I most definitly have short flares- I would classify it as a very noticible flare with fever that last an evening and night. With that said I think that with the disease you begin accept the "acceptable" or normal symptoms and ignore that they are also part of the flair. Days leading up to the flair I have tingling and fatigue but manageable....once the flair is over I have much worse joint pain.

My flares seem to last months. When things are really bad, I wake up sick every morning but its gone by midday. I also have nights where I have chills and intense pain. They are usually preceded by a few bad days and are followed by a week or 2 of recovery. In general I think they are apart of the longer flares lasting months . . . but those mornings and nights are much more terrible.

I definitely have short flares. Some days I have so much pain in a certain area it incapacitates me, then the next day its gone, or I'll swell up like a balloon, or I feel nauseated all day, etc. etc. etc.
Sometimes I wonder if the Dr.'s really know what the hell is going on, other than.....you have lupus.

The doctors have no idea what a flare is or how long they last. If you are feeling it and suffering through it is a flare. I will sometimes change my prednisone if I feel a flare. I'm at a low dose.....normally 3mg per day. I will bump it up to 5mg for a few days and then taper it back to 3mg again. My doctors are all okay with it. I do make sure to taper very slowly even at this low dose.

Does anything help? Hot baths, heating blanket. I find sometimes a soak with Epsom salts helps me when I'm very achey.

I hope you feel better soon. Don't let the doctors make you think it's all in your head.......you live it he doesn't.

Peace and joy to you
Beth

Thanks everyone, my doctor is making me crazy.
@Brunob for the SOB and all, I normally just try to sleep on my back at a 45 degree angle on pillows and blankets and get on my night oxygen/cpap. its a temporary fix till the am.