Hi! Dodd,
So many of us here can understand just what you and your family are going through. Unfortunately, and yes, lupus affects the entire family. And just when you think you are feeling better, you get worse. And that's just the nature of the beast. Lupus used to be a terminal and fatal disease. Now, thanks to early diagnosis and treatment, it is chronic and manageable. Some weeks less well than others. This is where the for better or for worse, in sickness and in health vow kicks in. Or.. slams you in the gut when you have to come to terms that lupus never goes away. Yes, it is sad. But would your kids be better off with a mom who is sick alot, or not having her at all? They are old enough to do alot of their own maintenance stuff, and like my girls who were similar in age to yours when I was diagnosed, they will be stronger and more loving, responsible adults as they share in the care and love of their mom and dad, through dealing with a difficult situation.
I am dizzy and fall alot, too. My neurologist prescribes Neurontin for me, and that has helped alot. And, both my drs. prefer cellcept to methotrexate. Don't hesitate to write a list of questions and concerns to take with you to your next appt. with your wife. I shared "The Spoon Theory" with my spouse and children, and to my 11th/12th grade students in each of my school years when I was teaching. They still remember reading it, and my girls both regretted being so intolerant and angry at me for being so sick. Lupus is a family disease, and the Lupus Foundation, and the threads on this forum, offer lots of resources for dealing with this disease. Knowledge about anything helps, and even your 8 yr. old can benefit from learning about why his mom is so sick. One thing that has helped my family alot, is having dinner time meetings together to decide, to vote, how I am going to use what little energy I have. If we go to the zoo today, I can't do anything much for the next 3 days, so how will we compromise to get the chores, or the other family commitments done. Trust me, your wife would give alot to be well, and there are going to be times when everyone gets angry about what they want/can't/wish/couldn't, do.
suetoo