How I Found Out

This is my first post on my new blog.  I am testing it all out but wanted to start with my story with Lupus.  It sounded like a topic I knew I could share and have shared many times so this should be easy, right?

In August 2012, I was feeling tired.  I got a nice rash/hives on my head in my hairline.  Then it spread to my ears.  I thought it would go away but it didn't, it got worse.  I went to a med clinic here in San Antonio (yes, they are real doctors) and I was diagnosed with SHINGLES!!! Ewww, I felt dirty.  I was given meds to help with the itchy rash and they started to go away but then about a week later I started getting fever blisters on my bottom lip.  I had never had fever blisters before but I figured it makes sense since I had the shingles.  I made a trip back to the med clinic because I couldn't eat and the blisters were not going away.

In September 2012, the doctor at the med clinic gave me penicillin for the fever blisters and they went away BUT my whole body broke out in a itchy rash.  My arms and legs were so red and itchy and nothing would help.  I went back to the med clinic and was told I had a drug reaction to penicillin because I was allergic (I had never been allergic to anything in my life).  The doctor said it will go away on its own (took 2 weeks). 

I thought I was feeling better, just a little cold and ear ache but nothing I haven't dealt with before.  Work offered the flu shot and I got it like I do every year, WORST mistake and BEST blessing ever.  Most people get the shot and a sniffle and move on, I couldn't move on.  In fact, I am still fighting the flu.  Thanks to the flu shot I went back to the doctor one more time.  By then I was starting to get a nice little rash on my cheeks.  He said I needed to go to the dermatologist.

After a month or so of missing so much work, not being able to lift my baby because I was in so much pain I was off to the dermatologist (well the best PA I could find).  It is hard to be a new patient when you need to be seen right away, many places couldn't see me until FEB!  REALLY?  One look at me and she thought Lupus.  I guess it was more obvious than I thought.  She ordered lots of tests through blood work and urine.  I was given creams for my face which helped clear it up in a week. 
The PA called me on a Thurs to give me the results.  I had lupus and I needed to go to the rheumatologist soon. 

Here are two pictures I took of the rash:

This one is good so you can see I was healing.  The rash on my cheeks peeled off.  Man I was so swollen!

 

 Here is another of my swollen face.  I dont even know if this was the beginning or end of the rash!

 

So that's my story for now.  My wrist hurts from what I have typed before.  I think its the rain.