Hello my name is Shannan and I'm a Lupus Survivor. In January of 2007 I went to see my doctor for my annual check up, and during this visit I spoke to her about some joint pain. Because this was an annual physical she had my blood work in front of her which was done one week prior to my visit. She told me she wanted me to see a specialist, for what I asked? She said this will help us figure out what is really going on with you. Very hesitantly I agreed to go this specialist. Two weeks later I went to see the specialist to find out why I was having joint pain, at this visit the specialist told me I had Lupus, I listened to everything he had to say and then I left his office. When I left his office, I decided that I didn't have Lupus, he was wrong and didn't know what he was talking about. I told my mother what the so called specialist said, and she started to do research and I told her to back off, I don't have Lupus and stop it! I don't have lupus, I don't look like the type of person who has lupus, how did I get lupus, what is lupus? I left all those questions in the dark for ten months. In November of 2007 I experienced such pain, I thought I would die, I thought I would never walk straight again, I thought I would need a wheel chair for life. We called the Specialist and made another appointment. At this visit my Mother joined me so she could hear what he had to say. He wanted to start me on drugs and a treatment of steriods. I really did not want to do this. I know how I am when I am taking steriods. Not a nice person. The Doctor insisted that this would take me out of my immediate pain and my Mother agreed. I refused the treatment plan he suggested because I wanted to think clearly about this and the only thing I could see was the pain I was in. We left his office in tears, afraid of the unknown, afraid of what this would mean for my life. Two and one-half weeks later, after we had done some research on lupus, I scheduled another appointment with the Speciailist. I did not like the answers I received during that visit. I was not happy, I was not satisfied and I was still scared. When I went to the front desk I ask if there was another Specialist that I could see. I needed a second opinion. The lady at the front desk assisted me in getting a second opinion and three weeks later I was seen by Dr. Solich. At this appointment, I walked in with all the fears and aniexties that I had two months earlier. When Dr. Solich entered the room she had done her homework. She knew who I was and what was going on with me. She began to tell me about me. She told me about my medical history, she did not ask about my medical history. How often does that happen at the doctor's office?? Then she said, Shannan, do you know what lupus is? I said, yes and no. Mostly no; and she began talking to me about lupus. She talked about a treatment plan foir me; a non-steriod plan (she knew how I felt about taking steriods). She discussed the various medications. We went with what would be safest and most natural for me. I felt relief. She spent an hour with me, through tears and questions. I left my office and told my Mother that I had lupus. That day our journey began to find Life without Lupus for me. Wow, do I have a story to share!