Dating with psoriatic arthritis

Dating is tricky enough without throwing in a diagnosis of a chronic autoimmune disease , such as rheumatoid arthritis or multiple sclerosis. Four folks who have been in the dating trenches share their stories — including why having a chronic illness helped them find their soulmates and made their relationships even stronger. Here, four things they want you to know. While her date was gracious, she still felt humiliated. Then, a couple of years later, she went on a first date with her now-husband, Santiago, to a park. She confessed to Santiago that she had rheumatoid arthritis and the stairs would be difficult to manage.

The thought of dating and meeting new people may seem like a daunting prospect when living with the physical and emotional strains of arthritis. We know that taking the first step in telling a new person about your condition can be the hardest part, and often thinking about the reaction you might get is scary, but having that conversation early on will help you to relax and be yourself, and give you the best chance of finding somebody who is willing to take the time to understand and support you. Here Donna and Porscha, who both live with arthritis, share some of their experiences of dating, as well as their tips and advice for making this a positive experience. Donna Roberts, 50, was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis in , after months of feeling run down and having severe pain in her joints.

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While receiving a diagnosis for a chronic condition can be intimidating and scary, brushing up on the facts and learning as much as possible is a great first step toward taking control of your health. Way to go! Psoriatic arthritis PsA is a chronic, inflammatory autoimmune condition that affects the joints and places where ligaments and tendons attach to the bone. Though much less common, PsA can occur without having psoriasis. Around 30 percent of people with psoriasis will experience psoriatic arthritis.