Education is key.

A lot of you will have noticed the past week or so, I have mentioned a petition which I have been asking you all to sign. This is because I am sending a letter to my local MP to try to raise awareness for those suffering with chronic illnesses. I am not the best writer but if what I've wrote can educate just a couple people, it makes all the difference. 

You can sign the petition and join the fight by clicking here.

"Dear Mr Campbell,

My name is Kirsty Gilboy and I am 20 years old, not that it matters much because this plea for help is about so much more than just me. Although, I do think it would help for you to have some background information in order to understand my passion,

At the age of 17, I was diagnosed with rather aggressive, sero-negative poly arthritis. To put it simply, my own immune system began to attack my joints leaving them swollen and excruciating. As someone who balanced college and work, this devastated me. I basically had to put my life and dreams on hold. My days involved lying in bed and on a good day, I could make it to the settee with assistance. My whole being was consumed by pain, fevers, exhaustion and nausea. 

Arthritis, along with other autoimmune diseases, is a chronic illness. The term 'chronic illness' is defined as a long lasting condition that can be controlled but not cured. Many autoimmune illnesses also fall under the term 'invisible illness' which is an illness which is not immediately apparent. Most symptoms go unknown to the uneducated. 

I saw a rhuematologist who put me on a drug called Methotrexate which is a chemotherapy type drug commonly used in the treatment of autoimmune illnesses. It works by suppressing the immune system so it cannot attack the body. However, suppressing the immune system causes the body to become more susceptible to viruses, infections and so on. It also involves careful and regular monitoring e.g. blood tests. 

As I struggled to walk, my family had to accompany me to appointments as well as take time off work to look after me. I felt like such a burden on my family, so this along with my arthritis symptoms, caused me to spiral into depression. After hitting my lowest point in January 2014, I was prescribed antidepressants. Over a year later, I am still trying to find the right medication for me. 

When I first became ill, I was told that I wasn't entitled to any help from the DWP and so as soon as I felt the slightest bit better, I returned to work. However, the job was too strenuous and I always hit a brick wall of exhaustion a couple of hours into my shift. When I quit, I rang the DWP and was advised I could claim ESA at £57 a week. 

I'm sure you can imagine how I struggled to survive on £57 a week despite living with my parents. In the past 2 years, I have tried 3/4 different jobs, all of which I've had to leave due to my health. In November 2014, I quit a job I had only been in for 3 months. I was desperately ill and so I applied for Personal Independence Payment. I was almost instantly rejected due to my 'immigration status'. I have never moved house never mind country! It took the DWP 3 months and multiple calls from myself to fix this mistake. At my assessment, I was told my symptoms didn't 'count' and was once again rejected. It has now been 8 months since I originally applied and I am now preparing myself for the hearing on August 19th. I feel I already know what the outcome will be. 

As I was on a chemo drug, I suffered many side effects. There were many days where I contemplated taking myself off them as I didn't feel the positives outweighed the negatives. I was on a lot of medication to counteract the nausea, stomach cramps and headaches. At one point, I worked out the total for one month of medication was around £65. That doesn't even cover the antibiotics that I had to take every other month because my body couldn't fight infections alone. 

Without the drugs, I could not function. However, as my condition was not classed as 'life threatening', I had to pay for my prescriptions. In January 2014, I took an overdoes of codeine as I was in agonising pain. To be in that amount of pain constantly and having to pay just to dampen it down is inhumane and unjust. 

During the election in May, I voted for the first time. I hoped so desperately for a Labour Government. The NHS is my own possibility of getting some normality back in my life. The rumours of cuts to be made by the Conservatives petrified me. I have a group of nurses and a rhuematologist who I see on a regular basis. They have been with me from the start of my fight, they know the ins and outs of my case and so they provide the best care for me. To get rid of any one of them or make them work less/more hours would most likely reduce the level of care I receive. 

Many autoimmune illnesses are underfunded by the government and so we strongly rely on charities to carry out research and the NHS to provide care. As there is no sign of a cure just yet, if the government was to take away the NHS, they would take away the hope of millions.

My current situation is not particularly great. I am still struggling with my health due to failing another medication and I am once again, unemployed. At the moment, I am existing, not living. 

I am not sure what you will think of my story. It may be something that you have never heard before but there are so many others with a journey just like mine. A journey in which they fight against their bodies, the stigma, doctors and the benefits system. It is a war where most battles are lost.

Mr Campbell, I am not asking you to change the world or feel sorry for those with chronic illnesses. I am asking you to educate others on the lives of those who fight their illnesses daily. The more people that know, the more attention that is brought to the issue. Then maybe one day, the Government will rethink prescription charges, the benefit system and funding for research. Maybe then our illnesses wont be invisible. "

Thank you for reading xo