[Maia]

I can reassure you that it sounds like sooner rather than later you WILL know what all is wrong with you & will hopefully get treatment that will work.

I find it rather odd that you've been on low dose antibiotics for a solid 2 years! Seems like if treatment didn't work they would have cultured and found exactly what it was to find just the right antibiotic. With lupus, usually it is blood and protein or just protein that is found in the urine, so perhaps that will set your mind at ease a little bit.

Episcleritis usually clears within 2-3 weeks - often within one week. It rarely causes permanent damage; it is pretty unusual to be treated with oral prednisone for that too. Usually eye drops, lubricant or steroid eye drops are used. Episcleritis more often than not occurs for no known reason... but a particular type which is more severe is associated with rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.

I hope you can get some answers soon - waiting is often the hardest part to get through in many ways. Take care and please let us know how things turn out.

 

[Maia]

Well, that explains a few things! Scleritis is more serious and usually treated with steroid eye drops and oral steriods, sometimes an antibiotic and in severe refractory cases even chemotherapy. It can last for a long time and needs to be aggressively treated as it can cause vision loss if left untreated especially.

That benefits situation must be infuriating. I know a few people with Crohn's and undoubtedly that can really throw you for a loop and leave you truly incapable of doing anything when it's bad.

I hope they get it figured out for you soon - and you don't have to wait long for that next eye appointment. (((hugs))) Keep pressing on - you're worth it. Just don't ever forget that!