Hi everyone
5 years ago we had a flood at work and the floor was cleaned with industrial cleaner before it dried out. One week later the same thing happened and as the cleaner rose to the surface of the new water and formed a film the fumes gave me my first ever asthma attack. My asthma has gradually got worse and gone from summer only to now summer and winter bouts and this last year has been the worst with constant asthma of varying degrees throughout the year. I've been on Symbicort for about 3 months which has improved it a little although I do get the shakes from it at two doses twice a day.
I then developed Discoid Lupus a couple of years ago - probably about 3 years - and mainly confined to my head. I saw a consultant at that time for a diagnosis. Life was pretty awful at the time and I'm sure it was mainly stress induced. Gradually over the last 18 months it had calmed down and even my bald patches have repaired a little.
In December 2008 I had a lovely dose of the cold-flu viruses that have been aorund this Winter and my asthma has not been good. The cold-flu came back again first week in January and the asthma continued to be poor - shortness of breath and constant coughing. It has also seemed to trigger a really sensitive response to everything and I feel very allergic. Everything sets me off coughing - going into cold air, going into warm air, air conditioning, the smell of my sons new leather shoes, perfume, aromatic candles, dust (the children have to hoover for me) etc etc
Now in the past 3 weeks I have become completely shattered and by the evening I want to go to bed early and sometimes have to give in to it. I feel permanently shattered. I've also developed a sore in my mouth - like an ulcer - which I can't seem to get rid of, a red hot rash across my cheeks and nose, and oddly enough the ends of my fingers round my nails are sore and red for no apparent reason.
Does it sound like my lupus has flared or something different? I've not been on any medication for Lupus at all but am feeling really unwell and that I need to do something but what! I'd be interested in natural remedies as much as medication. Anyone any ideas? My doctor is not very supportive and not very well versed in Lupus.
Thanks. Jill