Hi my name is Elizabeth I am going through the process of being DX. for lupas I had surgery on march 10/2005 i have lost quite a bit of wait I was feeling better. I got a job an had my first shift last night by the time the shift was over i was in so much pain i could not hardly walk . i dont know no what to do i have tested twice now for positve ana an the numbers go up! but the doctor said i had fibromyalgia and sent me on my way. i am very frustrated does any one have advice????

Hello I hope everyone is feeling better I also have lupus and had my surgery was on 5/5/06, prior to surgery and still now I am on Plaquinol, methotrexate,and prednisone and you would have to kill me to give up my meds. Before taking them my joint pain was so bad i could barely walk and I finally gave in to my rhumie and did what she said and am feeling 100% better. Good luck I hope you find a medication that works as well for you.

Hi all, My mom has lupus and has had it for almost 20 years now. She also can not go in the sun or she gets permanent redness and hardening of the skin. She has always had severe pain caused from joint "lock ups", just recently she is experiencing pain in her heart. When she gets it, it takes her breath away, and causes tremendous pain. She says it is heartburn. I know different! She takes about 6 tums and the pain goes away very quickly. I was wondering if anyone else has experieced this and what you do about it. My mom has never taken any medication. When she was first diagnosed she was prescribed all kinds of steroids and meds, most had side affects worse than her symptoms, so she refused to take anything. I was wondering what kind of meds or herbal vitamins etc that you take that reduces these symptoms. Also I have been reading alot about aspartame disease, and have been asking my mom to stop drinking diet pepsi to see if any of her symtoms go away. She is a chronic diet pepsi drinker. She will leave a can in her car and the next time she gets in she will drink it. I read that when aspartame gets warm that is when it is dangerous. They say aspartame disease causes many of the same symptons as lupus. In fact, many people were misdiagnosed only to find out it was aspartame disease and when they stopped drinking diet pop, all their symptoms went away. I was just wondering your thoughts on this? Do you guys drink diet soda? Hope to hear from you guys soon. Thanks, A concerned daughter! (Jennifer)

I do not have Lupus but my first surgery date was Dec 2004 then January 2005 and finally had the surgery June 27, 2006. I too thought maybe that was a sign. I then made up my mind I had to do something about my weight. This is really a mental surgery-- a life style change. Good Luck My mom has lupus and had surgery on March 20, 2006 she has lost about 36 pounds. She is doing great. I will let her know about your post and ask her to write you Good Luck

Sorry I did not see your post - have not checked this board for a long while. I know it is frustrating waiting for a diagnosis when it comes to lupus - it seems to take so long, that when it finally comes, it is almost a relief because the aches, the rashes, the strange symptoms have a real cause - and not some figment of your imagination. My approach to health before diagnosis was this - I knew I felt better when I treated myself as if I was already diagnosed - in other words I did the recommended things - I stayed out of the sun, I stayed away from alfalfa sprouts... I rested when I felt fatigued, I ate better - sometimes stayed away from animal protein when I felt bad - long story short - the combination of all of the advice I read helped me get through the times when doctors couldn't or wouldn't act because they didn't have the right "label' to put on me. IN terms of antiinflammatories - you may have to use them - they can make the difference between life and death - right now I am on predisone - because I have to - my rheumy knows about my surgery and was a part of all the decisions made during that time in my life and continues to give my PCP advice on how to treat me. Good luck... hope you are feeling better... feel free to write b