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Resources

Sharon’s Story—From Diffuse Scleroderma to Symptom-Free

My symptoms began in Sept. 2014 with fatigue and high heart rate of 140 bpm per a holotor monitor. Other symptoms followed: hair loss, swelling in arms, legs and face, tight skin on arms, legs, chest and face, teeth separating, raynauds, gerds, joint pain, hand tenderness, ulcerated fingers and many others. Diagnosed in Jan. 2015 with diffuse scleroderma dn RNA polymerase III antibody.

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Beverly’s Story—From Rapid Decline to Lasting Balance

Up until the Spring of 1988, I considered myself phenomenally healthy. I ran three to five miles daily, bench pressed half my weight, lead an active social life and was budding into my career as a dietitian. My health, however, took a turn for the worst at age 27 when “strange things” started happening to my body. I remember going from “good” to “bad” in a matter of 24 hours.
In the late Fall of 1988, I had a routine blood test at my physician’s office. The results indicated an early detection of an autoimmune disorder. At that point, I thought that I had better pursue medical help as I was planning a trip to the Moscow and Leningrad, the following month, to present my nutrition study at the Soviet-American Nutrition Conference. This was taking place during the beginning of the relaxation of restrictions and hard feelings and the start of a dialogue between the United States and Russia. Needless to say, my physician canceled my trip to Russia and relinquished me to no work and no exercise for eight weeks. My Thanksgiving was spent pondering my future.

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Lisa’s Story—From Juvenile Arthritis to Playing Sports Again

This is a success story about my son who is now in his mid-twenties.

When he was 14 years old, he started waking up in the morning with sore, stiff hands. We didn’t have a regular doctor at the time, so we went to a walk-in clinic. Blood work showed that his rheumatoid factor was very slightly elevated. The doctor told him to take ibuprofen daily to alleviate the pain in his hands and to return in a few months to have his rheumatoid factor re-checked. Upon re-check, his rheumatoid factor was back in the normal range and the soreness/stiffness in his hands had gradually gone away.

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Aynur’s Story—Thirty-Seven Years of Scleroderma, Seven Years of Negative ANA

Dear Friends! I’ve been away for so long – sorry but you never leave my heart and thoughts! Just wanted to check in here, say hi and encourage all those new to the AP. It’s my 8th year on AP and 7 consecutive years of REVERSED ANA! With a very long standing but very moderate diffuse scleroderma without internal organ involvement, I started with just 100 mg twice daily. A year into AP and after ANA reversed to NEGATIVE, I’m on 100 mg once daily. I’ve started with a Canadian brand, blue-orange capsules (Stiefel) but I’ve changed brands several times as per the pharmacy supplies and for the last 2-3 years I have been on different tablets from the UK and the last one is Crescent, since capsules are no longer available. I’m doing great, the damage SD caused me is slowly but surely disappearing. And I’ve had SD for 37 years! First manifestation – Raynaud’s at the age of 3 (most likely after CMV virus 6 months prior and frequent tonsillitis) and full SD albeit without any internal organ involvement, by the age of 11. My early years were painful and I spent some time in hospitals (rheumatic fever, tonsils removed, etc.). Yet I pushed myself through the pain and did gymnastics (even received junior level certifications) between ages 7 and 11 and ballroom dancing from 11 till 14. Then, it all slowed and stabilised by age 18. I’m 40 now, mum of 2 beautiful, healthy kids. I’m very active – working, travelling, doing everything, walking/cycling almost daily 8 km…

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Paul’s Story—Zero RA Factor After Antibiotic Therapy

In many ways I have had a life of suffering. I grew up with Autism Spectrum Disorder. I was healed by God at age 12. I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome at age 31. All through my thirties (I am now 64) I was very sick. I would go to a specialized chiropractor. He helped me in many ways.

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Dale’s Story—When Methotrexate Failed, Minocycline Succeeded

In 2011 I suddenly developed an ache in my left shoulder, it was not related to any injury. 3 weeks later the whole shoulder was involved and I was feeling very unwell. After 4 weeks it was my back and hips. I was unable to even dress myself. The Dr ran a series of blood tests, one was for the RA factor, which came back negative, but the C- Reactive Protein (inflammation) was 22. plus my haemoglobin count was low.

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Frank’s Story—From Near-Death to Remission

I was diagnosed with RA at age 65, I am now 74. First treated with NSAIDs then…..prednisone, enbrel, methotrexate, plaquenil, orencia, humira, remicade (and maybe a few others I’ve forgotten). These attempts took about three and a half years…none worked and I continually got worse, developed liver and kidney damage and severe joint damage. After a second attempt with humira (both times being stopped because it caused me to go into convulsions), my doctor decided to try gold injections.

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