My Illness

Late October 2004, I became ill with a high fever for eight days. I went to a local PA. She said I had a virus and treated me as such. After my fever had gone, I still felt bad, hurting in my joints and having all over body pain. I went back to her and she said it was virus that had concentrated in my joints and that it had to work its way out. After a few months and some blood tests I went to someone different and was told I had Lupus. The news was devastating. Ben had an older sister who had Lupus and died from it.
Well luckily about 2-1/2 years before I got sick, I had purchased a disability plan thru my work. In the event I would become disabled, I would get paid while out of work. After learning of my illness, I began to get my disablity. I could no longer work, due my extreme joint and body pains. I was also experiencing tremors and bad headaches. The disability company would not take a PA's diagnosis and I had to see a MD. He had me get more tests and pulled back on the Lupus diagnosis. He had his suspisions of Fibromyalgia but wanted me to see a rhumatologist. I did and he comfirmed it "Fibromyalgia". Then finding out that there is nothing they can do for it was a big blow. All that could be done is pain meds. Others followed due to depression, migraines and inflamation.
Well, it is 2009 and I may have a new diagnosis. I started seeing a neurologist last year and he has given me some bad news. He found that I have no curve in my spine. I have been suffering for almost a year of bad pain down my spine. I did try some PT, but at times it is worse.
I just recently saw him again and after some tests he thinks I may have Stiff People Syndrom. This is another Auto Immune disease without a cure, but it does have a treatment. I am currently waiting to see if my insurance company will approve it. It is a treatment through an IV and takes about five hours. A nurse will come to our home and administer it. It is very expensive, that is why we are waiting to hear from the insurance company.
I have been very frustrated since this has happened to me. It went from me doing everything with my family, working and keeping up my yard to sometimes not even being able to get out of bed. It is my hope that someone could hear my story and know someone with something similar that I could talk to and maybe we could make a difference in ones life.
It is a continuous struggle and hopefully this treatment will come thru and I could be adding to my story of something more positive. Please pass good thoughts my way... Becki