Lupus Symptoms?

[KADM]

Hi I just joined this forum/community. Here’s my story. In April 2020 I caught COVID and suffered about 9 months afterwards with various symptoms of long COVID. I started feeling nearly 100% better by February 2021. In August 2021 I had my first Pfizer vaccine. Then 4 weeks after having my first Pfizer vaccine I became itchy especially my nose and then other parts of my face and scalp. I’ve now developed disc like itchy shapes on parts of my nostrils and forehead, cheeks and neck. Some are little pink discs, some are red spots or dots and some are flat circular things that have a red outline and flesh coloured centre. Sometimes my eyes are also quite red or has a red vein in the centre. The dermatologist didn’t know what they were but gave me steroid cream to try. However I am going to visit a lupus specialist as I believe I have these type of symptoms. Did any of you experience the same after the first COVID vaccine?

[Chris21]

Hi KADM,I have the disc shapes and spots that appear over my face and body. Mine is through having lupus and sjogrens. I’ve never had COVID (so far 🤞) from the media what I read is that long COVID seems to mimic all auto immune disease. For at least 5 years I lost my sense of smell and taste, get chest infections and the latest toe COVID mimics raynaulds symptoms. Hopefully a blood test and medical history will be able to give you the answers your looking for. 🙂

[KADM in reply to Chris21]

Hi Chris, thank you for your response. It was frightening first seeing these itchy circles appear on my face and neck. Some look like flesh coloured disc shapes and other circles have a red outline. It’s all new to me so I need all the information I can get, very interesting. So sorry you go through this too. I go to see a doctor that specializes in this field (lupus) in a few weeks time so it will be interesting when the results come back and what they recommend.

Thanks again!

[Hoofprints]

I'm sorry you are having a tough time.

It also might be worth checking with your G.P., and preferably the lupus specialist you are going to see , whether you might have some form of vasculitis. Rashes can occur with that disease also.

I find it's helpful to write down all my symptoms on paper, even those that don't seem connected, and take it along to the consultation to share.

Good luck with the lupus specialist and I hope you get a diagnosis and appropriate treatment soon. 🍀

[KADM in reply to Hoofprints]

Thank you so much! I’ll send updates when I have results

[Hoofprints in reply to KADM]

Yes keep us all informed and good luck 🌻🌻🍀🍀🍀

[RachelD1972]

Hi, long covid does seem to mimic some auto immune conditions and I guess they will find out more as time goes on. I have discoid lupus which can show up as disc like rashes/lesions. It also affects my scalp. Keep an eye and see if it worsens in sunlight but maybe your derm will need to do a skin biopsy. Just be careful with steroid cream on your face. Hope you feel better soon x

[KADM in reply to RachelD1972]

I haven’t taken the steroid cream just yet as I want to see if it will die down without it before I see the specialist. But if the itching and discs get worse I think I’ll have no choice.

[RachelD1972 in reply to KADM]

Keep taking pics of flare ups. It’s so difficult when we have to wait ages for appointments. With DLE I get the red patches but the skin then starts to breakdown. That’s when I have to hit it with steroid cream as scarring can be particularly bad. Hope you get some answers soon x

[KADM]

Thank you for the information. Im currently living in Japan and I have my second vaccine on the 16 Oct, so hopefully soon after that I can get to see the doctor/specialist. In Japan you can’t just book an appointment with a specialist in a hospital. You have to visit a small dermatology clinic and then the dermatologist has to write a letter of recommendation to the hospital. So I go back to the dermatologist next week and get him to write a letter for me and then an appointment can be booked. It’s a bit annoying but at least it’s something I suppose. I’m dreading the 2nd Pfizer vaccine as I’m sure that will not improve the situation… maybe even escalate things 😫