Thursday, February 5, 2015

Fashion Expert Christine Schwab on Living with RA Symptoms

In this exclusive Lifescript interview, Schwab tells her story and offers advice for other women with RA.

What does the title of your book, Take Me Home From the Oscars, refer to?
In 1995, my husband and I were invited to the Oscars, but we had to leave before they started.

We were in the 11th row – incredible seats. But even though I had taken pain pills, I couldn't sit [through the event]. We came home and watched it on TV.

When did you first experience RA symptoms?
I had this incredible career, and had just married Shelly, a man with a big job.

Then, 3-4 months after getting married, I started getting pain in my feet. I was positive it was some kind of sports injury. I thought it was from the treadmill, or that I'd pulled a tendon.

How were you diagnosed?
The symptoms got worse and worse, so I went to an orthopedist. He sent me to get blood work but could see nothing wrong.

Finally, I went to a doctor at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) who did more blood work, and still nothing showed up. He said, "I'm going to take a guess that you have [rheumatoid] arthritis."