RE: Res: Emotional state

[Guest guest]

My disease is definitely affected by stress when I am in a flair. I'm talking

even stress from something as simple as a scary movie. My rash will get bright

and the fever will pop up. If I have major stress, I always end up with

pericarditis and vertigo. I tend to always deny stress because I feel like the

doctors are dismissing me, and thinking that it is just my imagination. They did

in fact think I was a hypochondriac at first, until I finally convinced a doctor

to do a chest x-ray. Once they discovered the enlarged heart and the

accumulating fluid they finally took me seriously. I wonder if the stress

hormones trigger some kind of allergic reaction that sets off the disease. One

of the Still's Disease fliers I got actually mentions stress as a trigger. It

says to avoid sporting events if you are too emotionally involved.

I really should start admitting to my stress, now that I have a diagnosis. I

just have been on the defensive side so long, that it is a hard habit to break.

Thanks for bringing up this topic. It is nice to know that I am not alone. Hope

you all have a stress and pain free weekend!

Hugs,

Tracie in Hawaii