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Stacy M: Scleroderma and Lupus

I am only a thirty-three-year-old male and I feel like I am eighty years old.

I was diagnosed with lupus on October 28, 2004, and put on prednisone four days later, which cleared up my facial rash. They took a blood test to see what kind of lupus I had and on Sunday, November 7, 2004, they said I have scleroderma and lupus.

Finally I have something to go with all the problems I have had over the past ten years. I have had joint pain and swelling for ten years with a skin rash on my face and chest and on my scalp for six years. I also have been having migraines for three years.

Three years ago they told me I had degenerative disks in my neck from a car accident. I have carpal tunnel syndrome that was diagnosed in 1997 but I haven't had surgery for it. I have muscle weakness all the time. I also have bi-polar disorder and am not working because of that.

I am only a thirty-three-year-old male and I feel like I am eighty years old. I cannot get out of the house and go for walks like I used to. I am constantly sleeping all the time due to major fatigue. I have sores all over my legs and so many scars that I cannot even wear shorts in public anymore. I got the sores from scratching at night uncontrollably. My feet are very scarred, too, from athlete's foot. I put cream on my feet to cure that but it keeps coming back. I have facial cellulitis which has not gone away after taking antibiotics for it. I see a specialist this week for my disease.

I am a mess I need some advice. Please help me.

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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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