I don't really know how to start this so I am just going to jump right in. I am a 23-year-old Male who was diagnosed with MCTD when I was about the age of 13. To this day I have been on multiple medications, none of which has shown any sign of helping. My symptoms, for the most part, are swelling and joint pain (Rheumatoid Arthritis) and Chrons disease. When I was younger, I had small amounts of pain and abdominal discomfort. As I have grown older, my chrons symptoms started to disappear almost completely. However, now my arthritis symptoms are starting to come at me harder and harder. I am now unable to work a full-time job and, due to my pain, may have to stop working completely. For being so young, this is an extremely hard thing for me to deal with, and I'm not quite sure how to. On top of that, I have done some research and I know that people with this diagnosis, only about 13% develop into terminal cases. I guess with the worsening of symptoms and the more I feel 'Unwell" I'm starting to get scared that my illness may be progressing in a way that I do not want. I would wish my doctor would give me some advice or some words of encouragement but he has very poor bedside manners. He doesn't say much that makes me feel better, other than the fact that he never seems worried about me (although it comes off as a lack of caring in my opinion). I am sorry if this has come out as word vomit as this is the first time I have really said (written) any of this out loud. I guess I am just looking for some good words of advice or encouragement from people who have been in this situation, and I guess some first-hand knowledge if I truly should be worried, or if I am making a mountain out of a molehill. Anything anyone has to say will be helpful. Thank you for your time.

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