I've been diagnosed with MCTD;which I've apparently have had it since childhood. I had my first major/serious flare in 2006 and another this year, both requiring a week's hospital stay. I've had many hospital stays in between. I'm 43,it seems that I'm experiencing something every single day! I have new pains in new areas,nausea has been with me for 10 years. I'm always tired, some days too fatigued to function. My moods change and I'm worried every day that I'm going to awake to something new to deal with. I've learned that there's very few people that are familiar with this disease. It's oftentimes frustrating. I have many days that it's almost too much to bear. How does one cope or manage without this totally ruining your life? What's the life expectancy? What's the longest that someone has lived or has been living with mctd? I'm open to suggestions. I wish there were local support groups to attend, I think that would help many.