Hi, My name is Karen. I'm 48 years old, live in New York and was
diagnosis last February 2002. Last September I went to my PCP with
problems such as hands turning blue, tingling sensation in both arms, and
swollen hands and legs. My PCP just shrugged his shoulders and said I
don't know. Don't put your hands in an ice bucket. I was mad. Thankfully,
I work in a hospital and found another PCP, who just got her license. She
took one look at me and immediately made an appointment to see a
Rhumatologist. They were great and immediately said I had scleroderma and
had it for awhile.\
At first, I was almost completely bed-ridden--it hurt to move (before I
saw the Rhumy). After I discovered that Tylenol helped, I was able to
sleep and move around. I still continued to work. My life constisted of
working and sleeping. Now, 10 months later, I have improved. I can clean,
cood, run errands, etc. I try to walk 1/4 mile aday. Yesterday, however,
my Rhumy gave me more medicine to take. I also got some of my strength
back--yeh I can cut my own food again! I have a terrible time trying to
keep my hands from turning blue. At work, I wear a sweater (sometimes two)
and have the heater blasting heat on my hands. Sometimes I even wear
gloves and it is summer!
Even though I have this condition, I do thank the Lord every day. I hear
stories from friends who know someone and they were always worst off than
me. My philosophy is that 1. The Lord is on control of my life and knows
what he is doing. 2. There's always someone worst off than me and I don't
mean just with scleroderma either 3. I have and there's is nothing I can
do about it. 4. No one wants to be near me if I'm miserable and have a bad
attitude.
I have a great husband who worries constantly about me. We are hoping the
Lord will open the doors for us to move from the cold NY to either
Arizonia or New Mexico.
Any who would like to email can contact me at
kagordon100@hotmail.com
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