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How much hand swelling is too much?

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Posted 10/30/2007 12:11 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone, I am currently off working & trying to get my Lupus flare to calm. :) I persistantly have swelling in my hands (joints especially).  I am taking 400 mg Plaqenil a day - but the puffyness will not subside - cannot even wear my wedding rings!  Does this seem out of the ordinary since I'm not working now (less activity typing, filing, etc.)?  Jenny
Posted 10/30/2007 12:55 AM (GMT 0)
Jenny, I also get swelling in my hands and have had times I can't wear my ring. If your lupus is still flaring, your hands might stay swollen even though you aren't working right now. Something I learned from this forum is to take pictures of anything you want to try to explain to your doc. I took pictures of my hands when they were swollen so I could show my rheumy so he could see what I meant about my hands being swollen. How long have you been on plaquenil? I see that you've had lupus for a while, but if you have started plaquenil fairly recently, it takes months to build up in your system so it can make a difference. Are you still taking prednisone? Sometimes prednisone will calm my swelling a bit, but my hands always seem a little swollen. I hope the time off allows your lupus to get a little more under control. Make sure you are taking time to get plenty of rest. Take care
Posted 10/30/2007 2:38 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Jenny, I'm sorry you are having this flare and I have to agree with Hippi, see if the rheumy will let you take a little extra predisone. It does seem to help a bit. My fingers havn't swelled alot but I can tell you that my feet and calves have swollen so badly when I flared that they actually bled. So it would not surprise me at all that you would have to take off your rings. I hope you get passed this flare quickly and get the swelling down.
hugs
Posted 10/30/2007 12:24 PM (GMT 0)
Hippi & Okie, Thank you for the encouragement & suggestions. Hippi - I've been on Plaquenil since I was diagnosed with Raynauds (7 years). I was thinking I'd build up a tolerance to the med - having been on it for so many years. I will see about upping the Pred doseage - I just hate constantly gaining weight. :) Jenny
Posted 10/30/2007 2:44 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Jenny,

The Prednisone was the only thing that helped my swelling. I had it really bad in my hands, wrists, and feet. When the doctor would try to take the prednisone down a bit, up went the swelling, if I went up on the med, the swelling went down. I am finding that 15-20 mgs a day helps so much with the swelling. I hope you can find relief soon..I know how uncomfortable it is to have swollen limbs..

Aggie

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