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Long term health conditions >> Going out >> Going out

Going out

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Long term health conditions >> Women 19-23 >> Helene - Interview 04 >> She does not feel her sickle cell disease limits her from going out but she avoids going clubbing too often. Says her friends understand.

Helene has had sickle cell anemia since birth. Sickle cell is when the blood cells are shaped like a half moon and they cannot pass through the veins so easily and this causes pain in, for example, elbows and knees. Helene takes penicillin and folic acid everyday and needs to avoid getting cold.

Long term health conditions >> Women 24+ >> Nicola - Interview 13 >> From experience she knows that if she gets wheezy and does not have her medication with her she will feel horrible and her evening will be interrupted

Nicola has moderate asthma and needs to take her inhaler everyday to keep her symptoms under control. She does not get many asthma attacks now, but is prone to developing bronchitis which can last for up to a week. Nicola recently saw an asthma nurse and found it most useful. It provided an opportunity to discuss her asthma and treatment in detail.

Long term health conditions >> Women 24+ >> Catherine - Interview 02 >> Says that a seizure can sometimes disrupt your social life and that plans and activities would have to be rearranged. It can be discouraging.

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 >> Elizabeth - Interview 01 >> Her scoliosis affects her social life because she often can't do the things her friends are doing. It also affects other everyday activities like carr

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 >> Men 16-18 >> Joseph - Interview 17 >> When his arthritis was active he never knew in advance if he could go out or would have to cancel. Now in remission he does not need to plan ahead.

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 19-23 >> Elizabeth - Interview 01 >> She has had problems with her friends because she is not always able to go out. It is good for friends to see you when you are not feeling your best s

Long term health conditions >> Women 19-23 >> Annette - Interview 31 >> Her doctor said that strobe lights could cause a seizure. When she goes to clubs she tells them about her epilepsy and they usually do not use the str

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 >> Hassan - Interview 30 >> He could not find the disabled access at a London museum he wanted to visit. But he is busy campaigning and was very happy when he got a birthday card

Hassan has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). Hassan was born in Pakistan but the family has relocated to the UK because he needs specialised medical care. With the help of his home tutor Hassan is writing a story about his experience of living with DMD. Hassan's message to other people living with a chronic condition is never to give up.

Long term health conditions >> Men 19-23 >> David - Interview 08 >> Talks about what he needed to do to get a specially fitted car and what it means to him to have passed his driving test.

David has had twenty-seven operations in twenty-three years - the main ones including knee and hip replacement, leg straightening and spinal fusion. This meant that he has missed a great deal of schooling but he has always been determined to continue with his education. He finished his GCSE's, did his A' levels and has recently finished his university degree.

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!”
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