My reason for writing this book was simple, I wanted to relay a first hand experience to an audience possibly struggling to understand just what living with an autoimmune condition means. I make little or no attempt to educate or impart knowledge from a medical point of view, this is best left to health professionals far better qualified to present this kind of information. I do address key medical facts relating to my specific conditions. I do this not to teach, only to highlight the complexities associated with my personal story. This book is about my journey A path I have travelled now for over 10 years. In saying that I feel strongly that my story is synonymous to most if not all afflicted with an autoimmune disorder. Although our illnesses may vary, the changes to our lifestyle and way of living prove eerily similar in context. I hope to provide those recently diagnosed with strategies and basic knowledge of what they might expect in coming years. One of the major motivating factors for writing this book however was to inform the family and friends of sufferers. I know from personal experience just how difficult it is for those around us to fully grasp the complexities of what we live with day to day. This is a confusing and frustrating time for both patients and their loved ones alike. The constant and ongoing struggle for individuals, our families and social connections to fully understand just what it is to live with an autoimmune condition.