Life as a College Student With an Autoimmune Disease During the Pandemic

Her Campus (HC): What’s your name, what grade are you in at Florida State University. Tell us a little about yourself and your personality and how it has influenced your experience with Rheumatoid Arthritis:  

Emily G (EG): My name is Emily G., I am a sophomore at Florida State University and I am from South Florida. I would say that I am definitely someone who puts their physical and mental health above all else because that is what affects our everyday lives and how we choose to behave or act. I think that having this trait has definitely helped me push through Rheumatoid Arthritis and though there are tough times I have been able to find ways to cope and be able to enjoy life. 

HC: At what age were you diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis? What do you remember about that time? 

EG: I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis at the age of 15, at the time I remember experiencing body aches and joint pain and I knew something was wrong but luckily, I was diagnosed early by my doctor. Instead of enjoying my first year of high school, I was learning about my disease and how to treat it. It was emotionally and physically taxing because I was missing out on one of the most exciting times in my life. But with time I began to feel better. 

HC: Has your relationship with Rheumatoid Arthritis changed as you have gotten older? 

EG: My relationship with Rheumatoid Arthritis has changed and has gotten better as I have grown because I have gotten stronger and found ways to treat my Rheumatoid Arthritis and ways to cope with the effects of it. I have gained so much knowledge about my body and have become a stronger person because of it. 

HC: How has your experience with coronavirus and the current status of the country be?  Have you experienced any discomfort or trouble with it or other people regarding it? 

EG: After being quarantined for six6 months because of the virus I was ready to return to or try to return to Florida State’s campus trusting the precautions they had in place and my ability to follow them. However, I do not think that many college students are not taking the virus seriously and that is why it has been spreading all over campuses and the surrounding college towns. I have definitely experienced a good amount of discomfort with how people are reacting and treating this virus. It is a serious matter and I understand some people are not as high risk as I am, but it is important to not be selfish and take into account the lives of other people when going out and choosing not to follow the safety precautions in place.  

HC: Do you have to take any extra safety precautions in public because of Rheumatoid Arthritis? 

EG: Yes, I do have to take extra precautions because any autoimmune disease you have to take medication, and the medication weakens your immune system which makes you more susceptible to getting any virus and prolonged symptoms. 

HC: What precautions have you found to be super helpful? Are there any precautions you find to be not helpful or not purposeful? 

EG: Some precautions I have found helpful are always wearing a mask in public, following socially distancing rules, and keeping my hands clean. Because I am high risk, I wash my hands very often because it ensures that I am keeping myself and the things I touch sanitary, this limits the spread. I also take supplementary vitamins such as vitamin C, vitamin B12 and other daily nutrients to boost my immunity. 

HC: Do you agree with the new shift into Phase 3 by the state of Florida? 

EG: I do not agree with the new shift into phase three by the state of Florida. Even though some counties are doing better than others with rising cases, I don’t think it was necessary to shift into a more lenient phase of safety precautions, because there is still work to be done with preventing and treating this virus. 

HC: Have you been satisfied with the regulations put into place by Florida State University? 

EG: I am happy with the rules and regulations put into place by Florida State University. I think they have done a great job of figuring out ways to ensure the safety of the students on and off-campus such as canceling in-person lectures and raising sanitization standards. I feel safe on campus and off-campus for the most part, but the parts that I am not comfortable with do not have to do with FSU’s regulations. 

HC: Do you have any advice for people suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis and how to go about becoming comfortable with the current state of the country? 

EG: I think that anyone suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis should definitely follow CDC guidelines and make sure they are putting their safety above others. Suffering from any high-risk auto-immune disease definitely places an emotional and physical burden on someone, but just keep pushing through this tough time and know that there are ways to stay safe but also have fun! 

Want to see more HCFSU? Be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and Pinterest!

• Coronavirus
• FSU
• health
• public safety
• quarantine