Lyn Bassage
I became very sick, down in bed after a vacation for 10 days in the Fla. Keys. My Dr. ran every test possible but could not come up with a DX. I even had the papuplar rash on both calves, they did not know what it was so they put me on Prednisone & I started to feel better. I had mild lupus symtons since 1978 after my middle child was born, with elevated sed rates, RA factors, ect. but never an answer. I had a severe MVA in 1995 and had a brain injury, so I have been seeing a Neuro/Psyh since. I was in his office when I had the rash on my calves and he looked at it and told me I needed to see a Rheumatologist ASAP because he suspected I had Lupus. He ran more blood tests and called an MD, giving him all my medical history. Thank God, this MD said he would see me within 2 days before his office hours. He started me on Prednisone 20mg a day and within 2 wks, I started to feel somewhat better, so he started to decrease it, but I ended up back in bed. This was August of 2000. Then, he raised prednisone to 20mg, added Plaqiunil to 600mg, Piroxicam 20 mg. As soon as I decreased Prednisone, I was back in bed. So he added Methotrexate up to 25mg,Folic acid, raised Prednisone up to 20 mg again. I had good days more than bad but again as soon as the prednisone got down to 10 mg. I was down again. In the meantime, my hair was been getting thinner & thinner. I have such gas pains after dinner. My last visit, he took me off Methotrexate and replaced it with Imuron, slowing raising it to 200 mg a day & raised my predisone back up to 20 but slowing bringing it back down. This has been such a battle physically, emotionally. Some days I get so discouraged, I would like to just throw out all meds. I have been a tons of Vitamins, following the Living with Lupus Book. I would like to hear from other Lupus Patients to see what meds they are on and if anyone has reached remission. I am on the waiting list to receive Embrel injections. Sincerely, Lyn