Hello from bcarlen

[bcarlen]

Hello.
I was just diagnosed with SLE Lupus last week. I worked for the Boy Scouts and as I was working on setting up our summer camp store in May of 2006, I had a tick bite which developed into Chronic Q Fever ( long story ) which has now developed into SLE Lupus.
It's good to know that there is a name for the things I've been dealing with - fever for a year and 38 days and still counting, headaches, lymph node swelling and pain, dizzy spells, shaky spells, aches all over ( My better half calls me the ache and shake girl! LOL ), extreme fatigue, nausea, and this "lovely" rash that seems to come on whenever I've been in the sun or in flourescent lighting.
I'm so thankful to have found this group. I truly think it will help just knowing that I'm not alone in dealing with this. The hardest part of this so far for me is the extreme fatigue. Before this illness, I was always very active - always doing something - the quintesential multi-tasker, but now, just doing a load of laundry or walking to the mailbox can put me in bed for hours or days.

I was on Cipro for the Q Fever for 7 months, which brought about a rare reaction of spinal meningitis which I'm still dealing with. I thought all these symptoms were a part of the Q Fever, but my specialist says that a longterm infection can bring on SLE Lupus, and she is certain that is what I'm dealing with.

Thanks for letting me tell my story ( or at least part of it! ). Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Beth

[Katharine]

Hi there and welcome.
No particular advice but this is a great place, loads of really nice people and a lot of support.
You sound cheerful, it's the best way to tackle things if you can,
Everyone here is very understanding and that means a lot, they don't need to be told hwo you feel, they all know and that means a lot,
hope you continue to feel cheerful and we're here if not,
Katharine

[iris.phillips1]

:rotfl: hay there and welcome...
id like to welcome you to this amazing site were your find good avice support and friendship.
my name is genette im 24 from warwick uk i have sle lupus and hughes syndrome please to meet you:hehe: you sound a very positive person and thats good to be positive it keeps you going in life
hope to chat soon
love genette:blush:

[bcarlen]

Thanks! I'm trying to stay positive about this. I have a deep faith in Jesus, and I truly believe that He will handle this in His own time. I don't know why I'm dealing with this, but I believe there is a purpose for it.

I had my own personal little pity party the first part of the week after finding out what SLE was...... but, I hope that will be the first and last one!
Normally, I try to live by the motto that you have to make your own fun!
I love to laugh and have a (probably) warped sense of humor!!

Having a name to put with all these symptoms is a relief in itself. I think that the pity party was a mental adjustment perhaps.....