Amethyst,

This is great news. And I don't want to rain on your parade. But was this the FIRST time your lab work looked good? Because one set of good labs does not a remission make..... For your sake, I hope the doctor is 100% right. But are YOU feeling better? That's the most important thing. And you say you feel the same way. I've learned that lab work does not always mirror our disease acurately. Sometimes lab work LAGS BEHIND. It takes a bit of time for certain things to build up in our blood to show up as abnormal.

In other words, if you don't feel better---and you say you don't---then you are NOT in a remission. Since he's a nephrologist, I'm guessing that your kidney labwork looked good so your kidney disease may be quiet for now. Do you have a regular rheumy? If so, see him/her and deal with your other symptoms. Nephrologists are interested only in your kidneys and not the rest of your lupus symptoms. But certainly congrats on the kidney stuff being under control.

Tracy

Tracy,

Thanks.....yeah I also have a regular rheumy that I see and he didn't really say that I was in remission my last visit which was a week ago...he did say that based on his labs that my kidneys were doing great....my bun and creatinine have been good for a few months now, very little protein in my urine....complement levels are normal....i kinda figured that I'm really not in remission because I still hurt and get tired so easily....oh well...but thanks so much for your response...i've learned alot from your posts

I agree with Tracy 100%. Blood work is not always accurate with these types of diseases. I have felt sick and been in a bad flare and my blood work was normal. I have felt pretty good and it was abnomal. I hope that you arent suggested to taper down on your meds too soon since you are feeling better. If you are not in full remission for quite a while (which means you feel really GOOD on a constant basis) your symptoms and inflamation can come right back. I just went thru this experience myself being tapered down on the prednisone too soon. My blood work was getting better, I was feeling a bit better, but on a lower dose of pred. I got all my symptoms back rather quickly. The fact that you still dont feel great means your body is still not fully recovered in my opinion.

But, at least your kidneys are doing better! Glad you got some good news
Hugs
Melissa

I agree with the girls. If things aren't feeling right they are not. I know how hard it is to keep cheking things out because we'd like things just "overwith." However, with this disease, we have to keep up with it. It won't let us do otherwise. I find each Dr. is fully take with their area only. I guess I understand that to a point. But what I have found with the Mayo, is that they all work together and if something isn't working, they refer you instantly yo someone else and they talk together as a team. That's what's missing from where I live now. I see so many individual drs. who don't communicate. I live in Naples Fl. and travel to the mayo in Jacksonville Fl. 6 hours away. I originally went there to see if I needed a kidney transplant. I continue to go because of the great care. I am happy you are feeling a bit better, too. This can continue and you may slip back, but you now know things can get better. When you think about how it CAN get, man we'll take feeling anything better, won't we. Don't you feel like a clown in a juggling act sometimes? There are times I can keep the balls in the air and then there are times when they all fall to the floor. But they don't break, so I pick them back up. This site is like another clown helping to keep them in the air. Sorry for the clown analogy. I could have used the "plate"one. lol