Hello everyone&#33;  I&#39;ve never posted on the Daily Dock before.  So, please forgive me if I miss out on proper etiquette.  I was reading Carmen&#39;s post and it sparked my interest.  <br /><br />You may have noticed that my posts have been few and far between lately.  I&#39;ve had numerous medical problems since late August 2007.  My eye started bothering me little by little.  It began with terrible eye pain.  The eye pain turned into a serious eye inflammation called uveitis or iritis.  It was irritated when exposed to sunlight.  I couldn&#39;t open my eye in a room with a light on.  My eyesight was becoming considerably worse.  It got to the point where I could not really see out of my eye, and it finally dilated itself.   <br /><br />My condition was very serious.  My eyesight is terrible to begin with.  They were worried and still are if my eye condition flares up, I could go blind.  My eyes are approximately -20 in each eye.  After working closely with my Ophthalmologist, he recommended I get tested for other medical problems.  I was really surprised that an eye condition could have been caused by other serious medical problems.  I became extremely lethargic.  <br /><br />I found it difficult to get out of bed because my ankles and feet had swelled so much.  My joints became swollen and I became immobile.  <br /><br />After rigorous medical testing, and almost a misdiagnosis of spots on my lungs, I had a medical breakthrough.  I tested positive for a reactive antigen called HLA B27.  This was the key to pinpoint the disease my rheumotologist found.  <br /><br />This is where my story fits in with Carmen.  I have a systemic inflammation that is similar to rheumatoid arthritis.  I have spondyloarthropathy.  It sounds complicated, but the symptoms are better because I am taking an anti-inflammatory, Mobic.  The doctors were first looking into lupus, RA, and scarcoidosis after I tested positive to this antigen.  I wish I would&#39;ve known some of these things during my medical tests.  I wish someone would have talked to me about all this during my medical ordeals.  <br /><br />I hope my post doesn&#39;t sound like I am complaining.  If I am able to help someone then it&#39;s worth it.  Let me know if you need anything, Carmen&#33;