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 am feeling like Kris is today wanting to give up,I have been sick for weeks now,started on Methotrexate almost 3 months ago I was in bed every week for 2-3 days after taking my medication,but then I had 2 of the best days I have had in years so I was incouraged to keep trying,I changed to injections 3 weeks ago to try to avoid the side effects,well now I am really sick and in so much pain it is unbearable I should have never had my injection this week but I want so badly to feel better that I was hoping the side effects would pass,My hands hurt so bad yesterday I could not flush the toilet,and typing this has taken hours,well the doc. has taken me off it and said it will take quite awhile for me to feel better,this is my 6th med,everyone has made me very ill or I broke out in horrible rashes,so now what ? start over again? I just feel like I can't do this anymore the treatment is worse then the disease,I have always tried to stay positive for myself and everyone on here but I just can't right now,Cindy
I DO understand. I'm experiencing the same thing - weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, and EXTREME pain. I'm also switching up on meds ...and its hard to determine what is the disease itself and what is side affects. Oh, and did I mention that patience is NOT my strong suit?
Here's the rub: We CAN'T give up. Not just for ourselves, but for others. Even though we feel like a burden, and cannot bear another minute of pain at times....we have to.
The ONLY advice/plea I can give you is this: Make the changes very slow and very easy (over six weeks to six months if you can stand it). With me anyway, when I go on a med - I know pretty quickly what the side affects are going to be - sometimes they subside with time if I can bear them. If I can't bear them, I slowly stop the med. Then ask for something with fewer side affects. And then it starts all over. Most of the time, I have to take LOTS of steroids with any immunosuppresant like Arava, MTX, etc - it helps with the side affects and with rebounding from the weeks of diarrhea and vomiting. Then of course I get meds to stop that....but sometimes they work, sometimes they dont.
What you're left with, just as I am, is asking yourself: Can I bear these symptoms without treatment? Is it progressing beyond my control or at an accelerated rate? Can I bear these symptoms with pain meds alone?
Sometimes it helps if I keep a written symptom diary along with a written list of daily improvements.
Its tough. No easy answers....only coping mechanisms.
Praying for you..... HUGS.....MButterfly