Hello Roxie and welcome!
Haha, I had to laugh about your bad habit and the internet. I really know what you mean. There is so much information out there that we can end up scaring ourselves quite badly.
On the other hand there is very useful info and, of course, this site which is a truly wonderful place :lol:
When looking through this site, you need to be aware that a lot of people on here are, like yourself, newly diagnosed and still getting to grips with the disease. They are also often at the beginning of their treatment, or in some cases haven't yet started. A lot of other people are not yet diagnosed and then there are those that lupus affects more severely.
The important thing to remember is that there are lots and lots of people with lupus who don't come here at all because their lupus is well controlled and they are out there leading busy lives with everyone else.
I can't say that I have an "accomplishment" as you say, but I can tell you that when I first came here I really wasn't well at all. I started treatment for my lupus almost 11 months ago. It takes time to find the meds which suit each indivdual. In my case I had to be put on slightly stronger meds than plaquenil alone. Ten months after starting treatment I suddenly got a lot better - I would say, almost normal - and that's where I am at today. OK, I lack the energy some people have (and that I used to have years ago) and I get more achy bits but I feel normal and can enjoy life much more and, importantly for me, will be going back to work in a couple of weeks. I'm lucky in that I am my own boss, so hopefully I'll be able to manage the balance between having enough work to pay the bills, and not overdoing it.
I am very aware that I have to be careful to pace myself - something I have become quite good at - and to avoid stress. I know that a long day out for whatever reason is going to make me very tired for about three days after so I try to rest whenever my body tells me it needs it. Fighting against it only makes it worse and draws out the "getting back to normal" process.
Feel free to come and ask any questions you have, we're here to help as much as we can.
bye for now,
Katharine