Zahida, an early childhood educator, worked for over fifteen years at a daycare, but for years she has struggled with fibromyalgia and has taken medication for her illness. Fibromyalgia causes widespread body pain, muscle stiffness and extreme fatigue.
In August 2017, things seemed to be getting worse for Zahida; she was finding it extremely difficult to move her arms and legs; as well, her joints had become stiff and her hands had swollen. She naturally thought her fibromyalgia had flared up severely. Zahida kept working through her pain. Eventually, she became so incapacitated that she went to see a rheumatologist.
The rheumatologist diagnosed Zahida with mixed connective tissue disease, as well as myositis. The symptoms of mixed connective tissue disease are similar to those of a number of other disorders: lupus, scleroderma, and polymyositis. Symptoms of mixed connective tissue disease include joint pain, various skin abnormalities, muscle weakness and problems with internal organs. Myositis is the name given to an inflammation of the muscles used to move your body and usually affects muscles closest to the core or trunk. To treat this, the rheumatologist prescribed medication. Zahida began to feel better, but remained on long-term disability.
In late August 2018, Zahida began having increasing difficulty raising her legs and climbing stairs, and frequently had to use a cane. “It came on suddenly, she said, “I was hardly able to get out of bed.” An examination by her rheumatologist revealed that her myositis was becoming aggressive and the inflammation in her muscles was advancing. The prescribed medications were not working and so the rheumatologist prescribed a new one.
It seemed to work; however, Zahida still needed a hospital bed and a stairlift installed in her home, making her feel like she needed to be in a rehabilitation facility.
She researched different facilities and came across a story, “Margo: I love the PACR program,” on The Salvation Army Toronto Grace Health Centre’s (TGHC) website. “Reading Margo’s story,” Zahida says, “I felt I was experiencing a similar inflammatory disease as Margo — polymyositis. Margo’s story inspired me and I thought the Toronto Grace would be the right rehabilitation facility to help me.”
Zahida was admitted to Mount Sinai Hospital in November 2018 when swallowing became difficult. The health care team at Mount Sinai reassessed her, and increased the dosage of her medications, as well as prescribing a new drug. Within two weeks, the medication improved her condition. The Mount Sinai health team gave her a choice of rehabilitation facilities. Zahida immediately chose the TGHC. She was admitted in December 2018 and began making steady progress towards her independence.
With Zahida’s condition there is a lot of proximal muscle weakness — essentially the muscles closest to your trunk or core are weaker than distal muscles. When first admitted, she could hardly lift her arms and legs. She is now able to lift her arms to shoulder height. Zahida says, “The rehab team, the physiotherapist and occupational therapist, have been amazing, and have taught me how to transition properly from my bed to my walker.” Zahida is now able to move independently with a rollator walker (four wheels and a seat). She is also able to walk short distances without a cane or walker. Unable to climb any stairs when she came to the TGHC, Zahida, with some assistance, has succeeded in climbing six-inch stair steps.
Zahida is happy with the progress she has made and will be discharged soon. “I also love the PACR program,” Zahida says, adding, “I hope my story inspires others like Margo’s story did for me. I would like to thank my family and friends for all their support, as well as the staff here at the Toronto Grace, who have been remarkable. Lastly, I would like to thank a wonderfully supportive and caring man for all he does for me, my husband, Al.”