Subject index

Clip
Long term health conditions >> Men 16-18 >> Joseph - Interview 17 >> Had dreadful pain from his arthritis that would leave him feeling exhausted at school and frustrated not to be able to do things.

Joseph was diagnosed with Enthesitis Related Arthritis at the age of seven. After initial remission his condition flared up again and it became more difficult to control. He was started on a new drug, Enbrel and has been on remission for the last two years.

Long term health conditions >> Women 16-18 >> Charlotte - Interview 10 >> One problem that has resulted from her epilepsy is memory loss. She feels a bit scared as she is dealing with new difficulties as a result.

Charlotte was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 13. She sees her consultant every three months and feels well supported by her. Her main problems are the frequency, till recently, with which seizures have occurred and the fact that her memory has been affected by the frequent incidence of her 'absence' seizures. Until three months ago Charlotte was having seizures twice a month and sometimes, even as frequently as once a week.

Long term health conditions >> Women 19-23 >> Elizabeth - Interview 01 >> She went through a phase of not wanting to take painkillers for her scoliosis but found the pain unbearable.

Elizabeth was diagnosed with scoliosis at the age of 16. She now works for a Department of Health funded project. She says that as a teenager she 'rebelled' against her condition and stopped taking her painkillers. Her attitude now is to work with her condition rather than against it. She takes regular exercise and does a lot of walking.

Long term health conditions >> Women 16-18 >> Mica - Interview 16 >> She used to feel different when she could not join in activities because of her sickle cell. However people do tend to be kind and helpful towards her

Mica has lived with sickle cell anemia since birth. Her Mum and her brother also have the condition. Her mother has played an important role in helping Mica and her brother to develop a positive attittude towards having sickle cell anaemia. Mica says that she now feels in control of her condition.

Long term health conditions >> Women 24+ >> Catherine - Interview 02 >> She does drink alcohol and it doesn't affect her but she was worried about her epilepsy and alcohol when a teenager.

For many years Catherine stayed on a treatment that was not successfully controlling her epilepsy. And as a teenager she didn't know much about the different medications available. In her early twenties her new consultant put her on new medication that has improved the overall management of her condition.

Long term health conditions >> Women 19-23 >> Annette - Interview 31 >> In her teens it was difficult for her to accept that for medical reasons she couldn't go out and get drunk like her friends did but now she doesn't mi

Annettte was diagnosed with epilepsy when she was 15 years old. Before her diagnosis she was going through what she described as a 'very rebellious phase' and both drinking a great deal and taking illegal drugs. After her diagnosis she stopped taking illegal drugs and nowadays she hardly drinks alcohol at all. Family and friends have been very supportive.

Long term health conditions >> Men 16-18 >> Jamie - Interview 12 >> He thinks that it is not fair on him to be unable to play football at school. He does some footie in the garden with his sister and friend but that's

Jamie has a heart condition called hypoplastic left heart syndrome. He was diagnosed when he was six days old and underwent pioneering and life saving surgery. He gets breathless very easily and is not allowed to play any contact sports. Jamie absolutely loves football so at home he plays it in the garden with his sister and a neighbour.

Long term health conditions >> Women 19-23 >> Jodie - Interview 18 >> Has a very good rapport with her children's consultant and his direct approach inspired her to learn more about her condition. She gave nicknames to a

Jodie has cystic fibrosis (CF) and was diagnosed with CF related type 1 diabetes in her early teens. Of the two conditions she finds her diabetes the harder to control particularly because she has a very active life. She finds that the specialist care she received is brilliant. She remains thankful for all the nagging she got from her Dad and her children's consultant.

Long term health conditions >> Men 16-18 >> Joseph - Interview 17 >> Contrasts being at adult and adolescent clinics. Developed a good relationship with his team. Seeing other young people with arthritis helped him feel

Long term health conditions >> Women 19-23 >> Sophie - Interview 15 >> Nurses from the adult clinic visited her at her paediatric clinic and at home before she transferred. Is now really happy with the care at the adult c

Sophie was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when she was 8 years old. She was taught by her parents to do all her own medications and treatments and encouraged to do sport. She is the Social secretary for her university Netball Cub. Sophie has a positive approach to her condition and says that she lives life to the full.

Long term health conditions >> Men 16-18 >> Joseph - Interview 17 >> His advice is to keep positive. Don't let it defeat you. If you let your illness get you down you are going to feel worse.

Publication date: October 2007 Last updated: February 2012

Review date: February 2014

Various long-term health conditions can occur in young people. We interviewed 30 young people about their experiences of different chronic illnesses. Select from the key topics below, choose from the full list of topics on the right hand side of this page, or explore all the interviews by clicking on people's stories below.

Sophie says: “I've had a good weekend despite my lungs not feeling too good. My boyfriend's training to climb Mount Kilimanjaro so we have been hiking!”
Join the Long term health conditions discussion on MyYouthhealthtalk

Dealing with feelings and emotions

full list of topics

Diagnosis & learning more :

Physical problems, med's & managing your condition :

Life style :

What makes a good doctor and transition issues :

Living with it :

Talking about relationships :

Advice to others :