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Shirley: Progressive Systemic Sclerosis

I found out about my scleroderma on November 1, 1971 at four in the afternoon.

Difficulty swallowing was the thing which got my doctor's attention. I was very fortunate because my doctor had a friend in medical school whose wife had scleroderma, so he saw right off that it was scleroderma.

Life with scleroderma is not easy but can in fact be handled by simply listening to the doctors.

Mine has spread to my female organs and is now in my liver causing cirrhosis. It is also in my lungs as well.

I have Raynaud's as well. Then there is the high blood pressure. Along with this comes the thyroid problems and type 2 diabetes.

Right now my right hip and knee are going stiff. I just got out of the hospital after five days with pneumonia. I have had lots of trips to the hospital and I now walk with a cane.

After all these years, I believe I have handled scleroderma very well. At the moment I am on several medications for the effects that the scleroderma has had on me. I do believe in keeping doctor's appointments regularly.

Heart doctors and gynecologists have all closed the book on me, as anything I might get in these parts of my body I am told I would not live through the treatment. This includes cancers; nothing would be done for me for that.

I hope this lets you see how I am handling this thing. Thank you for listening.

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