The story of Rukiya
I am a 44 yr old mother of 5 amazing children, a retired veterans wife and I was diagnosed with the rare disease Systemic Sclerosis Scleroderma 6 months ago. My diagnosis comes after years of knowing something was wrong but not getting the answers I so desperately sought out. 12 yrs ago I began experiencing joint pain, fatigue, diarrhea, vomiting, GERDS symptoms and frequent headaches. I went to Dr after Dr but blood tests were always inconclusive and/or not enough to put me in any solid category. At first the symptoms would come and go but as the years went by they became worse and more frequent. 2 yrs ago I underwent a total abdominal hysterectomy and 3 weeks into my recovery I developed a life threatening blood clot. I was being closely monitored by a hematologist who noticed after blood work that I had an increasingly high anti-nuclear antibody test result. He recommended a rheumatologist who to my surprise was a woman that looked like me. We had similar caramel skin tones and she recognized the tell tale sign of developing raynauds in my skin right away. In the past, my doctors did not look like me and always told me “I looked fine”. So this new Dr ran tests and I finally had my answer! Today I am fighting through lots of pain, esophageal dysmotility, joint pain and I must walk with a mobility aide due to increased tightening in the tissue around my hips and legs. But I am so grateful to finally have an answer and options to treat my symptoms and hopefully live a long and healthy life!