I am 41 now and was 37 or 38 when I got diagnosed. It started with simple things I could not do. Simple things like hold my blow dryer, or reach in and turn on the shower. At the same I had a cough. Honestly it was a severe spider bite that got me to the doc. I explained to her about my cough, she sent me for x rays. I was treated for pneumonia. 2 rounds later and I still had black spots on my lungs. I recd a call from the actual doc vs a nurse. That scared me. She referred me to a lung doc. While there he asked if I had any other symptoms. I explained about the muscle weakness. A few blood tests later and woalah I'm diagnosed with DM. That was in 2012. I am lucky in the fact that my lung doc and rheumatologist work in the same office. Luckily my lungs are staying the same so far. My symptoms are mainly weakness in my arms and especially my hands. I recently have developed nodules on my hand and one on my foot. In the early days I began treatment with high levels of prednisone and immuran. Eventually I was off of it all. I was thrilled. Unfortunatly that was short lived. That set me into a deep depression. I began on the meds again only for them to not completely work again. More pain than I could handle. Just today actually (6/27/15) I am feeling human again. I started cellcept about a week ago and I have to say I think it's doing me some good. I have hope again.