So, what brings on a flare up? With me it's usually a combination of things like stress, not enough sleep, stress, too much sun, stress, the holidays, and STRESS. Next thing I know, I'm having chest pains and/or shortness of breath, extreme fatigue and screaming joint pain in my hands, shoulders, hips and feet. I'm pretty fortunate that I don't have more than a couple flares every year.
What is worse than a flare? The drugs to treat it! Prednisone is really effective but the side effects make it my least favorite medication. The best way I can describe it is that it makes me feel like I have bugs crawling under my skin. It also makes me feel very jumpy and I have trouble sleeping when I am taking it. I'm very grateful that it's not my only alternative.
I have had a couple of depomedrol injections in the past. This is also a steroid but it doesn't make me skitterish like prednisone. The best treatment for me for is to treat the symptoms, rest and try to remove the stress from my life. Ha!
The biggest problem for me is that I sometimes "forget" that I have lupus and I run around acting like a normal person. It doesn't take long for my body to remind me that I am NOT normal. Still, it could be worse. I just have to try to slow down.
