Lupus Support Group
Lupus is an auto-immune disease in which the immune system cannot distinguish between threats (like viruses and bacteria), and healthy cells and tissue. As a result, the body produces antibodies that inflict cell damage, most commonly targeting joints, skin, kidneys and the nervous system. Join the group and find support for coping with lupus.
I've noticed some changes lately and wonder if I should go to my doctor to ask about lupus. I recently lost my health insurance so I'm having to be stingy about going.
I do have nacrolepsy and two cardiac conditions.
With that being said though I've noticed that my fatigue has worsened greatly. I'm used to being tired pretty much constantly but my N meds ususally help. Only in the last few days to a week I'm so tired that I'm sleeping for hours at a time. I may sleep 12 hrs through the night and wake up for an hour to 2 at the most and then it's back to sleep for another 7 hrs. It's not the N, this feels different.
The other things I've noticed are; joint pains in my elbows, knees, and wrists (its an awful achy feeling that does not go away with advil, the only thing that has helped is naproxin(sp) and that is an extremely strong anti-imflamitory), and when my feet get cold (really cold) they turn a kind of bluish-grey color and are fairly numb. And lastly this one is a little harder to explain, but when I wake up I notice I'm in a "cold sweat", you know the kind you feel when a fever has broken, it's like that whenever I wake up.
If you have any thoughts or advice I would be incredibly thankful.
I do have nacrolepsy and two cardiac conditions.
With that being said though I've noticed that my fatigue has worsened greatly. I'm used to being tired pretty much constantly but my N meds ususally help. Only in the last few days to a week I'm so tired that I'm sleeping for hours at a time. I may sleep 12 hrs through the night and wake up for an hour to 2 at the most and then it's back to sleep for another 7 hrs. It's not the N, this feels different.
The other things I've noticed are; joint pains in my elbows, knees, and wrists (its an awful achy feeling that does not go away with advil, the only thing that has helped is naproxin(sp) and that is an extremely strong anti-imflamitory), and when my feet get cold (really cold) they turn a kind of bluish-grey color and are fairly numb. And lastly this one is a little harder to explain, but when I wake up I notice I'm in a "cold sweat", you know the kind you feel when a fever has broken, it's like that whenever I wake up.
If you have any thoughts or advice I would be incredibly thankful.
You might try what I did...check out some books on lupus at the public library or go online to sites that discuss lupus diagnosis. Obviously it's not a substitute for a medical evaluation by a competent doctor...but it's better than just wondering and worrying. If you have enough symptoms of the illness, then it might be time to talk to your doctor about it.