Theresa
I've been treated for the past several years for arthritis. But my doctor thought that there was something else going on other than arthritis. I went through a series of grueling for several months. I was then diagnosed with Lupus in April 2001. At first I was so scared I just didn't know what to do. I've been told so many horrible stories. But as time went by I felt better about dealing with it after I've had time to think more about it so I'm still not completely comfortable with the fact that I have lupus I just need to find out more about it and how I would need to take care of myself more. Because my doctor told me that as long as I take care of myself and do what she's asked me to do I should be alright. Right now I just need to find out which lupus I have because I read that there are three types. 1) Dealing with your vital organs and can be fatal. 2) Dealing with skin rashes etc. 3) And a drug induced lupus meaning that you can be taking a certain medication and it can cause you to have lupus syptoms. I know that I'm not taking any meds that would cause it because I've been having the aches and swelling in my joints prior to taking the meds that I'm presently taking. And I haven't had any rashes lately or in the past. So that only leaves one type. The one that destroys your organs and can be fatal. I think about it every once in a while and then I think about other things. I guess that I just need some one that I can talk to some one who can relate to what I'm going through and what I feel.