Let's start at the very beginning...

In November of 1977 Melissa entered the world. Okay, maybe we won't go that far back. How about we start at the beginning of my journey with Takyasu's Arteritis in 2004.

In February 2004 my son was born after a very normal pregnancy and "easy" delivery. Baby Z - a happy and healthy munchkin filled our home with diapers, cuddling, laundry, and joy. Me, the mama, struggled to rebound from giving birth. I was fatigued, losing weight, in pain, losing hair, and overall sickly. I developed a painful, swollen eye and ended up at Wheaton Eye Clinic for an emergency appointment. The doctor there indicated that I needed further medical intervention and ordered blood work. My family doctor got the results, which indicated I was very anemic. Thus began a myriad of medical tests, specialist appointments, inpatient hospitalizations, physical therapy, and blood transfusions - all while my symptoms continued. Unable to make a diagnosis, my family doctor referred me to Mayo Clinic and got me an appointment.

Baby Z went to stay with his grandparents while hubby and I road tripped to Rochester, Minnesota. Mayo Clinic is an amazing place - I was scheduled to see specialists in Hematology, Rheumatology and Infectious Disease over two days. My first appointment was with the hematologist. He reviewed my medical records, asked questions, and examined me. He proposed a diagnosis and called to schedule an MRI to confirm his thoughts. We drove across town and I had an MRI.

The MRI confirmed my diagnosis, Takayasu's Arteritis. I was started on Prednisone, Protonix, and Bactrim. I was given instructions to taper my Prednisone and a follow up appointment. We packed up and headed home.

Finally having a diagnosis was a relief, but also very scary. The more I read up on Takayasu's Arteritis the more confusing and overwhelming the information became - life expectancy, complications, treatments, and side effects of Prednisone. My family doctor began managing my care locally. My follow up at Mayo was uneventful - and I was encouraged to find a rheumatologist at a teaching hospital in Chicago.

And THAT is how this wild ride started.