Severe flare - need advice please :(

Surferboy,

If things as you say are this bad then perhaps you should consider phoning the emergency GP or even attending A&E! If you do remember to explain that you have been diagnosed but have not yet commenced treatment.

Paracetamol can be taken alongside Ibupofen - but as always perhaps confirm this first with a pharmacist for your own peace of mind (I'm only giving advice based on what I've been told).

Not sure whether you should use the ibuprofen gel along with the tablets 'that may be an overdose of the drug' - read the advice and ask a pharmacist. There are anaelgesic creams that you can use that I think wont interact would be are not very strong!

Hot water bottle or even ice packs could be tried!

Take care and get lots of rest!

Lesley

PS - forgot! Blurred vision, eye pain and headache is something that should be looked on as an emergency regardless of the Lupus. If it were me I would sacrifice my free time and go to A&E for some expert attention today! Perhaps it will even fast track you back to the Rhuemie for all those meds to start.

Hey guys and girls,

A very quick update on my situation as still not feeling none too good

WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO OUR NHS!!!

My wife took me to A&E - and what a waste of time it proved to be

Having waited 2 and half hours to see a Dr, the short of it was the Dr didn't seem to give 2 hoots... or even know the full symptoms of SLE She kept saying the aches in the joints ARE arthritis

I explained the entire series of sequences that led me to being there (diagnosis last week, aches, temp etc). She asked if I had taken pain killers to which I said yes, loads, and they dont seem to be working.

I asked if she wished to do any tests. She said NO. She just kept suggesting that I go home and wait for an appointment with my consultant.

In the end she did take a urine sample and did a dip stick test, which showed urine but she said it was nothing to worry about.

She also had a look at my blood test results. Now wait for this severe lack of care.

I told her that I had had a test done on Friday - which was the 25th. She said "yup. we have those results, and everything seems to be OK. Your GFR is at 90 which is a little low. but nothing to worry about".

But to cut a long story short, the date she was looking at as being the 25th was not in fact the date of the blood test but was in fact my date of birth How reckless and dangerous could those sort of mistakes be!!!

I asked for medication, to which she said just take paracetemol!! I told her they too dont seem to be working. In the end, just to get me out she suggested morphine or codine. I opted for the codine.

I am still in severe pain. Can't move my legs or shoulders or arms. Temp going up and down like a..............

Oh, and I remember someone saying something about the GFR being important. I had a double check and mine is quite low at >90. Would someone be able to confirm how worrying this is please?

I'll be calling the rhumy dept tomorrow to demand an immediate appt as things are starting to get me down :sad:

Sorry for going off on one