This week, Debbie and Katy dive into how a sudden UK cold snap is affecting their inflammatory arthritis and how the community is feeling it too. Debbie shares her current whole-body flare, why pacing is key, and the importance of looking after yourself when symptoms spike.

They also chat about:

• How cold weather triggers stiffness and flares

• Your feedback on sleep, boundaries, and slowing down

• Diet confusion: flare triggers, food testing, and why diet advice can be… irritating

• Exciting charity updates and new grants for 2025

• Energy management, spoon theory, and putting yourself first

• Heated steering wheels, hot tubs, and Diet Coke vs fizzy water

• Why everyone’s IA journey is so individual

Plus: a fun quick-fire Q&A covering brain fog, flare-day outfits, stairs vs tiny buttons, pain vs fatigue, sofa vs bed, and whether they’d choose Strictly Come Dancing or I’m a Celebrity.

As Christmas approaches, the hosts talk openly about festive pressure, stress-related flares, and finding humour and community support during tough seasons.

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Disclaimer: Debbie and Katy are not medicalprofessionals. They share personal experiences of living with IA to build connection and community. The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. We talk about our personalhealth journeys and the podcast is not intended to provide professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We are not medical professionals and in no way claim to be medically trained. The podcast does not take responsibility for anylosses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of the podcast. The podcast does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of third-party content.

·       For more information, head to https://inflammatoryarthritis.org/