I can see that you are feeling desperate. I understand how you feel - getting a diagnosis can be such a frustrating battle. I should warn you that if you do have lupus, then laying in the sun could trigger a dangerous flare-up. Many lupus patients are photosensitive. Do you think this is worth the risk? There are safer ways of getting your Vit D levels up - supplements work well. Have you got a doctor or lupus nurse you could talk to about how desperate you are feeling? Do you have supportive friends and family? Talk to someone, get support. I really hope you get a diagnosis soon and the help that you need. xx

Hello there, like Dryad I am most concerned that you need to discuss your health with your GP or Rheumatology nurse/Consultant. If you have Lupus then exposure to the sun is very likely to trigger a flare and could make you very unwell. If you have such low levels of Vitamin D then that could definitely contributing to why you feel so unwell. Many people with low levels of Vit D can bad joint pain for example. Supplements are the way to go for most Lupus patients. With levels that low you need a Vitamin D injection to boost your levels and then to take daily high dose supplements.

Regarding the ANA levels. This are measures of how your immune system is responding and are diagnostic blood tests for Lupus and many other connective tissue diseases. Most are unlikely to change with you being in the sun. however, for those people who are ds-DNA positive then this is often a good indicator or how active your Lupus is and if you expose yourself to the sun it could cause a flare and this level could rise.

I hope that helps. Lupus is a VERY complicated condition and everyone is very individual!

All my best

Hi winterbaby07,

I would like to echo what other members of the community have said and warn you against deliberately exposing yourself to sunlight and risking a flare. As others have said, if you are deficient in vitamin D, you can get supplements prescribed for you, which is a much better way to resolve this and potentially alleviate some symptoms.

There is no knowing whether triggering a flare could make your test results positive - there are some people that never have positive antibody test results, regardless of how active their disease or severe their symptoms. It is not worth risking your health.

Dear Winter,

The sun will cause some additional fatigue, and if you have Discoid Lupus, it may awaken the butterfly rash. I live in south Florida all year round. My ANA is always positive. The sun does not cause Lupus, and the ANA is a factor in your blood that only shows that you have an autoimmune disease- one or more. Lupus is difficult. When I hear of young kids being diagnosed, it makes me sad. However, younger people have a chance to go into remission.

When you are diagnosed at the age I was - 67 - this is the rest of my life - however long or short it will be. Activity will help fight the fatigue. I'm about to play tennis - I play 4 days a week. Of course, my game is not as it was. Some days I can't hit a ball. But if I stop - my body will quit as well. You must be active and fight this demon. Don't let it get YOU - you can get IT! We're here for you - we all know what it feels like. Don't ever feel as if you are alone. Yes, we also get Lupus brain. Our focus is off - our brains sometimes slow down - and our memory wanders. Get out there - bike ride, exercise, walk, run, play tennis, swim, or do whatever you can but just know that for each moment you are doing some kind of activity, you are fighting Lupus! Good luck!

Hi Winterbaby07

I returned this morning from a week in Turkey. The temperature was 36 degrees by breakfast time so, although not prone to photosensitive rashes, I plastered myself in the thickest SPF50 that I could find, wore a vest top too and was careful to spend much of the day either in the sea or shade. After 2 days, I noticed (and ignored) some warning signs of an impending flare and by day 4 was struck down with such severe joint pain & swelling that I was reduced to tears through the nights. Clearly, my body was protesting as loudly as it could.

Lounging around did nothing to improve things and, to my disgust, I was so lame I needed to be wheeled from the plane across the tarmac. To echo some of Tennissenior's advice - steady exercise is the key to optimum mobility. I couldn't manage the level of exercise that she does but I do walk my dog twice daily regardless of how disabled I am and I am always better for the exercise.

I am one of the ones who rarely produces antibodies (even after 25 years) so I rely on photos and a good relationship with my GP, Consultant and Rheumatology nurse to help.

Good luck with getting the treatment you need. Clare x