I am a 49 yr old female. (I will be 50 in June and looking forward to it.)

I have always been very active in work and around home. I have 2 adult daughters and 2 small grandsons. Before SD I babysat my 1st grandson 2 days a week but I cannot do that anymore.

I was fine thru Labor Day of 1997. We visited with family in Florida and came home. I had developed a cold almost immediately. Sept. 29 I woke up with what I thought was the flu. I was achy and my feet and ankles would hardly support me. I went to work (chairside dental asst. and office mgr.) but I was miserable. Could hardly walk. The next day I went to see my family Dr. He thought it was the flu but he put me on Z-Pac (antibiotic) for 5 days.

Oct. 6, I saw the family Dr. again and I was worse. Fever, Cold, and now my hands and fingers were stiff and sore. He referred me to a Rhemy. (Thank god)

I saw her and began what eventually amounted to 60+ blood tests, blood cultures, chest x-rays, a cat scan of the abdomen, ultra sounds, HIV test, (due to my profession I spent a sleepless 2 nights because you never know)-the works. I had a positive reading on a B-27 blood test. This proved to be a red herring for a month because we thought I had Inflammatory Bowel Disease, which is another arthritic condition. I had a colonoscopy, upper gi series and some other nasty invasive procedures but could find no evidence of Chrons to support IBD diagnosis. We also thought about Lyme due to a tick bite in June but had the test run 3 times which was negative all three times. Lupus also neg.

Meanwhile I am now unable to walk up steps (could barely walk at all) My right wrist locked so my poor husband had to give me showers, brush my teeth and make my meals. Thank God for good friends and a fabulous boss. They brought meals, cleaned for me, wrote me funny notes, and basically were just there for me. We really learn who our friends are. My Rhemy had me on Pred 60 mg, Sulfa, and Naprosyn. I developed severe allergic reaction to Sulfa (of course just when it started to help) I also had the spiky fever and saturated bed clothes and still sounded and felt like I had a really bad cold.

Nov. 8, I hit a wall. My fever raced up to 104+ and the rash hit. I again had some joints lock and ended up in the hospital for several days. They ran Pred IV (over 100 mgs) Also percacet and benadryl. By the time I was discharged I felt pretty good in the joints but was puffy and wired from the Pred. This went on for a while.

The 2nd week of Dec I started on Plaquenil 200 mg/day. I tolerated it okay and got back to work in extreme moderation but Christmas Day I flared Big Time and was back to the hospital. ( I did talk them out of keeping me but had to be in bed at home.)

We are still playing with my meds. 20 mg. pred. & 200 mg. plaq plus benadryl as needed. The rash has somewhat resolved and the fever bounces around but I feel fortunate that I am functioning again. I hate to say I am doing better because everytime I say that I go backwards .

I was officially diagnosed with Stills Dec. 14th and I have been reading your notes (Stills Group) and conversations for several weeks before that. I had diagnosed myself weeks before but I guess it was a relief to here my Rhemy say it.

You know, I have read where some of you have felt they have become a better person. I feel that way. I think spending all those weeks and months in the house in bed most of it, you have time to think and reflect. I know I appreciate my family more and I love my friends more.

I was even fortunate enough to have been offered a dream job during my worst moments. All I had to do was get better. And he did hold it and I am trying to work into it. My original boss is 68 and semi-retired and has been so fabulous. We only work 10hrs/week so I have opprtunity to do other things - health permitting.

I am an adm. office mgr for a top real estate agent here in York and even he says My health comes first.

My story has had its bad moments but I keep looking forward. Hopefully with rest and meds. I will still be able to be ME.

I want to say how much I appreciate all of the "Stilligans" comments and suggestions. I knew from all of you when I flared at Christmas it was not the end of the world and that got me thru. Sorry this is so long but I felt I wanted you to know a little about who I am.

Any questions, feel free to ask.