My name is Julián, I am twenty-one years old. About thirteen years ago I got a little white spot in my thigh (coin-like). I thought it was some sort of fungus, so I went to the doctor and got it analyzed, but nothing showed up.
When I was eighteen I saw that the spot had turned reddish and the veins started showing, and it had grown. I went to a dermatologist, and was diagnosed with morphea.
I began searching for information and learned that it is a chronic ailment, so it doesn't have a cure, but it can get better under treatment. In my treatment I have taken several medications and creams.
I was also tested for Borellia and this was negative, hemograms were normal.
I have spots on my left thigh, a small one on my right armpit, and two diffuse ones on my back and the back of my left foot. Although this illness is a bit unpleasant to the eye, I am not in pain at all, I feel very well, I have no problems asociated to it, and I have so far lead a very normal life.
There are people who are very close to me and they don't even know I suffer from morphea. So keep going, I am sure we can survive it.
Julian |
LINKS (Español) Julian: Morfea ENGLISH Morphea Morphea Stories Medical: Diseases and Symptoms Scleroderma Experts (Worldwide) Sclero Forums Symptoms of Systemic Scleroderma Types of Scleroderma What is Scleroderma? |
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.
Alba León is the ISN Translator for this page. She is studying international relations in Mexico City.
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 was the world's leading nonprofit for trustworthy research, support, education and awareness for scleroderma and related illnesses from 1998 to 2021. It was a grassroots movement from the original Scleroderma from A to Z web site, which was founded by Shelley Ensz. We were a 501(c)(3) U.S.-based public charitable foundation. We closed this web site and our nonprofit agency in April 2021.