Lupus Nephritis - steroids and imnunosuppresants

[MOOG144]

Hi

Diagnoised with stage 4 Lupus Nephritis 2 months ago currently on masses of drugs but the main one being 50mg prednisolone and 1.5mg MMF.

So apart from the expcted bloating I was doing ok until I caught an upper respiratory tract infection at work. Was put on a low dose of antibiotics but a week off feeling awful and increase in fever and nausea back to the docs for a second course of antibiotics doubling the dose.

Now I feel awful I've had sickness and diarrhoea since taking the 2nd lot of antibiotics, bloating is so bad I physically can't face eating more than a couple of mouthful.

Should I be concerned?

[Deegraham]

The fact that you are vomiting so not able to absorb your pred and mycophenolate is an issue.

You need to see your Dr.

Btw the lupus guidelines that came out last October say that you should be on IV rituximab. My son had exactly the same as you diagnosed last October. It's an amazing drug. You must push for that! Read the guidelines and show them to your consultant.

Hope you feel better soon. You really do need to see a doctor as you might have a serious infection going on if you are still vomiting etc

[MOOG144 in reply to Deegraham]

Thanks for the reply...

They are trying to avoid rituximab as my partner and I were on fertility treatment when I was diagnosed and they want to try to keep our options as open as they can.

I've finally started to feel a bit better thank God so fingers crossed over the worst of it

[1sam in reply to MOOG144]

Hi dear. I'm glad you are feeling better.

I'm on MMF for lupus nephritis, and it causes me gastritis and bloating when I have it on empty stomach... do you have the guideline that comes with the MMF box? Sadly, common heartburn meds are not suggested... "bland diet" works ok for me, talk to your Dr to see if it is good for you, or some antiacid based on sodium bicarbonate... but please check with someone properly trained on medicine/drugs, I'm not.

Wishing you well

[Paul_Howard Partner LUPUS UK]

Hi MOOG144 ,

Do you know what type of antibiotics you were prescribed? People who have SLE should always list sulfa antibiotics as one of their allergies, even if they have never taken them before. Sulfa antibiotics can cause lupus to flare, and people who have lupus have a high chance of being allergic to them as well.

[MOOG144 in reply to Paul_Howard]

Hi Paul

I was prescribed Clarithromycin so I think they are ok to take. Thanks for the heads up though as never heard of that before