Traci J. - Diagnosed at age 25

Two months after the birth of my daughter in 1991, I thought that I was dying. Every joint in my body hurt, the sun hurt my eyes, and I wanted to sleep all day. I broke out in a rash (psoriasis), I was cranky, I couldn't button my pants, climb stairs, turn my head; I was a mess!! And I was afraid to go to the doctor for fear that he was going to tell me that I had Leukemia and I was going to die. I eventually did go see an internist (at the urging of my mother who thought that I had Rheumatic Fever) and was told that I had lupus-and psoriatic arthritis. EVERYTHING started making sense. I have had severe eczema my entire life. Certain foods gave me stomach aches and joint pain as a child. I had MANY, MANY bladder infections in my teens and early 20's. Later in life I developed mouth ulcers, warts on all of my fingers and localized morphea (a chronic connective tissue disease similar to scleroderma) on my back. I also suffered four miscarriage's - BUT was lucky enough to have 3 live births :)

I have lived a full life and I am an "old lady" athlete. I feel VERY lucky to have the life that I have. Many have had it oh so worse and I count my blessings every day!