Introduction/Bonny

[Guest guest]

Hello Everyone,

I was diagnosed with Stills in December of 1996. It all started,with which I

thought was the flu. I ended up in the hospital for six weeks before they

could put a name to this thing. For days I lay in a hospital bed not being

able to move a muscle. They put me on a IV steroid, to try to get me moving.

I had the spiked fever, joint pain, rash, sore throat and much pain. I ended

up with an enlarged heart, and was sent for a lung biopsy at which time

chest tubes were put in to ease the pain of fluid around my heart and lungs.

My Internist was a gift from god, he got the ball rolling. He had an a few

other Internist and Rheumatologist sit in an auditorium and went through all

my history. Between them all, they finally figured out what I had, Stills!!!

It tried methotraxate but it didn't work. They sent me home on Prednisone

which took me months to come off.

It took me about 5 months to get back to work, which started out with a few

hours a day. Since 96, I have had a few flares, but nothing a boost of

Prednisone for a few days didn't fix. Two weeks ago, I had another flare,

This one much worse. Joint pain, fevers, sore throat, the works. They put me

on 50mg of Prednisone and am now in the weaning off stage. The joint pain

is bearable, but I do not have much energy, to do much. I am back at work,

but am very slow. Good thing I work for such a great company, if I need time

I can take it. For the most part, to deal with the joint pain, I live on

advil. Not such a good thing, but you have to do what is best for you.

I am 47, married and have two grown sons. I live in Edmonton, Alberta,

Canada. Right now were are having a freak snow storm and the cold weather is

not helping maters much.

Regards,

Bonny Rowda