Lupus & hives / joint pain

Hello!
I have very recently (within the last 3 weeks) been diagnosed with lupus. i had moved into an apartment, and began to get severe migraines. the migraines caused blackouts vomiting confusion and memory loss. i also began to get a butterfly rash. i went to a neurologist and they found several lesions on my brain. they gave me Propanolol (beta blocker) for my migraines and sent me on my way. The rash on my face was getting worse and was blistering when exposed to sunlight. i went to my primary care who thought of lupus, and sent me to have the tests done and they diagnosed me with lupus. this morning i woke up with hives all over, they would retreat completely and come back minutes later in different sots. they were disgustingly itchy and burned like hell. i put calamine lotion on them and tried to forget about it. out of no where i was getting severe joint pains, my right ankle felt like it was sprained, i couldn't put pressure on it without wanting to scream. my knuckles have been slightly swollen and my knees feel like they're on fire, this isn't all the time, it comes in flares. is all of this connected to lupus? i don't know much about it still.. also.. the apartment i was living in had alot of mold that i found when i was cleaning, and there were holes in the kitchen leading straight to the basement. (the basement had mushrooms growing in it, mold on the walls and the main waste water pipe was leaking) needless to say, i am in the midst of terminating my lease. can the environment i was in bring out lupus? can anyone give me some insight? anything would be appreciated.

Hi to all....I'm new and wanted to add my two cent's worth. I was diagnosed with chronic idiopathic urticaria (Hives) last October. (I had been diagnosed with Lupus in 1999 and Rheumatologist treated my problem with Methotrexate injections once a week for about a year and a half. Also, took vitamins, i.e., Emergen-C 2x day, MSM, Chrondroitin and Glucosamin. Lupus went into remission.)

Was diagnosed with Lupus again and currently under the care of an Allergist. Well, it has cost me literally thousands of $ over past six months for Dr. care, Rx Meds, OTC Drugs and ER visits; and I still had Hives. Of course, I am taking OTC to the tune of at least $60 per week....25 mg Benadryl two or three 3x a day, Allegra 2x a day, Zyrtec 1 at night, Zantac 150 to 300 mg 2x a day along with whatever else has been prescribed to cure me. Progressively, I have been prescribed Prednisone (clears hives up right away, but long term use side effects really bad); Cyclosporin (ran my BP up to over 180 and made me sick with flu, almost got pneumonia); Methotrexate orally; and the last one, Zyflo CR which has worked...so far, so good. The catch is that a month's prescription costs over $1,000 and I received enough samples from the Allergist to last me 10 days. Any suggestions from anyone on what to do next?

Do the math, I receive under $1,000 a month SS Widow's Benefits plus I work part-time in retail grocery store, clearing around $200 a week. I am so broke from buying all the meds, I still have not had extra money to pay all my Dr and hospital bills. I feel like I'm losing my mind and I am just barely able to function at work, I have mental fogginess, have been forgetting things...having short-term memory loss problems, aching finger joints...Does Lupus and hives affect anyone else mentally?

Joint pain was my only symptom, but that was enough - excrusiating (sp) pain that I hope I never experience again.


Julia