Hi Julie - you don't say if your Dr. put you on any pain meds. I don't know anything about colitis, if it restricts what you are able to take, but it seems to me if you're having this much pain, you...
Traveling can be a bit more challenging with lupus but it sounds like your case is mild? so I would go. I've found that I need to make sure I have enough medication to last, I keep a current list of...
I use the Refresh for sensitive eyes individual drops. They are preservative-free which is what my doctor recommends. I put them in throughout the day when my eyes feel dry and during the night if I...
Although you have more issues than I do and have to see more specialists, I see both a rheumy and a nephrologist. I make sure after every visit they each send their notes and bloodwork results to...
Greetings - I'm sorry you are having such a difficult time. My own experience with prednisone over the years boils down to this: It is okay to start at a high dose (I'm sure you already know this)....
Hopefully she is under the care of a good rheumatologist. SLE must be monitored and managed to help keep it from progressing although just about everyone has flares at times. She needs to see the...
Dani - I know how you feel. It took about 3 months for mine to go down. I don't know of anything to speed it up. Perhaps someone else here will have a suggestion....
Like Lynnwood, I've been on plaquenil a long time - about 10 yrs. I never noticed hair loss with just plaquenil but when I had to start on methotrexate, that is when it began to thin out. I also...
After thinking about it, I may be incorrect about the time frame for mtx to take effect. If I remember right, they started me off on a lower dose and gradually increased to ensure I could handle it....
I agree with Lynnwood - sounds as if you have lupus. My symptoms began with hives, like you, every evening. The rheumatologist told me that hives are not the usual presentation for lupus. However,...
Hi Ellie - although I don't have your scalp condition, I can relate to the hair loss. Mine began gradually several years ago. Whether it is due to the meds or lupus or a combination of both, I don't...
Suggestion - take a couple of photos. I took my digital camera with photos of my rash to the dermatologist once and she was so happy! Take care....
I have a good friend who wore contacts and wound up with an ulcer on her eye. Her eye Dr. said it was caused by dry eye. She has lost some vision in that eye that will never return. If it were me,...
Yes, I have some nights where I'm up 2 or 3 times to go. Other nights it's just once. So it varies. Doesn't seem to matter how much I drink. I recently had a biopsy and have just the beginnings of...
Hi ShinyLight - I can relate to the vasculitis as I also have it. However I've not had my eye Dr. specifically say it is affecting my eyes. I will ask next time as I sometimes wake up with red,...
Hi Jenny - it does sound like an odd visit. I was recently referred to a nephrologist by my rheumy. The red flag symptoms were protein in urine and white/red blood cells in the urine. So in order to...
I noticed that each of you have taken both generic and regular cellcept. Is there a major difference? I just started on it one week ago. My insurance automatically gave me generic. So far, no side...
Yes, I have had eye problems for several years. Started out as blurriness. Ophthalmologist said it was excessive dryness. I have tried Restasis and tear duct plugs. Neither one helped much. I put...
I have taken methotrexate for about 5 years now. I had some nausea after the first couple of months. I take the highest dose allowed - 20 mgs. once a week. Nausea is the only side effect I have...
Just like redrose, I've been told to reduce by 2.5 mg each time I've been on prednisone. Thank goodness I'm completely off of it now....
Hi Jennifer-I'm new to posting here but I've been reading for quite a while. Like you, I've had hives off and on for years with SLE and vasculitis. My rheumy has me on Dapsone. Supposedly it is good...
I have that lump in my throat nearly all the time. Has a doctor ever told you that it is caused by methotrexate? I had an ear/nose/throat doctor diagnose it as "LPR" which is stomach acid coming into...
I was diagnosed with vasculitus a few years ago - they did a biopsy on the rash that confirmed. My rash was not as bad as yours but it will be good for you to know one way or the other what it is. My...
Hi Carol, Thank you for the welcome. I have been reading the forum for a while - lots of supportive, caring folks here and very informative. Blessings, Anna...
I have had rashes off and on for years. They are caused by lupus/vasculitis in my case. They have taken various forms but the vasculitis was diagnosed from large, red hive-like bumps on my butt and...
Hi Jeannie, I too, am a New Member here. I've been on methotrexate, plaquenil and dapsone for about 5 years now. I'm now 50 and looking at pre-menopause. I'm wondering if perhaps your mood swings...