Lupus

Thunderwolf, MSN, RN · Feb 6, 2006

Moved to General Nursing Discussion forum.

nypsychnurse · Mar 8, 2006

I was just diagnosed yesterday. Been having problems for years, though. I'm not happy about the diagnoses, but relieved that what I have finally has a name and course of treatment.

I initially attributed my symptoms to many other things, one being the fact that I worked nights. Moving to the day shift made everything worse (high stress) So I resigned from my job and found another position in another hospital in a totally different area of nursing.

I will start my new job Monday and am now scared to death! I'm just hoping the new job doesn't make the symptoms worse, and hoping the meds I just started will help me start to feel better.

postmortRNhere · Mar 8, 2006

Hi, I am really sorry about that...There was a study done that nurses have a higher ratio of autoimmune disorders than any other profession. I will try to locate the data. But I know that it was from some kind of very well known institution. In the meantime you need to take very good care of yourself. My sister has Lupus and she is 30 years old, she was misdiagnosed for at least 3 years before she found the right physician. She immediately joined a support group with others who have this condition. Try to find a local group in your area. She is doing well and just has some bad days with flare ups but great ones too. She is highly functional with 2 small children and a full blown career in film production. Do not get discouraged.

lorster · Mar 8, 2006

I was just diagosed with rheumatoid arthritis yesterday. Have been sick for about 5 years, not knowing what was wrong. I have had 3 bad pneumonias in a year. I work on a medical floor and take care of the ped patients. I am sick more than I am not. My rheumotologist told me that he is disturbed at the number of health care professionals that are getting auto immune diseases. I would love to see that data. I'm wondering if my job is going to make me sicker as time goes on. I would also love any input from anyone that has an autoimmune disease that is working the floor and is doing ok. Thanks fellow nurses.

lizavaca · Mar 8, 2006

what were your symptoms and how did the doctor finally discover you had lupus? I'm just asking because I have been feeling run down for quite a while...

nypsychnurse · Mar 9, 2006

It started with chronic fatigue for at least 10 years, along with depression. My first MD did blood work and found that I had an underactive thyroid. I started meds for that, and while the labs looked better, I never felt better. It progressed to muscle aches, bursitis and neck pain. I had all kinds of tests done-x-rays, MRIs, etc. with no luck. With the onset of severe joint pain, I was treated for lymes, then refered to a rheumatologist when that didn't help. The doc took my history,and asked a few questions: Rashes?Photosensitivity? Yes, I had a few raised rashes in my early 20's, and have since avoided the sun. Hair Loss? Yes, Its not falling out in clumps, but I have noticed quite a build up in my comb. She then ordered some blood tests to screen for what I thought would be RA, but they were negative, the tests for Lupus were positive. I am still shocked how quickly the diagnoses was made after seeing the Rheumatologist.

rdop5388 · Mar 9, 2006

I have been fighting discoid lupus for about 2 years. Although I was diagnosed over 25 years ago. My bottom right eyelid is red inflammed and chronic styes. Have tried various meds with no relief. Now seeing a specialist that has prescribed a cream and if that doesn't work then will take an antimalarial drug. I am not happy. So if anyone has any other ideas I would appreciate it. I am just afraid my eyelid is going to rot off. It is a very strange and hard to understand illness for me.

LilRedRN1973 · Mar 10, 2006

I am 32 and was diagnosed with RA in June 2005 (one month after graduating RN school). Needless to say, it's been a struggle with pain and depression. I have good days and bad days. My sympathies are with you as I know what you are going through. It frightens me to think my career as an RN may be shortened by RA and although I control it somewhat with Celebrex and will be starting Enbrel, Remicade, or Humira shortly, I have gotten myself disability insurance in the event I'm unable to work sometime in the future.

Melanie = )

lorster · Mar 10, 2006

I'm sorry to hear about you getting arthritis at age31. I also took out disability insurance just in case. I start on plaquinil after the initial eye exam. I guess all we can do is take it one day at a time and just take as good a care of ourselves as we can. I am just getting over shingles and pneumonia so I've been out of work for a week. My employer is very understanding of this and I'm thankful for that. I wish you well. With all the new treatments out there...you should be able to carry on in your nursing profession. I'm gonna try to get off the medical floor so I'm not hammered with so many bugs. I think that is part of my problem right now. I just cannot dodge them all. Keep me posted.

BethBSN · Mar 10, 2006

Hi, I know how it goes too. I'm in nursing school now and I'm graduating next May 2007, and I was dx when I was 15. Around that time I noticed I had 20-30 small bruises all over my legs and some on my arms (d/t thrombocytopenia), I was also really fatigued. Like, I would come home from school and take a 3 hour nap, then go to bed at 10pm and still never felt refreshed. I also have Raynaud's Phenomenon. I would try to look back at your family hx and see what you find. I found out that my grandmother had polymyositis and a hx of multiple, multiple miscarriages (I suspect she had APS too). I have been very fortunate though, and my counts have been stable ever since that time. No other organ involvement (praise God). I try to take care of myself. I see my Rheumie about 2x/year, let myself plenty of rest (sometimes I need 12 hours of sleep to feel really good), eat right (mostly chicken/fish diet; I avoid soda, red meat), get a flu shot every year, take my meds everyday; i should exercise more though (I blame school :). Try to stay away from sick people and when I graduate maybe go to the areas of nursing where there's less infectious people. Any other Lupus nurses or nurses-to-be out there? I would be interested in what areas you guys work in.

bbcewalters, NP · Mar 10, 2006

to those with lupus and those who think they have it.

the screening test for lupus is the Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) test

I tested positive for this test, but my RF test was negative, however i will likely develop symptoms of lupus eventually. Currently I have no symptoms. Be carefull of a diagnosis that does not comply with the Lupus Foundation Criteria as Lupus can hinder your ability to get health insurance.

My mother had lupus although it is a different disease for everyone. Her main problems were skin rash and sensitivity and arthritis, she never developed any other systemic issues.

If you have questions the Lupus Foundation has a great web site.

Good Luck to everyone who suffer from this very difficult disease

Bobbi