Wonder Pills? Prednisolone.

Little mini pills. Yellow. 6 tablets (30 mg), once a day, morning after breakfast, as prescribed by Dr. Ng.

My very first encounter with prednisolone, commonly known as steroid.

Popped the pills at 8.30 am.

By 11.00 am.

Hey, I was pain-free!

My fingers were "sausages" no more!

Potent little stuff.

This day, was the start of a very long-term "relationship".

"I Think You Have Lupus"

I said to my boyfriend (hubby now), "Let's go Tung Shin!"

I approached the reception - didn't know which doctor to see.
I showed her my infamous "sausages" fingers.
She suggested Dr. Ng.

Dr. Ng looked at my earlier blood results. He was very concerned over the positive ANF results and elevated ESR.

Me Joints - Oh-Me-Joint

Early February 2004, I was feeling ancient.
My fingers were still swollen and painful.
The pain extended to my waist, hips, knees .. I was only 26.
Waking up in the morning was horrible. I could barely get my motor started!
How could this be happening!?

ANF, what ANF?

Dr. Tan TT did not seem to worry about my symptoms.

However, I was bugged with a three-letter-acroynms -  ANF (Anti Nuclear Factor).

What is ANF? Why was I tested as "Reactive"?

I remember asking him what it was, he said, "Nothing to worry about."

"Huh"?

It continued to bug me as I wasn't feeling better.

Fingers Licking Good

Year was 2004, January-2004, I was 26.
I woke up with my fingers swollen, looking like sausages.
My first reaction - I laughed.

I went to work as usual, hoping that the swell will subside, but it didn't.
Three days passed, fingers were still swollen and painful.
I couldn't even give the "finger" under the desk to my boss.

Breaking Out in Hives

Late-2003.
Usually when the weather gets wet and a little mild - I'd break out in hives.
Serious hives that would have me scratching for days.
It comes and goes. My mom has it too.
Like mother like daughter (although I'm very 'far' different from her 24" waist at my age!)

It was Oct-2003 when I started breaking out in hives (again)
This time, it was all over my face, neck! It started building up at 6 pm, go on till the next morning 9 am!
To the dermatologist I went.