A Relapsing Polychondritis story

---

It began with dry nose, nose bleeding and what my GP thought was a sinus infection. Antibiotics and prednisone perscribed, helped for a while, then reoccurred. Ear then swelled over twice the size - red, shiny and moist, GP again said outer ear infection this time, same perscriptions given and taken, then other ear flared the same after finishing meds. Was sent to an ENT and was dignosed with perichondritis, wrong again. Woke one days to the whites of one eyes completely red with a lump visibly noticable. GP said conjustivitis. Meds given along with drops, only got worse. Went to my Eye Dr , he took one look at me and diagnosed nodular episcleritis, gave me predisolone drops that really helped. He also told me is is caused by an auto immune disease and for me to see a Rheumotologist. It took almost 8 months of trying to get into a Rheumotologist, finally succeeded, dignosed with relapsing polychondritis. Now on 15 mg predisone daily (down from 20 as he is trying to wean me from it), methotreaxte and mycophenalat to lower my immune system.