Making Yourself Heard: Jordin’s Story

Music track and RINVOQ logo throughout.

JORDIN: You have to be your own advocate.

When you go in to talk to your doctor, you should feel that they are understanding where you’re coming from and they’re able to see, y’know, what’s going on in your life.

I’m Jordin, and I have moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis.

When my symptoms were so bad, to having to go to work, and like, I couldn’t do my hair, I couldn’t do my makeup. Like, I was asking my teenage daughter to help me because I couldn’t even curl my hair.

Then we went onto HUMIRA. I thought my hand pain was a little bit better, but it didn’t really resolve, ever. I remember going in and asking my rheumatologist trying to have a heart-to-heart, “If this is how my life is going to be, if I’m only able to function at like 40% or 50% of normal, I need to know because I need to reevaluate my life and my choices.”

He just told me, like, “No, no this is not what you should be expecting.” And I was like, “Alright, well then something’s got to change here.”

So, my rheumatologist came in and said, y’know, “These TNF blockers aren’t working,” and he introduced me to RINVOQ. I was surprised we were jumping from injections to a pill, so it’s like, “You’re gonna take this once a day.”

About the three-month mark in, I started noticing less fatigue. So when I would be cooking or doing things that required a lot of like dexterity and needing to open jars, or the pain wasn’t as severe and I started noticing, like, “I can open these jars. I can do my hair.”

So not only did I have less fatigue, I was having less pain. I started to work out again, I started to, y’know, be able to run, I started to be able to lift weights again.

When you’re looking for a rheumatologist, it’s really important when you go in for your first visit, for someone to talk to you like you matter. I kind of feel like that if they would have done that earlier in my journey, I would have had answers sooner.

If you feel like you’re just a chart or you’re just a symptom, that’s not the right fit for you.

My new rheumatologist, she’s great. I remember transferring over to her. She was able to express her understanding of the activities that are important to me.

And the goals that I would have being well-managed. That’s where we kind of clicked, and I knew that she was the right one for me.

ANNOUNCER VOICE OVER (AVO): SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS  

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.