ashleyc.

This is my first time posting here, although I am a regular over on
alt.support.arthritis. I was previously diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis
(RA), then that was changed to ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Now I am seeing
a new rheumatologist who *thinks* I have lupus rather than the former two,
but is holding out a diagnosis until my bloodwork and x-rays come back. Yes,
I do have a butterfly rash, although it is faint and was previously thought
to be acne. My previous RD was a complete moron and I wonder how he is a
doctor at all.........

The idea of lupus is not new to me, it's what an ER doc thought when my
symptoms first presented, although my RD disagreed. He never ran a lupus
panel. I'm mostly frustrated over taking so many toxic meds that may have
been completely unnecessary and barely made me feel any better. I'm sick and
in pain most of the time. I'm so tired of taking so many pills and never
feeling better. I was grateful my new RD took me off all my meds until a
diagnosis can be made; she saw no point to torturing my body any more.

My question is this: What are lupus meds like? Do they make you sick at all?
Do they help suppress symptoms? Any information would be greatly
appreciated!!!

-AshleyC.

j

Hello there Ashley and welcome
Maybe this will help?
Treating lupus with medications
http://www.lupuscanada.org/en/chapter/treating_with_medications.html
J

andy

Here's a bit on them:

http://www.kitzbuhel.demon.co.uk/lupus/faqshets/faqs16.htm
--
Andy [Chair, N E Lupus Group]
See http://www.kitzbuhel.demon.co.uk/lupus for more!

nw

Hi Ashley,

(Yes, I know I don't have lupus, but this ng was very helpful when I posted
about antibodies and mouth ulcers a couple of months ago, so I post here every
now and then. My mum has some connective tissue disease, though.)

Many of the meds used for AS, RA etc are used for lupus as well, although the
biologicals aren't used very often. If you do have lupus, MTX might not have
been unnecessary after all. Some of the basics, like MTX, Imuran, antimalarials
and Prednisone are used in many kinds of arthritis anyway. But, what about all
your AS symptoms? Didn't Humira work for you for a while?

Keep posted on ASA about what your new RD finds out, OK? Good to hear your new
RD was better than the old one.

Nina

"AshleyC." <gimpygrrrl@hotmail.com> skrev i meddelandet
news:bo2bgn$16stnj$1@ID-192837.news.uni-berlin.de...

sherry

Ashley,
Welcome to the group. I hope you will find your answers and post
frequently.

Sherry

ashleyc.

Hey Nina!

I did respond to MTX and thought I had responded to Humira, but when I ran
out of Humira and my RD wouldn't refill it, I didn't notice a change. Every
time I thought I'd gotten out of my pain slump, I dive right back in. Oh,
and I can't take pred, because it makes me very very emotionally unbalanced.

She thinks that it might not have been AS, but DDD. She told me all of her
suspicions after I begged to know at least what she thought it could be.
She's an excellent doctor! And very up-to-date on research and whatnot.

*hug*
AshleyC.

PS: Don't worry, if I have lupus I'll be on both NGs. ASA is my extended
family!!

cindy

Ashley,
This is a great ng. Very much family here. Alot like ASA.
No flame wars, just people caring about each other and offering support.
How is school?
Ashley is our baby over on ASA and we feel very protective of her.
She is attending college.
Keep us posted with the results of your lab work...
Hugs Cindy

ashleyc.

Hi Cindy!

School is.... well, I decided to take a medical leave because my health just
seems to keep deteriorating. I've missed about half the semester, and there
is no real possible way for me to pass. I need to get the signatures from my
profs, counselor, and associate dean this week. I'm going to try to take
most, if not all of my classes online next semester, if I decide to go back.
I'm really not sure at this point. My primary concern is to get better, but
at the same time I don't want to put off college. If I go back next fall,
then I will be starting college at 20.

-AshleyC.

sherry

It is never too late to start your college education. Get well or at least
stable and then go for it. You can always take fewer classes and lessen the
stress.

We have several on this group who are trying to balance their education and
health.

Also you din't have to have a dx of Lupus to be here with us. This is a
great group of people.

Hugs,
Sherry

ashleyc.

Oh, I know that for sure! I'll stick around, don't worry. You all seem like
a nice group of loving people! Just like my ASA family.

-AshleyC.