still sick!!!!

Ok, I have been out of work all week, well actually since last Thursday with the exception of 1/2 day on Monday! I have been so sick, the sickest I've been in a LONG time! You all know that I've been having problems with the "floating / unsteady feeling" when I walk, that's been going on for over a month. Well nausea.... severe nausea set in last Thursday morning and has not let up one little bit! I have barely been able to eat and become very weak, it's been dreadful. I finally had my MRI done today with a bonus phenergen shot which has made me actually think about food again! I am hoping it lasts..... but if not rheumy has instructed me to start on pred, starting out 20mg a day and decreasing 2.5 mg every 3 days. She doesn't know if I've had a virus or a lupus flare, which she suspected I was in when I saw her on Friday. I never thought a flare could make you feel like this . The last bad flare I had was back in Feb when I had the constant headache for over a month, a headache that OTC or Rx meds couldn't touch, ended up out of work for a week and on Pred for 10 days and that's the only thing that helped!

At this point I am wondering what this means for me, will I be able to continue to work? If so, is this what I have to look forward to, a flare every 6 months, getting worse each time? I just don't know if I can do this.

Anyway, just wanted to let you guys know what was going on and I will give an updated on the MRI as soon as I hear something. I hope you all are doing great!

Stacie, I am really sorry about your flare. You sound so miserable. The work thing is a hard call. Maybe your doc can write a letter for a leave of absence for a few weeks or so to see if that helps. I know with some employers you can get short term disability. I kept cutting back my hours over time until it just didn't make sense for me to work anymore.

I hope the prednisone kicks in and helps. Just keep getting lots of rest if you can. Sending gently hugs your way.

how do you know you're in a flare? some of the symptoms everyone is saying sound so much like what i'm going through like every 2 months. and often the doctors want to put me on pred but i'm so scared i say no. if i'm actually in a flare should i try the pred?? what do some of you experience with it cuz i'm really freaked out by it.

Thank you Robin, Hippi & Lucy,

Well the nausea is back so I took a dose of Pred, it's not as bad as it has been but of course I couldn't muster the strength to go to work. My head is feeling quite funny too on top of a headache! Haven't heard about the MRI yet, maybe soon?!?!

Monalisa, a flare is usually new or worsening symptoms. Lupus attacks my GI tract so when I'm in a flare I usually get abdominal pain, frequent bm's, etc. I also get an increase in fatigue, mouth sores, headaches, increased joint pain, etc. None of us like Pred but sometimes it's the only med that can get things under control and it's not a part of my daily regimen, I only use it when flaring. It sounds like your lupus is not under control with your current meds and you may need to have them adjusted or try a new one. You should see your rheumy and let him know how you are feeling. Take care.

I hope everyone has a great weekend and thanks for being here!

Stacie, wish you were feeling better. I caught the flu and it has hung around for quite a while now. Hubby is sick too so I know it isn't the lupus.

I have been feeling horrible for the last three weeks, the weather has been insane in my area, but yesterday and today has been teh worst that I have felt in a long time. Nausea, pain in my stomach, my fingers, wrists, ankles and toes hurt so bad and I have a nagging headache that ust won't go away. I have been fevered off and on as well and just feel like crap.

I am sorry you are feeling so tough Stacie, but I know exactly how you are feeling. It sucks to feel this bad and to know that we just have to suffer through it. I hope you feel better soon!!!

Connie

Thank you JoAnn, Redrose, Amy, Connie and Jenkstrojanmom,

JoAnn, I read your post about how you were feeling and work, etc. I wanted so bad to respond but was just too sick but I felt as tho I could have written every word of it so you are definitely not alone! Do you have an upcoming appt with your rheumy? Be sure to make a list of all the problems you are having, may be time to change some meds around or add a new med to the "daily cocktail". If you do have lupus, over time you will learn to listen to your body, some flares you may recognize and some you may not, especially if they are weird! I do hope you find some relief soon! I was hoping to have my results today but maybe Monday now.

Redrose, praying you and hubby get over the flu quickly and it doesn't go through the family again.

Amy, thank you for the prayers and I hope you know you are in mine as well :)

Connie, our weather has turned cold, we're in the South (N. GA) and boy do my joints hurt! My joints don't like the cold, wishing for spring to come quickly!

Jenkstrojanmom, yes, it seems a lot of us are flaring, I hope we ALL feel better soon!

Thanks again for all of your support, it means a lot!

jhmom said...

JoAnn, I read your post about how you were feeling and work, etc. I wanted so bad to respond but was just too sick but I felt as tho I could have written every word of it so you are definitely not alone! Do you have an upcoming appt with your rheumy? Be sure to make a list of all the problems you are having, may be time to change some meds around or add a new med to the "daily cocktail". If you do have lupus, over time you will learn to listen to your body, some flares you may recognize and some you may not, especially if they are weird! I do hope you find some relief soon! I was hoping to have my results today but maybe Monday now.

Thank you Stacie, I do have an appt with my rheumy on the 28th. It's a good idea to make a list of symptoms....I know that when I see him I usually forget a lot of the things I want to tell him unless I have it written down.

Praying for relief for all of us who are flaring right now!
JoAnn