Well in Nov 2007 I was diagnosed with SLE. I was doing ok...all I had was joint/muscle pain. Well 3 weeks ago I went for a check up with my rhuemy and we discoverd that I was having kidney problems. So my rhuemy sent me to a renal doctor. He had blood drown and did a P test and said that I needed to have a kidney biopsy. So 2 weeks ago thursday I was in the hospital getting the biopsy and then he had me on 3000 MG of Solu-Medrol. I got to leave the next afternoon. I do want to take the time and say that I think i have one of the best Rhuemy's out there. She came and visited me 3 times while I was in the hospital. She could have just brushed me off onto the Renal doctor but she didnt and for that i am very thankful :)! But back to the kidneys...The biopsy came back and they told me that out of 5 stages of Lupus nephritis I am at stage 3. They put me on 1000 mg of Cell-Cept, 80 mg of prednisone, iron pills, and still taking all the other pills I had been taking. The Renal doctor said he was trying this route over the Cytoxan because I am only 21. He said that it would probably make me sterile, wipe out my white blood count, and cause a lot more problems. He said if I did the cytoxan that I would be looking at weekly IV's, daily antibiotics, hormone pills, and much more. So I am hoping to everything that the cell cept works. about a week ago, my ankles,feet, and legs have started retaining water. I called and told the dr and they put me on water pills. Well as of now I am takin 80-100 mg of lasiks and from my knees and below are about 3 times the normal size and they feel like a giant stess ball. I have only P'd 4 times all day and have drank 3- 32 oz size bottles of water plus other liquids. Anyone have any suggestions about this? Since they have upped my prednisone I have gained 40 pds....and this was only 3 weeks ago. In the last 6 months I have gained 80 pds. I don't know what to do. Since I have taken the cell cept I cant stop shaking. My writing looks like I am a 90 year olds writing...all shaky and hard to read. On top of everything else I have decided to get a sinus infection and can't seem to get over it. Anyone have any suggestions about the retaining water, the weight gain, and the shakiness? I am starting to get depressed about everything and i am trying my hardest to keep my chin up but It is getting harder and harder!
thanks for letting me vent!!!