HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Am I in a flare?

Support Forums
>
Lupus
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 11/11/2009 10:04 PM (GMT 0)
While visiting with my perinatologist the other day, she asked me when my last flare had been.  I honestly couldn't really answer her.  I remember going into a big flare before I was put on Methotrexate 2 years ago, but the metho took care of most of my problems.  I have been off of metho for 2 months now and I have pain almost everyday.  I have some swelling that occurs in random areas and some inflammation of several tendons throughout my body.  So, what really qualifies as a flare?  I'm sort of confused.  I explained this my peri dr. so she would know just what I've been going through, but I really need to know for myself when I'm considered in a flare. 

 

P.S. We can start to try and have babies in about  6 weeks from now as long as my body stays in control with low dose prednison!  Very exciting!

Posted 11/12/2009 1:31 AM (GMT 0)
I think a "flare" is subjective person to person -- my lupus has been very quite lately, so if I started having daily random swelling/inflammation again I'd be awfully tempted to call it a flare.

For others, that daily stuff might be a normal level of lupus activity and it'd take something more, like a disabling pain or organ involvement, before they'd call it a flare.

I'm guessing that maybe a discussion with the dr who's been doing the metho and watching you the last couple of years might help you decide where the line is for you personally.

Hope that makes sense,
Posted 11/12/2009 2:35 AM (GMT 0)
That helps. My husband was guessing that it had to be a certain area sustained for a certain period of time. I figured when it really hits me with pain, swelling and fatigue thats probably more like a flare. It's hard to tell since I was really only in 1 flare before we couldn't keep it under control and my dr. was really pushing for a more aggressive treatment plan. I've been diagnosed for 2 1/2 years now and there was some disease activity before I was diagnosed that we just treated with prednisone and that was a quick and effective fix.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply