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Kevin: Undiagnosed Scleroderma, Lupus, Mixed Connective Tissue Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, etc.?

I have been suffering from whatever it is I have since December of 2000. No one seems to be able to diagnose what I definitely have. I suffer from joint swelling, fatigue, uncontrollable sweating, Raynaud's, constant pain, etc.

My Raynaud's took a turn for the worse in September, and since then I have had two sympathectomies to try to save my fingers. My middle finger has not improved much, and I may still lose the tip of it or more. Has anyone had similar trouble with Raynaud's?

All I do is live, sleep and breathe the pain in my hand. No matter what medications the doctors give me, nothing seems to be able to control the pain, and they do not seem to want to give me anything stronger. I do not want to live on pain pills. I just want to get this over with and go on with my life, but right now I cannot because of the pain.

Also, I soak the pillow every night when I sleep. Is there anyone out there who has this problem? I have not been able to find an answer from any of the many doctors I have been to (which is another story in itself of the wonderful, compassionate doctors I have been to - HA!).

At first I thought it might have been different medications that caused the sweating, but stopping the medications has not seemed to help. Can somebody please just help me? Thank you.

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ISN Artist: Sherrill Knaggs (In Loving Memory)

Sherrill 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 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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