In this episode of The Arthritis Life Podcast, Melissa Marquis, a nurse from Connecticut, shares her journey of navigating a 17-year battle with autoimmune diseases, including a decade of undiagnosed symptoms that later revealed undifferentiated connective tissue disease and scleroderma.
Cheryl and Melissa discuss her experiences in the healthcare system, driven by frustration to become a self-advocate. This led Melissa to write the book Invisible: a Nurse Turned Patient's Resource to Living Well with Autoimmune Disease, aiming to provide validation and resources for others facing similar struggles.
Cheryl and Melissa also touch on the challenges of advocating for oneself, misconceptions in the medical field, the impact of invisible illnesses, and the importance of finding purpose and joy while living with chronic conditions.
All content found on Arthritis Life public channels was created for generalized informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Rheum to THRIVE, an online course and support program Cheryl created to help people with rheumatic disease go from overwhelmed, confused and alone to confident, supported and connected. See all the details and join the program or waitlist now!