(English) by First Name: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V-Z

By Language: French   German   Greek   Italian   Polish   Romanian   Russian   Spanish   Turkish

Cynthia: Diffuse Scleroderma

I advise everyone with scleroderma or other diseases to keep your head up and never give up!

I was diagnosed with diffuse scleroderma three years ago and it was something I could not bear.

I did not know what was going on with me. My feet, hands and face swelled up and I went to several doctors and they did not know what was wrong. Finally, I was advised to see a specialist and he told me I had scleroderma.

I was so stressed out over having this disease that I could not eat. I lost weight and I lost my strength. I constantly fell or blacked out.

Now I am dealing with this disease very well. I take all my medicine, walk daily, do household chores that require lifting and other activities that prevent me from dwelling on my scleroderma.

I advise everyone with scleroderma or other diseases to keep your head up and never give up!

To Contact the Author

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!

SCLERO.ORG is the world's leading nonprofit for trustworthy research, support, education and awareness for scleroderma and related illnesses. We are a 501(c)(3) U.S.-based public charitable foundation, established in 2002. Meet Our Team. Donations may also be mailed to: