The fatigue

[JBUGGIE210]

Im sooo tried. My lupus is about to flare and i dont have preventives. Im allergic to prednisone and methotrexate. They give ne suicidal ideation and i have had a couple attempts... i have no energy and i just want to sleep but i cant. Does anybody have any idea on how to get atleast some energy?

[lupus-support1 Administrator]

Welcome to LUpus Patients Understanding & Support (LUPUS) at HealthUnlocked.

The first thing I must say to you is that LUpus Patients Understanding & Support (LUPUS) is not an emergency service and we cannot offer this to you. If you have suicidal ideation, you MUST make an appointment with your GP. You can also call the Samaritans who are available 24/7.

It sounds to me that you are very depressed. Only by treating your symptoms can you have a life. There is no reason you cannot be prescribed medication. The first thing you need to do is to find a lupus specialist. Second, your specialist will monitor your condition over time. If certain medications disagree with you, there are other drugs.

Do you have a lupus specialist?

As you are in the USA, you can go to the Lupus Foundation of America and find the nearest Chapter near to where you live. They can then provide available doctors and offer you support:

lupus.org/chapters

Please let me know how you get on.

I am concerned about you, but you also need to help yourself.

We also have another website called the LuPUS Message Board where you can also post questions and talk to other people. Registration is FREE and we offer free information and free online psychological support. We specialise in psychological support with our own counsellor/psychotherapist available.

By becoming a Member, you will have access to the private forums and because they are private, only Members have access and even bots and search engines are forbidden.

Please use the following to complete the Date of Birth entry: nn-nn-nnnn where n=number. Thus, if your birthday is 5th May 1968, enter: 05-05-1968. Use the “-“ separator and not the “/“.

Finally, please go to: lupus-support.org/ and Sign Up.

I look forward to talking with you more!

Sometimes we need to talk to people who understand and who are not family or friends.

With good wishes!

Ros

Disclaimer: No attempt is made to diagnose or to make any medical judgement. You are advised to seek the advice from your own physician. LUpus Patients Understanding & Support (LUPUS) is not a substitute for your own doctor.

[JBUGGIE210 in reply to lupus-support1]

I do have a specialist. Ive been perscribed the meds, i exercise or atleast try to. I am depressed with anxiety and panic attacks and night sweats. I take medication for this as well it just that my body has become used to the meds and they have pretty much stopped working. I have an appointment with my GP to adjust the meds. My medications are expensive and the job insurance doesnt provide much. I applied for assistance but i make too much but not enough to afford $400 medication and still be able to "live". Ive been dealing with my lupus for 8 years now and have been monitored since day 1. Thats how i know the meds give me horrible suicidal ideation. After ny daughter was born i went into a flare. It was so bad i couldn't pick my baby up let alone be the mom i needes to be. I was perscribed methotrexate. My dr felt that the risks (suicidal ideation) didnt out weigh the benefits. So i took it. About a week after starting a 30 day supply i foubd nyself in the kitchen with a butcher knife about to slit my wrists. Only thing that stopped me was hearing my baby girl crying. It was bad and i stopped the meds myself. Still in a flare i dealt with it with pain medication. I was stilk hurting but would rather take the opioid then try to kill myself. The postpartum depression was also a factor in that episode. Im not looking for energency help just some advice to pull myself out this funk and try to not go into a flare.

[lupus-support1 Administrator in reply to JBUGGIE210]

It sounds to me that you need psychological support in addition to seeing your lupus specialist.

Perhaps try and contact the Lupus Foundation of America who organize self-help. There may be people near you with whom you can talk. This is very important.

Do you get help from your family and friends.

Post-partum depression is not uncommon and mostly related to hormones. It's also common to flare following pregnancy! It happened to me! I am also on MTX which is an excellent drug which contains the disease.

Nothing can prevent a flare but with medication you can lead a normal life.

The anxiety and depression may be a reaction to having lupus and is "normal" response! But, I suspect that there are aspects of your life that add to the anxiety and depression.

Please contact the LFA and let me know how you get on.

With good wishes,

Ros