shennen0820

My vitamin D is also low. I was taking just vitamin d supplements for a few months and was retested and found to be low yet again. I was then told that I need to also take a calcium supplement as you need this to help absorb the vitamin D so I now take the vitamin D, a calcium pill with vitamin D and a multivitamin that also contains vitamin D every day! I hope next time it will be up! Plus I am very tan so I know I am getting what I can from the sun!

If you take calcium along with d, the D will help to regulate the absorption of calcium.

I was told by the dermatologist that the darkened area are changes in blood vessel caused by sclero...

i had to have mine made bigger...

I am also in my 30's and was recently diagnosed too. I have one child prior to being diagnosed and want to have another. My gynecologist has already sent me to a perinatologist (a high risk pregnancy doctor) and according to him the thing that bears close watching during pregnancy is the blood pressure because of the kidney issues with scleroderma; so possibly being seen weekly for blood pressure checks. I would suggest that your sister (after going to John Hopkins of course) get set up with a high risk pregnancy doctor also. You are right and there is not a lot of information on pregnancy and scleroderma. I have been on another sites and have talked to other women who have had babies with this diagnosis.

Alice how long have you been on the cellcept and how long ago were you diagnosed?

I do have to say in the beginning of new diagnosis (July 2008) I too was doing tons of reading just like you are and I was also driving myself nuts. I have backed off a bit on the reading and research and I try to take one day at a time, one test and result at a time, and one doctors appointment at a time. Please do get educated but try to give yourself a break from all of the research and relax. Stress makes everything 100 times worse.

glad to hear that the permacath placement went okay for you...keep us posted about the photophoresis!

Mine also is low and I have been taking supplement for 1 year and it was again low this year. My doctor suggested taking calcium with vitamin D, a vitamin D supplement, and also a multivitamin with vitamin D.

I also developed sclero symptoms approx 5 months after having a baby...

Hey Paula, I'm glad to hear the the insurance company approved your treatments. Check with Walt. I know he has been having photophoresis treatments and is from Canada I believe. Are you going to be having your treatments at Yale? I think you said you live in Connecticut as well.

Thanks everyone...glad there are others in the same boat!

My biopsy came back positive for morphea and the dermatologist had the report changed stating scleroderma to have more pull with getting things approved with the insurance company.

Anyone have an answer to why sclero is making me look tan? If one more person comments on what a nice tan I have I may scream! I guess that may be the only bonus to having sclero!

I am having the same trouble finding a rheumatologist too! I have an appointment with another one in May. Hopefully this one knows something about sclero!