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Earn $150 on July 30th in Boston Marketing Research Study if you have scleroderma or CTD and have been screened for pulmonary hypertension!
Frog jumping for joy by Shelley EnszPDF Flyer: Boston Marketing Research Study. Schlesinger Associates-Boston, a national marketing research company, is currently looking for patients who have been diagnosed with Scleroderma or other Connective Tissue Disease, who either have pulmonary hypertension or who are regularly screened for it, to participate in a July 30th paid marketing research study in Boston. Read PDF Flyer: Boston Marketing Research Study or call Katherine at 617-542-5500 x310. Schlesinger Associates-Boston. Posted 07/26/10.
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Lisa V: Diffuse Scleroderma and Raynaud's

When I first got sick, I thought I was dying.

Chrysanthemums for Lisa by Sherrill Knaggs, ISN Artist I am thirty-nine years old. I have had scleroderma for seven years. When I first got sick, I thought I was dying. My fingers started hurting really bad. I did not know what in the world was wrong with me. My local doctor sent me to the emergency room, where an internal medicine specialist diagnosed me with Raynaud's. I had been his patient for a year. He finally told me that if I did not get to a rheumatologist soon, that I could die.

I started out at the Medical Mall in Jackson, Mississippi, until I got on disability. Once I got my disability I found my own doctor. I have a great doctor. She has been able to get my disease under control. Her name is Dr. Valee Harisdangkul, and she is wonderful. When I started seeing her, the scleroderma had already moved to my face. Since then it has moved back down to my elbows. My hands and arms are crippled.

In the last eight months I have felt better than I have since I have been sick. I am a survivor. I have a nineteen-year-old daughter, and a four-year-old grandson. That's worth fighting for!

For the first year I did not lay down, I did not sleep. If I even looked at a bed I would scream. I was taking a strong dose of pain relievers but I am back down to a lower dose now. I am on various medications for circulation, damaged nerve endings, blood thinning, finger and elbow ulcers, and for stress.

If you wonder how I type, I use one finger on my left hand. On my right hand, all my fingers are bent under, and my arms are contracted at the elbow.

My mother has been to every doctor appointment with me since I have been sick. We traveled to Oxford, Tupelo, Tennessee, and back to Jackson, Mississippi, for treatment. She has stuck with me from me screaming in pain, day after day, and not being able to ride but for a short distance at a time without pulling over for a break.

I love my mother. There is nothing better than having her at my side. She has probably heard and responded to my every cry. May God bless her! Thanks, Mom.

All my meanness as a teenager is paying off. I have strong will power, and a lot of faith. Please feel free to email me if you like. Thank you so much for letting me share my feelings. I hope this will help somebody who is going through the same thing I am.

To Contact the Author
Lisa
New Email: sunnylogan63@yahoo.com
Story posted 8-14-02
Story paragraph added 8-20-02
Email updated 7-13-03
Story edited 7-13-03 SLE
New email address needed 9-2-03 SLE
New email posted 8-14-04 SLE
ISN Senior Artist: Sherrill Knaggs
Story Editor: Judith Devlin
LINKS
Contractions
Diffuse Scleroderma
Finger Ulcers
Raynaud's
Scleroderma
Sclerodactyly (contracted hands)
ISN Artist: Sherrill Knaggs (In Loving Memory)
Sherrill KnaggsSherrill Knaggs, ISN Artist, created the digital photo to illustrate the story on this page. Sherrill lived in New Zealand. Her story was featured in ISN's book, Voices of Scleroderma Volume 2.
ISN Story Editor: Judith Thompson Devlin
Judith Rose ThompsonJudith Thompson Devlin is the ISN Story Editor for this story. She is also lead editor of the ISN's wonderful Voices of Scleroderma book series!
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Mars: Scleroderma with Full Gastrointestinal Involvement I finally started total parenteral nutrition (TPN, or tubal feeding) in May 2010 and it was an absolute success...
Sonya D: Surviving Daughter of Systemic Scleroderma Patient (Portugal) She had difficulty eating, drinking and digesting her food, but yet doctors had no clue...
Hazel: Morphea Scleroderma In 1962 when I was just twelve years old, my mother took me to our family doctor with what looked like a blister under my right eye...
Angela R: Linear Morphea Scleroderma I am twenty-five now and only have the two spots that I deal with pretty easily. I just hope it doesn't get worse...
Heather A: Scleroderma (South Africa) My fingers started to curl up and I could not wear any rings on my fingers anymore as they were so swollen...
More New Stories: May-July 2010
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Go to Lisa W: Diffuse Scleroderma, CREST and Multiple Sclerosis
 
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