Hi! New here.

Hi,

I am new to the forum, not new to the autoimmune monster, however.  I had RA for 14 years, dx’d in 1996.  Suffered many deformities.  Then suddenly sjogren’s symptoms showed up about 5 years ago, and now July 2008 lupus symptoms showed up and by April 2009 lupus kidney failure caused me now to be on dialysis.

 

I am having a hard time with the diagnosis but taking it one day at a time to stay sane.  I really felt RA had done enough damage and taken enough of my life when the other things showed up, so now I was angry and fed up with autoimmune disorders and the fact there is no cure.  

 

I do have a question however, how do you cope with the skin problems of lupus?  My skin is a mess.  Always looking like it has a rash. I am taking prednisone so I suppose the prednisone could be the culprit as well just didn’t seem that bad before the lupus kidney dx and also the hair loss is really scary.

 

Well, I have tons of horror stories like that one but don’t want to depress anyone so will keep it light and short.  Hope you guys are having a super great day and hanging in there!  Hope to hear from you.

 

Thanks,

Southpaw

Welcome to HW!

Lupus itself can be the cause of both rashes and hair loss - our rashes are usually triggered by the sun and our hair loss often has to do with what meds we are taking. But that is the gross generalization!

What are your meds? Does skin get better w/kidney illness if we drink more water? Does kidney involvement affect the hair?

I bet someone will come along who knows the answers to those questions - we are usually more active during the weekday evenings than on the weekends!

Thanks guys for the warm welcome.

Thanks Suejil.  Also, I get the sore too only they are in my mouth and they too never seem to heal.  This is all new stuff.  Supposedly, the folic acid they give us is to help with that.

Also the dietician at the dialysis center says we need protein to help us heal. the average person is to have 60 grams of protein but for me she has me eating 90 grams of protein and drinking protein drinks, etc.  Lupus seems similar to diabetes in that respect.  I know my mom had diabetes and started getting sores that wouldn't heal.   I have a sore on the roof of my mouth now and so irritated by it. can't wait until it heals.

I am wondering if some neosporin won't help you since it is on the skin..  ask the doc for suggestioms.  but totally agree with you about them not knowing much more than they did in the 70s.  My hands look like I never took anything for the RA and I have taken everything available including the rituxan and cytoxan.  I got meningititis with the cytoxan so they stopped it.  they are now not treating me with any immunosuppressants for that reason.

Anyway, hope you find relief soon. take care everybody.