Renata is a fighter. She is like a Spartan. She had a normal life and a nice job, she loved hiking and nature, when polyarthritis came and changed everything. Now, after 10 years of rheumatoid arthritis, she doesn’t feel well, but she doesn’t talk about it, because the disease doesn’t define her. Polyarthritis has changed her existence, but it has not defeated her, she has an active life with multiple activities and an enviable tenacity. We all have something to learn from her. You can find Renata on facebook, on her facebook group, and she has a nice little community here (it’s all in Romanian).
Hi 😊. Who is Renata?
I’m Renata, I’m 41 years old and I’ve been a patient with rheumatoid arthritis and other medical conditions for more than 10 years. I have been married for more than 13 years and we live in Bucharest.
I’m a fan of Latin music, I like to walk, read, volunteer and eat chocolate eclairs. Over time I have developed a passion for creating a lifestyle for my needs and more recently I am doing network marketing online. You can find me on social networks under the name Renata Petre.
You have to know that I live with optimism and enthusiasm every day.
When did the disease start? What were your first symptoms? How did you get to a diagnosis?
In the spring of 2012, being passionate about mountain trails, I thought I stepped crookedly and that’s why my ankle swelled. I used anti-inflammatories and ointments recommended by the pharmacist. I continued to be a mountain trail fan, it filled me with energy and well-being for several weeks. A few mountain trails followed since that little incident and I was really ok. At the beginning of autumn again on the mountain this time I felt that something was wrong with my right leg. The next day the right ankle and knee were inflamed and painful. The pharmacist on duty solved the problem in a few days without me having to interrupt my daily work. And it was pretty good for about a month until the day came when I couldn’t get out of bed. I went to the emergency room and was hospitalized where I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. This diagnosis changed my life 180 degrees.
What treatment were you prescribed? Did it help you?
Being in a fairly advanced stage of the disease, only anti-inflammatories were not enough. I received first line polyarthritis drugs plus corticosteroids plus anti-inflammatories for more than a year. There were improvements, but not at the level of continuing the activity in the field of work. The following year I added biological treatment to the treatment list. And I went through 4 biological treatments, some with efficiency, others only checked, without result.
Did you also try a diet? Did it help?
It was a necessity to make a change nutritionally. The treatments that were not beneficial to my body left about 25 extra kilos of weight gain that put pressure on my joints making them even more painful. I became a follower of the vegetarian diet in the early years. It wasn’t a big effort for me as I haven’t been friends with meat products for as long as I’ve known myself. It was harder to give up dairy. Little by little I turned to vegan “dairies” which are more ok. I was feeling pretty good, but not in remission. Knee pain was present with weather changes and in the cold season.
What else, aside from medication and diet, did you try and found it working for you?
 Connecting with other patients was very helpful. I kept looking for groups of patients to inspire me with stories and I found an association that was running an arthritis management course at the time. This course fitted like a glove to me. Later I volunteered and beautiful collaborations began. The magic of colors in coloring books for adults has become a passion for me. This art develops my creativity, but also the mobility of my hand.
There can be many causes to auto immune disease. Which one do you think have triggered yours?
In my case it was due to stress. Over time I became aware of many things, I forgot about myself and I was going on autopilot. I accumulated a lot of things and did not vented out.
It may seem a little strange, but the disease itself disciplined me a little.
Do you have an equilibrium by now? How does a day in your life look like, what do you eat and what is your lifestyle?
It was and still is difficult to strike a balance. I would rather think that in the life of an autoimmune person every day is like a deal with yourself. I looked for the habits that triggered the disease and realized that just saying a big NO without resentment took me about two years. Now I have other bolder priorities and I urge you too, life is not just about being an autoimmune patient.
A day in my life begins with movement and ends with movement. Reading, personal development, various wellness trainings are part of my life. Any activity is welcome as long as it keeps your mind busy and makes you feel good. I pay a lot of attention to sleep. I noticed that during the warm period my body needs more rest. The food is 80% homemade with as natural ingredients as possible.
I believe that each of us in time will choose a lifestyle beneficial to his or her body.
What do you find the most difficult, talking about a healthy lifestyle and a functional life?
There is a lot to say. Don’t listen to the negative voices around you, be gentle with yourself and maintain a positive mindset. I still have work to do on this chapter.
What advice would you give to people who have just been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease? How would you encourage them?
It is difficult to “digest” the diagnosis of an autoimmune disease. At first you are not even aware of what will follow in your life, but with time you will get used to it. You will learn many things if you want to survive in society. Take a break whenever you feel it is necessary and learn to put yourself first. It’s not that hard, I’m sure you’ll succeed. Good luck!
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