Sandra and her partner Gisela were hopeful that BMC expertise could provide relief for Sandra’s chronic pain.
In October 2024, Sandra Melchor woke up one morning at home in Mendoza, Argentina, to find that her hands were severely swollen. "From that point on, the pain began to spread through my body," she says. "First, my hands, then my legs, knees and ankles. Physical pain affects you mentally and paralyzes you. I literally could not get out of bed."
Worried, she began seeking answers from physicians and specialists near her home. After many appointments and tests, no one could explain what was going on. "They told me it was stress, that I would get better, and that I just needed to be patient," Sandra recalls. "But I kept getting worse."
By February 2025, a rheumatologist in Argentina had diagnosed Sandra with scleroderma, a rare chronic autoimmune disease. But the medication she prescribed only made things worse.
That was the turning point. It was time to get another opinion. "Out of desperation, my partner, Gisela, and I started looking everywhere," says Sandra.
Getting the Right Diagnosis
As she searched for specialists who could help, Gisela found the Scleroderma Clinic at Boston Medical Center and scheduled an appointment for Sandra with Andreea M. Bujor, MD, PhD, a rheumatologist and physician-scientist with expertise in scleroderma and other autoimmune diseases.
Sandra travelled from her home in Argentina to Boston in May 2025 with all her medical records and test results in hand. "Gisela helped me so much," says Sandra. "She arranged all my appointments in Boston and was always by my side. I could barely get up from a chair."
Sandra is back to enjoying sports and travel and is grateful to Gisela for supporting her throughout.
At Sandra's first appointment at BMC, Dr. Bujor did an exam, reviewed her records and test results, and listened closely as she described in detail how her symptoms had developed. "She asked me everything," Sandra says. "She was very sensitive and empathetic. She treated me with such warmth and affection."
By the end of the appointment, Dr. Bujor was convinced that Sandra did not have scleroderma, but she wanted to do testing to confirm. The results of the blood test and CT scan came back and confirmed Dr. Bujor's suspicion: Sandra did not have scleroderma. She had antisynthetase syndrome, a rare inflammatory disease that can affect the muscles, lungs, joints, and other parts of the body.
Living with Antisynthetase Syndrome
Sandra returned to Argentina with the new diagnosis, targeted medications, and most of all-hope. She began seeing a new doctor at home, Dr. Jimena Sanchez Alcover, who agreed with Dr. Bujor's assessment and treatment plan, which includes an immunosuppressant and strong corticosteroids to reduce the inflammation in her muscles. At Dr. Bujor's suggestion, she also started seeing a therapist, which she says helped her cope with her disease.
On her road to recovery, Sandra also had to deal with arthritis in her hands as well as pulmonary fibrosis, but she did not let that stop her. "I often woke up in pain, but I would move my hands a little and say, 'Okay, I'm all right. Let's start a new day.' Then I would go to the gym, exercise, and keep moving."
With the correct treatment, Sandra slowly started to feel better. "After I saw Dr. Andrea, I began to see some light again," she says. "She told me, 'Don't worry. I'm going to help you get through this.' And that is literally what happened, together with my doctor here at home."
Throughout her long recovery, “I always kept a positive attitude and never gave up,” recalls Sandra.
Moving Forward with Strength and Gratitude
When Sandra returned to BMC for a follow-up visit in May 2026, Dr. Bujor said she looked "fantastic" and encouraged her to continue building strength. Today, Sandra is doing just that-by working out at the gym and playing soccer, basketball, and other sports she loves. She is feeling great.
"If I had stayed in bed with my pain when all of this began, I wouldn't be where I am now," she says. "Even in my worst moments of pain, I never stopped getting up. There wasn't a day when I didn't get up and try to continue with my activities. I always kept a positive attitude and never gave up."
Sandra is thankful for her care team and for the support she received from Gisela, her close friends Sandra and Daniela, and her parents, brother, sister-in-law, and nieces. "Every day, I wake up and give thanks that I am doing well and can keep moving forward," she says. "I have faith-faith in myself and in the God who accompanies me."