About 3 years prior to diagnosis I started feeling weakness in my right arm, stiffness in my joints and I was tired all the time. Being in my late 40's I assumed age and arthritis were the culprits and continued about my business of raising my daughter, doing a job I had had for 20 years and loved, and fixing up my 1869 farmhouse which I purchased 10 years earlier. It was a time when I was very independent, self sufficient, and took great pride in my accomplishments both at my job and at home. You know the rest of the story. My daughter still lives with me, my dog, 2 cats & a small parrot.