I am the CEO and original founder of AiArthritis - founded as a result of frustration being the 'mystery patient' for 1 1/2 years. It started with inflammation in my chest/ribcage (called costochondritis), paired with severe fatigue and a low grade fever. I was 37, working a lot of hours teaching college (at high energy, interactive classes), so at first I was told it was stress. Then I was told I must have injured myself at the gym, even though that only was logical for the chest pain, not the fatigue or fevers. It would come in go for days, then 2 weeks apart. This went on for 8 months. Then one day I couldn't put my shoe on due to pain and slight swelling. Soon thereafter pain in my left hand/fingers, then gradually it moved to over a dozen areas all in my left side. I was diagnosed with Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease and told, "There's nothing we can do but wait and watch you get worse." I cried.

What I didn't know then was YOU CAN be treated for UCTD with disease modifying drugs and had that happened maybe I'd be in remission today. But I missed the window of opportunity to achieve that, not starting those treatments until 2 years into my journey. Another rheumatologist diagnosed it as Rheumatoid Arthritis (2009), but that's only because my current diagnosis didn't exist until 2012 (non-radiographic, meaning no x-ray/image proof Axial Spondyloarthritis). Once I received the right diagnosis and put on biologics that treat that disease, my ability to live life improved DRASTICALLY!

Going back to my mystery patient journey, when I didn't know what the heck was wrong with me, I vowed whatever it turned out to be I'd do all I could to ensure NO ONE would go through such a journey as a mystery. AiArthritis (International Foundation for Autoimmune & Autoinflammatory Arthritis) aims, in part, to address this. One way we do this is by hosting World AUTOimmune & AUTOinflammatory Arthritis Day. 

If you are reading this, I want you to know that our organization is the only patient-led nonprofit in the world that focuses only on the "AUTO + Inflammatory Arthritis" disease. Everything we do, including designing and hosting AiArthritis Day, is based on patients uniting to identify what is needed most to improve our lives. We truly are THE PATIENT VOICE, helping others, like us, to lead better lives. 

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