Motherhood has inspired Chelsea Wood to stay positive and active despite having mixed connective tissue disease and Raynaud’s
I was 15 years old when I was clinically diagnosed with Raynaud’s, a condition that I later found out my mother had. The doctors told me that I would grow out of it, but instead my symptoms got worse and at the age of 17 years old I was sent to see a consultant rheumatologist.I was given nifedipine and was referred to a consultant cardiologist. After a number of tests, the cardiologist diagnosed me with mixed connective tissue disease.
Since 2008, I have been tried on many different drugs, steroid infusions and steroid injections with no further improvement to my condition.
In early 2015, a stress test confirmed that I have a severe case of Raynaud’s but I was six weeks pregnant when given this diagnosis so had to wait until my baby was born until a treatment programme could be put in place.
Impact of motherhood
During my pregnancy, my Raynaud’s and mixed connective tissue disease symptoms improved greatly to the extent that some days I had no symptoms at all. Unfortunately, a complicated labour meant I received four intravenous doses of antibiotics and five days after having my baby, all of my normal symptoms returned.
My diagnosis is extremely difficult and affects most aspects of my daily life. But when my doctor told me that, at 23 years old, giving up work was my best option, I was more determined to keep on going. Since then I struggle through work every day, employed by a premiership football team who works with underprivileged children and children that have been excluded from school.
Since having my baby, Ian my husband has been absolutely amazing. He understands that I will have bad days, especially during the winter, but he keeps on telling me that he is really proud of how well I am coping with being a new mum and that it has made me an even stronger person than I was before.
After Toby was a few months old I began to get into a routine that was working for everyone. Now that he is one year old I continue to have challenges, but on the whole having a child keeps me so active and positive that the depression that I used to feel due to my conditions is alleviated; I have something more to focus on.
I’m more determined than ever to show my son not to let obstacles in life get you down, but to find ways around them.
If you’ve been inspired by Chelsea’s story, submit your own here.
Scleroderma & Raynaud’s UK is running a campaign tacking lack of understanding and awareness during February 2017. For more information, help and support, or to take the test visit www.sruk.co.uk or tel 020 7000 1925.
