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Marie F: Scleroderma and Raynaud's

My doctor told me I had two years, but I am still here, fifteen years later.

Hello, my name is Marie. I live in Freeport, Maine. I have had this sad disease since 1995.

It started in my middle toe. Four months later I was tired, stiff and had pain all over. I knew something was wrong. I thought I was all alone. My doctor told me I had two years, but I am still here, fifteen years later. Now my fingers are like claws and my legs get tight now and then.

I had given up until a lady in "Woman World" got me to talk. I spent a year in therapy. I got off the walker and cane and I can move everywhere now. I still get stiff at times but I feel alive again. I changed my way of eating, got off the fat food and stopped smoking.

I take a pill for heart burn and a nifedipine for my heart and Raynaud's. I do feel better. The pain seems to stay but I fight it and often take a Tylenol. I also use vitamins, and bone pills.

I do a lot of volunteer work and also clean houses. I gave up sewing. And I am off the couch. I realized that either I get up and walk, move, quit smoking and take care of my body or suffer more. I try not to sit too long in a car or at the computer. I do not snack while I am typing or I'll get too fat and won't be able to walk. I ache too much if I sit too long.

Please email me anytime and take care.

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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!

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