Scleroderma advise please
This is my story, and I’m sharing it in case anyone here has gone through something similar or has any advice.
About a year ago, it started with my fingertips and the tips of my toes going numb. At first, I honestly thought it was from working too hard or overuse. Ibuprofen helped in the beginning, so I didn’t think much of it.
Fast forward about six months, and things got worse. My hands and feet were constantly going numb, with a pins-and-needles feeling that was always there. It became painful and hard to ignore.
Three weeks ago, it reached a point where I just couldn’t take the pain anymore. I went to the emergency room three different times on three consecutive days. Finally, they were able to review my lab results, and my ANA came back abnormally high. On the third ER visit, they ran more tests and confirmed it is scleroderma.
Since then, things have continued to progress. My ears are constantly ringing, I have headaches, pain in my back and sides, chest discomfort, and digestion problems.
Right now, I’m trying to get in with a rheumatologist, but it’s almost impossible to get a sooner appointment. The wait times are long, and I feel stuck in the middle of it all. In the meantime, I’m wondering what I can do while waiting. Any advice, experiences, or suggestions would be really appreciated.