Silly Caroline

[Guest guest]

Caroline,

Hon, I agree w ith what many of the other friends have already said.

There is *nothing* wrong with feeling like you do for *finally* knowing.

Not knowing can just eat away at a person, and the stress of not knowing

is not good at all. Once we know what we are " fighting " I think we can

fight it better.

When I had my first bout in 1971, I was only really sick for about a month,

then within two months I was off the meds. (Predisone that time, which

now I know did nothing..I would have gotten better on my own) so, I let it

go that the doctors " just didn't know. " However, with the second bout,

and being in the hospital for over 3 months, then being so deathly sick,

and losing all my hair to boot, *and,* after many tests, and doctors all

coming up with only " some sort of mixed collegens disease, " I started

my search. To the library, searching, searching every medical book

I could find. No answers. Got better..had a baby..let it go. Then in 1979,

when it all came back, I went on for many years searching and feeling

like I was carriying a giant rock besides whatever monster lived within.

In 1987 ..finally a diagnosis, only because I needed to have a rheumy

regulate my meds, while I had a knee replacement. He did a complete

physical on me. Nothing more invasive than blood tests, and finally he

said " you have Stills Disease, it's very rare, I have only heard of ten

cases in my years of practice. It's so rare it's not even in the medical

books. " (no wonder I never found it!) The heavy rock-like feeling was

lifted! The " monster " had a name! I was thrilled! no more searching!

He did give me Cortisone shots to save the knee from surgery for

another 11 years. I think that's why after being with that rhuemy for

so many years, and he was responsible for my diagnosis, I had a

difficult time dropping him (even though he got " tired " of treating

me, and didn't seem to care I was in pain) and seeking out a new

rhuemy at The Mayo Clinic. That was one of the best things I've done

for myself.

How many disease is that now Caroline? Do you or have the most?

Love you, tricia