After being diagnosed since 1992 and after going downhill over the last 4 years and having to medically retire as a lawyer, I recently "came out of the closet" so to speak. I was very reluctant to tell about my condition because I wanted everyone to still think I was a superwoman. I always said I was fine, declined invitations for other reasons than my health and basically lived a second life. I was astonished by the response from my friends. Everyone has been so suportive without being smothering. Now I feel relief that I can be myself, whatever that happens to be, on any given day.