start of lupus
Hi All
Such a great thread thanks. My health problems have been on/off all my life, and in hot/cold climates. As child in Southern Australia always chilblains on hands, feet -joint problems, doctors saying at 11 have one shoulder lower than other, had pigeontoes, using special shoes, protruding teeth, braces, ringworms. As student teacher had to sit down on stool, couldn't stand. Wisdom teeth fell to bits, married 4 children- problems with first birth at 7months- week's hospital with pyelitis-kidney-blood transfusion, with 4th child at 7months in hospital bleeding, but he came okay. Later had rash all over body- doctors gave drugs -got better. No-one connected that with start of contraceptive pill.
Moved to north Australia- teaching fulltime for 10 years- had a frozen shoulder- better. After 10 years on pill, lI'd had headaches at end of most days. Then neck was so bad had massage- agony, then came blinding headache-dying- to hospital- but as records now show I was in a coma for 3 days, no x-ray until a lady doctor flew me with suspected cerebral hemorrhage, parlysed leg. Had aneurism operation, 6weeks in hospital there.
Back to teaching after 5 months, I was supporting family, husband ill. Then 5 years later I had random grandmal fit, put onto dilantin. Children grown, had second frozen shoulder, many kidney problems, 2 curettes for bleeding, divorced husband. Still teaching fulltime, sinus, laryngitis, thyroid problems often. Went south to study further, taught in Papua New Guinea.
In the Highlands, had to fly back to Australia- no speech- another stroke-bleed. taught self to speak with recorder-back teaching, swollen carotid near scar.Started doctorate- but was in 19C on campus, so had carpal tunnel operation on right wrist. Just finished, revising, when I went to doctors as felt could be stroke. For 18months they had no idea, just drugs.
Then scalp filled with sores, gums falling to pieces- growing hard palate. No specialists here. Hands, arms, legs swelling, no help, until had to force GP to do tests, ANA and APS both positive- not high. Had 2 eye operations. Of course you understand that I am now on Plaquenil since Sep, helps a little, after seeing 2 rheumies. Sinus so bad last year, I knew I was allergic to Penicillin, Septrin, Bactrin, Phenergan, so nothing helped.
At moment have had skin biopsy down south, kidney cystoscomy up north for high red cells, and nothing decided yet. To have a salivary gland biopsy soon, and down south to connective tissue specialist too.
So I receive most of my support online, making so many wonderful friends and finding information. I enjoy the many lupus/aps books.