shoulders are sore. It is impacting on me and I'm thinking, yeah, it might become a time very soon that I might not be doing that anymore. I love the rapport I have with the students and yeah, I enjoy that side of work. 

[00:31:46] I've also, through COVID, started up a craft business of my own. So that came about probably the second session of lockdown with two teenage boys at home where one would engage and one wouldn't. So in Webex's. So I thought, how am I going to get myself through this? Um, so I thought I've got to do something with my hands. 

[00:32:09] I've got to do something. So I've always been, uh, you know, crafty, not arty. I've always been crafty, sewing and this and that. Um, so I just watching YouTube tutorials and I'm like, ah, macramé, macramé, I might give that a go. So I started making some stuff at home and I'm like, oh my God, this is just so therapeutic. 

[00:32:32] And it got me through, got me through. I started, I started making pot hangers and a few little wall hangings. And I just started and I felt, Oh my gosh, this is it. Learning new knots and different ways, different colors. I love color. So different colors, I was getting different suppliers and, and, um, I've grown to be in my crammy business. 

[00:32:59] Teisha: That's so good. And I think for people listening, you know, yes. Sometimes we can't do what we think we're going to do career wise, but then that almost gives you permission to explore other avenues. You know, I was like, well, you know, I can't be doing corporate anymore, MS. And then it's like, then for me, I became a social worker and then I have done my own business and all. 

[00:33:22] So life's changed. Changed, but you just go with it, don't you? And it like open door and who would've thought you, you know, all those years ago doing medical, um, you know, admin work to all of a sudden doing that.  

[00:33:37] Anita: But I know that's just weird to think, you know, but I love how, where life takes you. Yeah, you know, look, your hindsight's great. 

[00:33:45] Looking back is great, but, um, you know, I loved all the time, all the work I did, but yeah, now I'm just loving my stage of life where it's craft and, you know, teenage boys are getting a bit more independent, so I've got more time for myself and my things I want to do, um, and I'm like, wow, I look back sometimes and think, Was that another person? 

[00:34:11] I thought I was a totally different person back then to now, work wise. Yeah. It's always very interesting where life takes you, that's for sure.  

[00:34:21] Teisha: It is, and it's a good thing, you know, because otherwise, how boring would life be? Yes. And so your business, it's called Knots by Anita, is that right?  

[00:34:34] Anita: That's it, Knots by Anita. 

[00:34:37] So I'm on Instagram. I've got a website. Um, I do hubby and I do markets. Ashley's a great helper. I wouldn't be able to do markets without him. I can't set up the bloody marquees and carry all the heavy stuff because my shoulders are really sore. So he's terrific. But it's worked out to be a really nice husband and wife thing we do together. 

[00:35:00] Really social, markets are terrific for meeting people and chatting. Um, so Ashley's fantastic and he stays the whole time, he loves a chat. I've taught him two or three knots, so he's there knotting away at the markets while I chat to people or vice versa. So markets, um, Market season's busy, but I've cut down to one market a month just for us, ourselves, just for trying to be realistic. 

[00:35:30] You know, talking to myself, Anita, you can't keep up this pace of two or three markets a month, per month for six months. So I thought, so I've had a really big rethink just recently and it's one market, um, a month I'm sticking to at Torque, so that seems to be a really good one for us. What we sell and being coastal and people love the, well, um, the potting as I make. 

[00:35:56] So, um, so markets and I'm on a website and I love sharing my love of knots through workshops.  

[00:36:06] Teisha: That's amazing. And I've seen, I know, um, someone we've got a mutual friend who goes to your workshops and all that's amazing. Yeah. Yes. Kelly.  

[00:36:18] Anita: Yes. Yes. Coming along to another one next week. Oh, that's great. Because we've gone to Kokodama. 

[00:36:24] So my husband runs those classes, the Kokodama Japanese String Art, indoor plants. So Ashley takes those classes, which is lovely to see. He's blossoming in that workshop space as well. That's great.  

[00:36:39] Teisha: So I'll put all the, um, Contacts and all the details on. Oh yes. Who, um, the show notes of this episode and also I'll share it on my Instagram as well. 

 

Wellness Practices for Chronic Illness 

[00:36:51] And I think this, um, is good. We both both know Kelly and I met Kelly through a retreat I went on, and then we met on a day retreat as well. Um, you and I Yes, you did. You and I. Yes. Yes. So, um, and I share, you know, I guess what's really changed for me in my effort to live well is, and even traveling and having new experiences, is I've really, I guess, what's the right word? 

[00:37:18] It's awakened my spirituality, you know, in terms of, um, you look at life differently. Sometimes I've got no idea what's going on. You know, we were at that retreat and all these things happen and all, and I think I've got no idea what's going on, but gosh, I'm feeling better. Right. Yeah,  

[00:37:34] Anita: exactly. Just go with it, sort of thing. 

[00:37:37] Teisha: Yeah. So has that been sort of for you? Is that a reason you're there? Is that to do with your health as well?  

[00:37:43] Anita: I believe so. Yeah. And I mainly go to those just for base in my head, like, you know, busy household and always putting the family first. And I've decided no, I'm going to take care of myself. Um, I've always loved yoga. 

[00:38:01] I can't do it much now except in a chair, but, um, yoga. I've always loved that all through my life. I do Tai Chi. I've always looked at other ways of, you know, relaxing. So, um, that's why I've started with Lisa's retreats. Um, and I'm thinking time for myself from now on, time for myself. I've got to slot it in the diary, even if it's once a year to one of those retreats, slot it in, take care of myself, take care of my joints, take care of, um, Mental health, because, yeah, like I said, stress is not good for me and integration aid work can be very stressful and very full on, because you're dealing with a lot of issues there. 

[00:38:48] So, I'm just, yeah, that's why I'm finding, I'm wanting to do more meditative work. Practices. Definitely.  

[00:38:55] Teisha: Yeah. That's great. And I think it's so important because I don't care about, you know, statistically, whether it helps with MS or cancer or whatever it is, if you feel, you feel so much better. And I think it taps into, Purpose as well. 

[00:39:13] It's like, who knows? Who knows why we have these conditions? Got no idea, but there's got to be something else that gives reason for some of these things.  

[00:39:25] Anita: Well, that's right. Exactly. You can go deeper in thinking like that for sure. Yeah. But I just love where the retreats take you mentally, like switching right off. 

[00:39:36] Teisha: Yeah, yeah, and I'm still not great at that whole breathwork thing. I've got to work on that.  

[00:39:41] Anita: Yes, I agree that breathwork for the minute or two minutes, that was a long time, wasn't it? But yeah, the meditation's terrific. I love that.  

[00:39:54] Teisha: Yeah, and I think you can then take it to like Lisa and I'll put Lisa's details because we're making Lisa Lisa's, um, it's Soul Magic with Lisa. 

[00:40:03] I think her Instagram is, and I'll put that in. Lisa's amazing and makes it very grounded and real, which I love. Yeah,  

[00:40:12] Anita: very real. Like she seems to each time we do meditation, like she's, Pinpointing, not meaning to, but she's specifically like, it really resonates with each person. Yeah. Yeah. She's got, she's magical like that, like soul magic. 

[00:40:30] Yes. She's great like that, where she picks a topic or a part of your body to focus on. And it's like, Oh yeah, okay. I didn't think about, I needed help there. But once she starts the meditation, it's like, yeah, yeah, I did actually need that help there.  

[00:40:45] Teisha: Yeah, look I think I'll have Lisa on. Um, the I think you should. 

[00:40:49] Yes, good. Because I think too, when you're living with a health condition, Lisa did a 10 minute guided meditation for me that I listened to before I went in for my mastectomy. Right. It was amazing. And the Surgeon said, she's like, the surgeon gods were with her, she said, you were so calm, your blood pressure was perfect, there was no blood loss hardly, and I thought, no, and I said, you've got no idea who I was calling upon, laughing, and I said, but I was so calm going in there, and we need that. 

[00:41:24] We're not going to be in this heightened state of anxiety. We're not going to be so frustrated that, you know, you've got to deal with the pain and even dealing with the pain and breathing through that and being present. It's so powerful. Um, that it's, yeah, so I'm really love that you've found that as well, because I do think that's a real key message for people. 

[00:41:50] Anita: I think so. When pain's at the worst, you know, it's just debilitating, isn't it? That's way past the scale of 10. Um, and if you find a way to breathe through it, like you say, or meditate, or close your eyes and just try and think of another space or place to go to. That's huge. Yeah. You can do that for yourself. 

[00:42:12] That's really giving yourself a fabulous gift, I think.  

[00:42:16] Teisha: Yeah, no, I agree. And with your pain now, so how would you say, you said, you know, you, the stress on your body, um Yes. Through what you're doing work-wise. Yes. Um, so do you find like we, is it your hands that are really difficult or It's  

[00:42:34] Anita: my shoulders. 

[00:42:36] Yeah, I've got to learn not to lift heavy stuff because I pay for it days afterwards. But I've found, yeah, my shoulders are really cannot lift my hands above my shoulders. I can't lift them high. Okay. I've had both knees replaced, but that was more osteoarthritis. So I'm a woman since I've had the knees replaced, which are terrific. 

[00:42:59] Ankles and toes and hands and shoulders for me are my main soreness. Um, and the macrame is fabulous too because that's like a therapy with the, like typing was with the hands. Yeah. And moving. So that's like an exercise which is, um, really working well. I don't overdo it. If I, some days I don't do macrame, I just don't do it. 

[00:43:24] So I just pace myself. Um, and. Medications are good. I'm under really good rheumatologists, but once a year I have an infusion of, um, drugs, which are cancer drugs, actually, mostly rheumatoid drugs. They all use cancer drugs. Okay. Yeah. Um, so I have an infusion once a year and that really helps greatly. Um, and then just, um, low doses of steroids and things like that. 

[00:43:55] until to get me through for the next one. So great maintenance, great specialist, great, and I think the meditative and the other practices all combine as well to help me.  

[00:44:07] Teisha: Yeah, definitely. I agree with that and I think it's not either or, I think, but if you're on sort of this journey of quietening your mind, I I think you are then in the right space to attract the right medical practitioners, that you know, and the message to anyone, if you're not comfortable, like you've got an amazing relationship, it sounds like, with your specialist, I've been the same, and I don't think that's coincidence, and if there's not that connection, change. 

[00:44:37] You know it's so important to have a good relationship.  

[00:44:40] Anita: Yes, there's plenty of them out there really. There is, you might not think, but yeah, but there is. Yeah, yeah, definitely. If you're not happy where you are, definitely move on.  

[00:44:50] Teisha: Yeah, no, that's great. Look, as we sort of. Not wind up, that's the wrong word, isn't it? 

 

Finding Strength and Hope with Rheumatoid Arthritis 

[00:44:57] But as we come to the end of our discussion, um, if you sat there and if either you're thinking of your younger self or you're thinking about someone who's just about, you know, who's just been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis or what would you be saying to them?  

[00:45:16] Anita: Stay strong. Stay strong. I know you're probably very, very, very sore and can't think ahead to a year or further down the track, but stay strong. 

[00:45:28] Get the medical help you need. It might take two or three or four different sorts of medication to get to the right treatment. fit for you, but your body will know once it's got the right medication. And then, um, rest. I find rest is huge for your body and recovery. So get onto the medication correctly. It might take a while, but be kind to yourself. 

[00:45:59] Like, not going to happen overnight. It's a long journey, as you know. It's a long journey. Be kind to yourself, get the right help medically, um, and then once you've got all that, nothing will stop you.  

[00:46:16] Teisha: Yeah, that's beautiful Amita, and you're right, you know, that being kind to yourself, I think we're Kind to other people who they're going through it, but not to ourselves. 

[00:46:26] That's right. And sometimes you do, like, I find it hard to rest sometimes because I think, no, you know, you're giving in or whatever, but your body needs it. It does. Yeah, to recuperate.  

[00:46:37] Anita: Yes. I don't know it takes a while, doesn't it? It takes years to realise. Yeah. Stubborn people. And as my husband always says, well, you're so stubborn. 

[00:46:46] I said, well, this is how I've got this far. I've got to be stubborn.  

[00:46:50] Teisha: Yeah, I agree. It's a fine balance, isn't it? Because you do need that determination. You do. Um, but you've also balanced that. Yes,  

[00:46:59] Anita: yes, balance it out with rest. So I do sit down now with a cup of tea and take a breath and, um, pat the dogs a bit longer or, you know, look outside like you do, watch the birds or, yeah, just take that time and just dwell like, you know, good old daydreaming. 

[00:47:14] There is actually nothing wrong with daydreaming.  

[00:47:18] Teisha: No, and I think that even if nothing else with the meditation and all, it's, it trains you to do that. It does. So that's right. Excellent. Well, thank you, Anita. I'm so happy that you agreed. Anita and I, as we mentioned, we met on a day retreat. We started talking and I thought, ah, I'm going to be, I'm going to. 

[00:47:38] I love how people get drawn to each other 

[00:47:40] Anita: Yes. I love that, you know, and I saw you with your frame and you were doing this, you were doing that, you were getting, you're doing that, you know, you know, I thought nothing's stopping her, so I thought good on you, so I went up and chatted, didn't I?  

[00:47:57] Teisha: Yeah, yeah, we did. 

[00:47:58] And then we found out we both travelled and did this and that, and we're both from the same, sort of area as well. So yeah, it's been lovely. And as I mentioned before, what I love about this podcast is chatting to people and learning from others because we have different experiences. It's not about our conditions. 

[00:48:17] It's about our response to them. And that's what we learn from each other. So cool. Thank you, Anita. I'll be, I'll be, um, yeah, pressing stop so we can have another proper chat.  

[00:48:30] Anita: Thanks, Teisha, it's been lovely.  

[00:48:32] Teisha: Okay, bye. Bye. 

 

Reflections on Another Inspiring Hurdle2Hope®️ Story 

[00:48:39] I have to say, I am loving doing these interviews. Anita is such a gorgeous person who has definitely embraced a full life in living with RA. But I really want to emphasise that just because Anita has done that, it doesn't mean that she doesn't experience the pain and exhaustion associated with RA. But despite of this, she continues to adapt and she looks after herself and discovers new passions. 

[00:49:16] So I really encourage you to visit the website. knotsbyanita. com and this is an absolute testament to her approach. When you visit her website you'll see a whole heap of information about workshops she does, her shop, markets she goes to, um, yeah, so much and you can just see the joy in Anita's face discovering her love for macrame. 

[00:49:44] Also follow Anita on Instagram knotsbyanita. com. By Anita. So that's all from me today. If you want to binge on some other Hurdle2Hope stories, I will put them in the show notes. Also, if you're following on your app, you'll be able to see the episodes as they all start with Hurdle2Hope stories. Also, if you're on the app, you'll Please follow this show, follow Wellbeing Interrupted. 

[00:50:15] It really helps, um, in this whole podcast world if I get people following as the downloads then happen automatically. And another ask as we're on it, um, if you are on Instagram or Facebook, follow at Hurdle2Hope. There you can, I guess, see some of the behind the scenes Videos and photos I'm putting up, such as me trying to push my walker in Gale Force Winds last week. 

[00:50:49] Um, but yeah, I, you can get a glimpse, I guess, of what my life looks like now in Daisy Hill. Enjoy your week and I really look forward to chatting soon.