Hi there everyone,
This is only my second post, I introduced myself a couple of weeks ago. I was diagnosed with Discoid Lupus back in 1998 & recently have been having lots of rash flare ups, extreem tiredness, aches & pains, headaches, nose ulcers,
I'm taking plaquenil which tends to keep the leisions at bay but recently its not seeming to be working...in fact its been worse since my new job, delivery driver.
I've had lots of cold/flu like symptoms, tummy problems (like IBS symptoms of when you gotta go you gotta go!), feeling very down, bad period pains & other menstrual goings-on, various things that show my body is 'low' like ecsma (?spelling!), infections,
I've recently been to the Dr (quite a few times in fact!) & the last time he was sure it had gone into SLE but did a range of blood tests & nothing showed up, not even a raise inflamatory marker or if it was up it was only up slightly. The last time I went to GP I insisted on a referal to St Thomas' as local Dermatologists/Rheumotolgists (spelling??) weren't taking any notice of the aches/pains/tiredness, he's refered me (yippie!) but not received the appointment date as yet.
I'm so tired at the mo & my memory is shot to pieces. At work I've made so many mistakes the last few weeks. When I took this job (delivery driver for a company that supplies welding stuff/tools etc) I had always done office/desk jobs before so it was a lovely, stress free change. I absolutely adore this job as my stress levels have gone down a lot & my mental happyness is much better (have suffered from depression & stuff before so making sure my mental welbeing is good is a very important thing to me)....but...over the past two months I've got more & more tired which I put down to the fact its a physical job. Then I got flu/infections/mouth & nose ulcers...then the leisions started & then the pains in my arms/legs/hips etc started. Then I got migraines & on it went....
Last week I was at the end of my teather as I was in so much pain & was going to bed most evenings really early cos I was so tired. I felt like going in & handing my notice in by Friday but didn't cos I love the job so much. Today I was in tears as I knew the day would get more painful as the day went on. My partner was trying to help with various ideas but wasn't really that much help, bless him. The sun & heat in the van is making the rashes/lesions on my face much worse (I'm wearing facor 50 & have the sun visor down), a new rash has appeared on my neck (the side near the window) & my forearms get sore from the sun. The heat & the sun are making me exhausted, sometimes I have to stop & have a 10 min snooze cos I'm nodding off. Also I steadily get more achey throughout the day (& now first thing in the morning). My hands get all siezed up if I drive for a long distance from gripping the wheel as well.
Thing is I don't want to give up this job as I love it & don't want to go back to office/desk jobs (as I don't like them) but don't know what else to do.
I hate feeling like this & keep thinking I'm being lazy & imagining things.
Until I get the appt at St Thomas' my doctor won't give me anything to help as I'm not diagnosed with anything.
Suggestions would be appreciated, plus boxes of tissues as I keep on bawling as well!!!
Thanks
Fran
x
This is only my second post, I introduced myself a couple of weeks ago. I was diagnosed with Discoid Lupus back in 1998 & recently have been having lots of rash flare ups, extreem tiredness, aches & pains, headaches, nose ulcers,
I'm taking plaquenil which tends to keep the leisions at bay but recently its not seeming to be working...in fact its been worse since my new job, delivery driver.
I've had lots of cold/flu like symptoms, tummy problems (like IBS symptoms of when you gotta go you gotta go!), feeling very down, bad period pains & other menstrual goings-on, various things that show my body is 'low' like ecsma (?spelling!), infections,
I've recently been to the Dr (quite a few times in fact!) & the last time he was sure it had gone into SLE but did a range of blood tests & nothing showed up, not even a raise inflamatory marker or if it was up it was only up slightly. The last time I went to GP I insisted on a referal to St Thomas' as local Dermatologists/Rheumotolgists (spelling??) weren't taking any notice of the aches/pains/tiredness, he's refered me (yippie!) but not received the appointment date as yet.
I'm so tired at the mo & my memory is shot to pieces. At work I've made so many mistakes the last few weeks. When I took this job (delivery driver for a company that supplies welding stuff/tools etc) I had always done office/desk jobs before so it was a lovely, stress free change. I absolutely adore this job as my stress levels have gone down a lot & my mental happyness is much better (have suffered from depression & stuff before so making sure my mental welbeing is good is a very important thing to me)....but...over the past two months I've got more & more tired which I put down to the fact its a physical job. Then I got flu/infections/mouth & nose ulcers...then the leisions started & then the pains in my arms/legs/hips etc started. Then I got migraines & on it went....
Last week I was at the end of my teather as I was in so much pain & was going to bed most evenings really early cos I was so tired. I felt like going in & handing my notice in by Friday but didn't cos I love the job so much. Today I was in tears as I knew the day would get more painful as the day went on. My partner was trying to help with various ideas but wasn't really that much help, bless him. The sun & heat in the van is making the rashes/lesions on my face much worse (I'm wearing facor 50 & have the sun visor down), a new rash has appeared on my neck (the side near the window) & my forearms get sore from the sun. The heat & the sun are making me exhausted, sometimes I have to stop & have a 10 min snooze cos I'm nodding off. Also I steadily get more achey throughout the day (& now first thing in the morning). My hands get all siezed up if I drive for a long distance from gripping the wheel as well.
Thing is I don't want to give up this job as I love it & don't want to go back to office/desk jobs (as I don't like them) but don't know what else to do.
I hate feeling like this & keep thinking I'm being lazy & imagining things.
Until I get the appt at St Thomas' my doctor won't give me anything to help as I'm not diagnosed with anything.
Suggestions would be appreciated, plus boxes of tissues as I keep on bawling as well!!!
Thanks
Fran
x