Lupus

GEO · Apr 21, 2004

I Try To Encourage Anyone Who Is Interested In Nursing To Pursue This Field. It Is Such A Wonderful Career. I Can Say This After 24 Years. Even With Her Diagnosis She Needs To Continue If This Is Where Her Heart Is. However, She Does Need To Look At Her Options. It Could Be A Tough Road, But It Is A Road That Is Going To Be A Trial No Matter What Profession She Chooses With This Disease. I Feel Very Fortunate To Have Had So Many Good Years Of Health And Working. And When I Feel Good, It Is Still What I Want To Do On A Daily Basis. She May Also. If She Wants To Be A Nurse For The Right Reasons Then She Should Go For It.

GEO · Apr 21, 2004

Oh, And The Legal Nursing Is Not For A Plaintiffs Attorney, It Is Defending Nurses. I Am Able To Be Completely Honest In My Opinions. There Are Mistakes That Are Made, We All Know That. I Dont Want To Be A Part Of Any Nurse Being Sued, Just My Stand On It. And I Am Still Trying to Hold Down A Full Time Nursing Job, for now anyhow.

transplant · Apr 21, 2004

I'm sorry you are having to go through this. I don't have lupus but have numerous health problems. Have had a transplant in the last 2 years and an MI and I am 32..plus many other diabetic complications. I am also trying to work full time in the oR, which I love but have had to look seriously at doing something different lately because I never know how I am going to feel, and as you know when you are immunosuppressed you have to take care of yourself. As nurses we are used to taking care of others but at times don't take the same care of ourselves. I am struggling with this issue also with working and all I can say is to be true to yourself and do what is best for you. Best of luck..

jjbaby · Apr 22, 2004

This thread hits home for me. I was Dx in 1994 with SLE, but I believe I have had it since 1985. Very difficult disease to diagnose.... I graduated High school in 1980. Worked full-time in a facility for adult mentally retarded people, and in 2000 went back to school for my RN degree. I worked full-time throughout my schooling, graduated in March of this year, took and passed boards the first week of April. And I start a new full-time dayshift job at a regional hospital on May 3rd. (3-12 hour shifts) I am also a full-time wife, mother and grandma to 2 year old Hailey. As if this were not enough.............. :rolleyes:

IT CAN BE DONE!!

Although I have bouts with fatigue, I have been able to handle everything as it comes. My SLE seems to affect my platelets mostly. They have been as low as 4,000. Had a spleenectomy in 1997, and the counts have stayed pretty steady since then. So far all of my renal tests are normal. I try to take care of myself and get rest when I need it.

Good Luck with the choices you make. I wish you the best.

Just a note here: Be careful of any type of live virus vaccine: this has triggered 2 of my worst flares...Hepatitis Vaccine and a DT booster. My doctor believes this may be a big trigger for the immune system to "overreact".

JJ RN- a fellow SLE'er.

OneChattyNurse · Apr 22, 2004

My mom was diagnosed in 1979 with DLE. She has endured many flare-up's and treatments(she used to get over 50 shots of cortisone in the face in one sitting). I have learned over the years that it is VERY necessary for her to get enough sleep. She also takes alot of vitamins. I know that when my children have even the sniffles, we have to stay away. All of this aside, she has worked full-time (mostly in factories) ever since her diagnosis. I wish all of you that fight with this disease, discoid or systemic, the best. Take care of yourselves!!!

GEO · Apr 23, 2004

WHEN I STARTED THIS THREAD I WAS IN A FLARE. I CAN NOT BEGIN TO EXPLAIN HOW ALONE I FELT, THE STRUGGLE AND FATIGUE.... I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU RESPONDING. IT DOES HELP TO KNOW THERE ARE OTHER WORKING NURSES WHO ARE SUCCESSFULLY HOLDING DOWN THEIR JOBS WHILE FIGHTING THIS DISEASE. I KNOW THERE WILL BE A DAY THAT I WILL HAVE TO MAKE CHANGES, BUT TODAY I AM DOING WHAT I WANT TO DO. AND I THANK GOD FOR THAT. THANKS FELLOW LUPIES....LOL....I ALWAYS KNEW I WAS LOOPY..........JUST WAS SPELLING IT WRONG. :rotfl: