In 2002 I was diagnosed with diffuse scleroderma. It was a hard thing to take for me.
My facial expression changed a lot, but this went unnoticed to the people that do not know me very well. My friends say that I have gotten plastic surgery done.
The worst part are the lumps in my chest, some were so uncomfortable that I had to get them surgically removed.
The pain in my joints is strong, but manageable. I take medications, but what has really caused a trauma in me is the aesthetic part.
Chela Email: [email protected] Story edited 05-07-08 JTD Story posted 01-21-09 SLE Story Artist: Ione Bridgman Story Translator: Alba León Story Editor: Judith Thompson Devlin |
LINKS Spanish: Acerca de la Esclerodermia Chela: Esclerodermia Difusa English: Diffuse Scleroderma Diffuse Scleroderma Stories Skeletal Involvement Skeletal Involvement Stories Medical: Diseases and Symptoms Scleroderma Experts (Worldwide) Sclero Forums Symptoms of Systemic Scleroderma Types of Scleroderma What is Scleroderma? |
ISN Artist Ione Bridgman created original artwork to illustrate this page. She is 90 years old, and lives in New Zealand. Her lovely paintings illustrate many of our pages and the covers of our Voices of Scleroderma Book Series.
Alba León is the ISN Translator for this page. She is studying international relations in Mexico City.
Judith 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!
SCLERO.ORG is the world's leading nonprofit for trustworthy research, support, education and awareness for scleroderma and related illnesses. We are a 501(c)(3) U.S.-based public charitable foundation, established in 2002. Meet Our Team. Donations may also be mailed to: