A Monmouthshire barrister has revealed how her arthritis medication almost killed her after she developed sepsis. Lowri Wynn Morgan, 32, from Grosmont near Abergavenny, was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at the age of 27, a condition that affects less than 0.5% of people aged 15–34.
Ms Wynn Morgan began experiencing pain and stiffness in her hands in her mid-20s but initially dismissed the possibility of arthritis due to her age. 'At first the doctor wasn't overly concerned and just put it down to aches and pains,' she said. 'More awareness is needed that arthritis affects younger people. The stock response is, "you're not old enough to have arthritis." But I am.'
Her medication for pain in her feet, back and shoulders caused side effects including speech difficulties and hair loss. In 2017, a serious kidney infection led to sepsis. 'I wasn't fully aware of the risks and according to the doctors in A&E, I was three hours away from dying from the sepsis,' she said. 'That has been a huge shock. I now realise I need to take a lot better care of myself.'
The story comes as Wales faces a shortage of specialist rheumatology services. Ten-year-old Fflur from Llanfairpwll on Anglesey has juvenile idiopathic arthritis and must travel to Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool for treatment because Wales lacks a full-time paediatric rheumatology service. Her mother, Anwen Edwards, said, 'People are really surprised that Fflur has arthritis because they don't expect someone so young or energetic to have the condition.'
An estimated 800,000 people in Wales have arthritis or related conditions, with seven unfilled rheumatology consultancy posts. Dr Ceril Rhys-Dillon, a consultant at Royal Glamorgan Hospital, said health boards are 'underperforming' due to staff shortages. 'They cannot perform and deliver the services they need to because they are so stretched,' she added.
