Being on the juvenile dermatomyositis rollercoaster: a qualitative study

A drawing representing participant’s experience of Juvenile Dermatomyositis. Children and young people were given the option of drawing how they view the effects of Juvenile Dermatomyositis on their body, either as part of the interview (a warm up activity) or if they did not want to talk, instead of the ‘standard interview’. They were offered a blank ‘bodymap’ and encouraged to complete however they wanted to, whether in text or drawing. The young person who completed this example, explained that they were drawing; the rash on the hands and face and knees, the biopsy site, the intravenous line in situ, constant tummy ache, vomit due to the medicines, tablet packets, scales (as they had lost so much weight) and a chair which they required as they couldn’t stand. They went on to write on their picture “I could not move”, “Always feel sad” and a thought bubble showing “I want this to STOP