Introductions!

[Guest guest]

Hello, my name is Jenifer, I am 22 years old, and I was recently diagnosed with

AOSD. I have been sick a little over a year now, but Im happy to say that I am

starting to feel better! In April of 2009, I got a cold that wouldn't go away,

and by May I had daily fevers, rash, severe joint pain, and pleurisy. My family

doctor thought I had many things, everything from mono to whooping cough, but

all of those tests came back negative. He finally referred me to a

rheumatologist in August of 2009. This rheumatologist told me that I had

arthritis, but she needed to do more testing to figure out what kind. I had

blood tests, knee aspirations, chest x-rays, and many other tests done and she

prescribed ambien, mobic, and percocet. I saw her a total of 3 times before I

realized that she was only interested in prescibing pain medication and not

finding out what was actually going on. Her office stopped returning my calls

and never gave me any test results. I had my family doctor refer me to a new

rheumatologist but I could not get in until Feb of 2010. The wait was hard, but

completely worth it. He told me in the first visit that he thought I had AOSD. I

had more test done (of course) that confirmed his diagnosis and I started

methotrexate injections, voltaren, and folic acid in April. My fevers and rash

are now very rare, where before I had them every day, as high as 104 degrees.

The joint pain is still pretty bad, but I am working on that without narcotics

now, I hate how they make me feel. this month the doctor added plaquenil to my

medications and also trazodone for sleep. I have only been taking the plaquenil

for about 2 weeks, but I am noticing a difference. I am hoping to start feeling

a lot better soon! So now, the questions:

1. Anyone else on trazodone? I haven't been taking it long, but it seems to make

me have crazy dreams!! Just wondering if anyone else has this happen as well.

2. Is the hair loss from methotrexate very bad for anyone? I have noticed some

thinning, but not too bad. Also, does plaquenil cause hair loss too?

3. Anyone take voltaren long-term? I am scared of the possible stomach issues,

as I am starting to have some issues (constipation, bloating)but that may be

from something else.

4. Has anyone been diagnosed with dermatomyositis as well as Stills? My doctor

is having me tested for this because of muscle weakness and darkening of eyelids

and knuckles.

Sorry this first post is so long, but I am very excited to be a part of the

support group and I look forward to meeting everyone!

-Jenifer