Each of us diagnosed with this disease have a story to tell. This is mine!!
As a child: (3-12)
When I was young I broke out with chronic rashes. Doctors never were able to tell what it was that caused them. I suffered from severe allergies. A age 6 I had to have my tonsils removed. I also suffered from Asthma. I was always very tired. (One of the most common symptoms of Lupus)
As a Teenager: (13-19)
In my teens I continued to suffer from extreme fatigue. I had dizzy spells and fainting episodes. Rashes continued, but were not as constant or severe. I had constant pain in my left knee, neck, and back. I often suffered from insomnia, another common symptom associated with Lupus. I woke up every morning with swollen eyes and hands. When I started my menstrual cycle it was extremely heavy, irregular, and very painful. When I was 19 I finally went to a Doctor because of my concern with my menstrual cycle. After my first exam I was told I had the beginning stages of cervical cancer. I had to have surgery twice to remove it. I recently found out that Cervical Cancer is very common with girls between the ages of 15-20 that have Lupus.
As an adult: (20-36)
During my twenties I would say that I suffered the most from extreme fatigue and low grade fevers. I continued to suffer from pain in my knee, neck, and back. I became pregnant with my Son Noah at age 24. My pregnancy with him was extremely difficult. I went into pre-term labor at twenty two weeks and remained on bed rest until the end of my pregnancy. During the pregnancy Noah had failure to thrive many times. It is a miracle that he is here today!! Three years later I became pregnant with my daughter Ashley. I suffered a lot of the same difficulties that I had with my first pregnancy. With both pregnancies my placenta was already deteriorating before my babies were born. Doctors told me that it would be a risk to have more kids because my body constantly tried to reject them and my placenta did not function properly. I know now that it is very common for people with Lupus to have a very hard time getting pregnant, suffer from miscarriages, pre-term labor, or the chance of either the mother or baby can die. Even though I had two very high risk pregnancies, I am very blessed to have had two healthy children with mild complications after birth.
Leading up to my mid thirties everything seemed to escalate. My pain, tiredness, insomnia, fevers etc..... In early 2009 I became very sick with the flu which lasted several weeks. Later that may I was diagnosed with Pleurisy (another common symptom of Lupus) I was very sick and on breathing treatments for more than a month before I recovered. I now suffer from chronic Pleurisy. In July the pain in my knees and thighs became unbearable. This is when I started to go to the Doctors. After several months of tests I was diagnosed with Lupus. After the diagnosis everything came together and made much more sense. I only wish that it was discovered years earlier. If it had been, it may not be as aggressive as it is today.
Present day:
Since being diagnosed Lupus has continued to be aggressive and debilitating. I have had extreme pain to my joints(knees, hips, neck, and hands) there have been many days that I could not walk due to the severity of the pain. Lupus has attacked and caused the tissues surrounding the joints in my knees, neck, shoulders and wrists to deteriorate. I have had dizzy and fainting spells, memory loss, extreme fatigue, and lethargy. In the Summer/Fall of 2010 all the above symptoms became worse and worse. Finally in September 2010 I urged my Doctor to conduct some more tests. I had more blood work and an MRI done. In October I was sent to a Cardiologist where I had to wear a halter monitor for 48hrs. several hours after turning in the monitor I received a call from my Cardiologist telling me that I immidiately neede to be admitted into the hospital to receive a Pacemaker. Apparently I had, had heart failure about ten times and a very low heart rate (avg. about 30 beats per. min.)during that 48hr period. Lupus had attacked the electrical system of my heart causing a condition called Bradycardia as well as Heart Failure. In March 2011 I felt as though I was having a heart attack. After seeing my Cardiologist it was discovered that my heart rate had been in the high 200's causing Atrial Fibrillation. Thankfully my cardiologist was able to make some adjustments to my Pacemaker to help this condition.
It has been a very tough experience living with this disease. I take one day at a time, stay positive and hope every day for a cure!!!!
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