Deanna: Don’t wait, advocate

Music track and RINVOQ logo throughout.

DEANNA: I started to have pain in my hips. And then at the same time, I had pain in like my elbow and some pain in my hand, and I couldn't explain it. And so then I was referred out to a rheumatologist.

So she did a whole bunch of testing and it was the ankylosing spondylitis. I was started on HUMIRA. And I was on that six months, and then I was on maybe three or four other medicines in that time to try to figure out what was working, but none of them actually worked. There was some of that where maybe this is just how my life is, you know.

I would always go into my rheumatologist's office feeling like I needed to plead my case. So like, all the symptoms I was having and that, and she would be able to kind of read that right away.

She was very helpful with that and never accepting that this was kind of the life that I was going to live.

So getting on RINVOQ, I was able to see like, Oh! This is what I'm supposed to be feeling. And then the back pain also became less and less.

So things I had embraced doing that I hadn't done in a long time would be like walking the dogs. That was something I didn't have the energy to do before, and now I'm able to walk the dog most days. Spending more time out in the yard, going out on the boat, doing things like that with the family. And I've been on it since then.

It is so important to advocate for your own health, because you are the only one that knows your body. Nobody else knows it, we're the only ones that can speak for it, so it's really, really important to advocate for it.

ANNOUNCER VOICE-OVER (AVO):

SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS

RINVOQ may cause serious side effects, including:

  • Serious infections. RINVOQ can lower ability to fight infections. Serious infections, some fatal, occurred, including tuberculosis (TB) and infections caused by bacteria, fungi, or viruses.
  • Increased risk of death in people age 50+ with at least 1 heart disease risk factor.
  • Cancer and immune system problems. Increased risk of some cancers, including lymphoma and skin. Current or past smokers have higher risk for lymphoma and lung cancer.
  • Increased risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, or death in people 50+ with at least 1 heart disease risk factor, especially in current or past smokers.
  • Blood clots, some fatal, in veins of the legs or lungs and arteries. This occurred more often in people 50+ with at least 1 heart disease risk factor.
  • Serious allergic reactions. Do not take if allergic to RINVOQ or its ingredients.
  • Tears in the stomach or intestines; changes in certain laboratory test results.

Please see additional Important Safety Information on this webpage.