I can feel the pain in my throat before I open my ...

I can feel the pain in my throat before I open my eyes. Without getting out of bed, I know I’m running a fever. It’s going to be one of those days.

At any other time, I wouldn’t stress too much. I know what it’s like to live every day with Familial Mediterranean Fever, so waking up with pain and a fever is no surprise.

Then came 2020. Then everything changed.

Familial Mediterranean Fever is an auto-inflammatory disease that causes periodic fevers and excess inflammation. As the inflammation builds, it slowly crushes your vital organs. Besides the fever, FMF causes widespread pain and occasional rashes.

For me, every attack starts with a sore throat. Before COVID-19, a minor throat irritation didn’t worry me much. During the last 12 months, though, every sore throat sends me into a panic.

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