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Long term health conditions >> Women 16-18 >> Sarah - Interview 29 >> Until she was 13 she did not think that plastic surgery would be possible. She found out that it was when she saw a specialist in London.

Sarah was diagnosed with a localised form of a skin condition called morphea in which there are well demarcated plaques of fibrosis restricted to the skin. In her case this affects the right side of her nose and the top of the right side of her forehead. Recently she has had surgery in which fat from her stomach was injected into the right side of her nose and her forehead and the cheekbones. Doctors have explained that she will need several similar operations before they reconstruct her nose an

Long term health conditions >> Women 16-18 >> Donna - Interview 25 >> After a year of hospital treatment they found out that they could reclaim some expenses. She was turned down for other benefits because she was above

Donna was diagnosed age 13 with a kidney condition called Mesangiocapillary Glomerulonephritis type II. After diagnosis she was on medication and remained stable for three years. But her condition deteriorated and she needed a kidney transplant. Her mother was her donor. Her sudden deterioration affected her physically and also emotionally. She became depressed and felt rejected and isolated from her then 'group of friends'.

Long term health conditions >> Women 19-23 >> Lynsey - Interview 14 >> She describes how her mum had to put her own life on hold because she spent all her time and energy looking after her (she has CF).

Lynsey was diagnosed with Cystic fibrosis at birth and says that her parents and now her husband are most supportive. She and her husband would love to have a child and they have discussed all the implications involved in such a decision.

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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Surgery and hospital treatments

Long term health conditions >> Women 19-23 >> Katie - Interview 23 >> Has tried very many treatments over the years to control her chronic eczema and now knows what works. Says that a good diet and drinking water help he

Katie was diagnosed with chronic eczema at the age of 11 but her eczema began to get worse in her teen years. She has had lots of different treatments for her eczema and has learned from experience what works and has improved her symptoms. She said that sleep is important as well as drinking plenty of filtered water.

Long term health conditions >> Women 19-23 >> Jodie - Interview 18 >> Finding out about her life expectancy made her not to want to do her treatment but the support and 'nagging' from family, friends and doctors helped h

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 >> Women 19-23 >> Sophie - Interview 15 >> On a busy day she would do her physio before leaving home and use her inhalers on the bus. Says that you need to prioritise and do the one that it is

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 >> Women 19-23 >> Katie - Interview 23 >> She is worried about the side effects of long term use of steroid cream. She uses it only when her eczema is very bad.

Long term health conditions >> Men 16-18 >> James - Interview 21 >> His dialysis treatment means that he spends four days of the week in hospital. A year ago he was promised home dialysis but nothing has happened yet.

James has a renal condition called Senior Loken Syndrome and it means that his kidneys didn't develop as he grew older. James was diagnosed with his condition when he was eleven years old and since then he has spent much of his time on dialysis. Four times a week he goes to hospital to have dialysis and he is able to attend school two days a week. This condition affects both his kidneys and his eyes and James is now registered blind.

Long term health conditions >> Women 19-23 >> Sara - Interview 27 >> Argues that people who smoke and drink do not deserve their free treatment. Says that people who have given up smoking and drinking feel much better a

Sara was diagnosed in 1990 with Juvenile chronic arthritis. She has had a finger tendon repair & a hip replacement. Current medication Anti-TNF Humira injected 2/month, indometacin, co-codamol & Lansoprazole. Says that with her current medication she has more energy to do things like exercise. She attended a Tai Chi course for people with arthritis and really enjoyed it.

Long term health conditions >> Women 19-23 >> Jodie - Interview 18 >> Says that provided she takes antibiotics she can go on skiing trips and she is absolutely fine and does not get any chest infections.

Long term health conditions >> Women 19-23 >> Jodie - Interview 18 >> Does not need a high fat content diet for her cystic fibrosis because her weight is fine but she finds it hard to control her blood sugar levels parti

Long term health conditions >> Women 19-23 >> Katie - Interview 23 >> The GP ignored her when she was talking about a new treatment. She found it rude and felt angry. She wants more information from health professionals

Long term health conditions

Publication date: October 2007 Last updated: February 2012

Review date: February 2014

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 :