I AM a success Story from the Seventies Medications

[Guest guest]

I am Louise Boerner, aka Pattymelt, melt, ,

I sit on the board of directors of this foundation as fundraising director,

conference coordinator and assistant to the president. My Still's disease was

diagnosed at the age of 19 as Adult Onset Systemic Juvenile Rheumetoid Arthritis

by Dr. J. Nolan in North San Diego County, San Diego, California, USA.

I was first treated with 60 mg. of Prednisone daily for the many and most all

classic, extreme symptoms of Still's including spiking fevers to 105 degrees,

multiple joint involvement, spleen, weight loss, etc. Next treatment medication

trial was months of gold salt injections and when failed, a rarely discussed but

TOTALLY SUCSESSFUL drug for me D-Penacillamine. There was NO MTX yet! But this

drug was one of the early disease modifying drugs and did work for me and led me

into remission and I was disabled and paid for by my social system and I am a

success story and continue to be while living with Still's disease. I am not

bitter because that would eat me alive because bitterness and anger are what

this disease feeds upon. That is not to say I don't and haven't gotten angry

but I try not to remain that way. Anger hurts me, anger hurts those I care

about and I have read enough of it here tonight.

My personal recommendations are that that which does not benefit the group as a

whole, or does harm, once again should be taken OFF LIST or as in our rules and

regulations BANNED.

Louise Boerner