Is this the start of a flare??

[Willow7733]

I am new to my diagnosis, but not new to this feeling (I have felt like this several times over the years when I overdo things). This week was so stressful and busy at work. I started feeling more tired than usual around Wednesday. This morning it is like I am coming down with the flu - so exhausted, sore all over, sore throat, my face is more red than ever. My joints hurt so bad, I really don’t want to move. My chest is so tight, it feels like when I had a few pulmonary embolisms last year. It that I am on the verge of having an asthma attack. It feels like it could be either of those problems- I don’t like it. When I use my reliever inhaler for asthma, it helps the tight chest a bit. I slept pretty well last night.

Because I work at a hospital, I have several rapid Covid tests here at home - so just to be sure, I did one just now. Negative.

Just not sure if this is what a flare is, and not really sure what I do to stop it from getting worse. I am still training a new grad on Monday and it gets really busy.

[Treetop33]

Sorry to hear you aren't feeling well after your busy week at work.

I've always got the impression that everyone's flares are different, so this could be yours. I certainly feel like I've got a major bug going every time I overdo it, particularly after having what I believe was Covid in the first round.

I'm sure, even though you are new to your diagnosis, it has not escaped your attention that there is a major connection between stress and flares, particularly for some people. I wonder how you can pace yourself more - not so easy of course if you work in a hospital. Something to think about in the longer term?

Anyway, have a good rest and I hope things get better soon xx.

[Willow7733]

I just started shivering, my temp 101.12(F), or 38.4(C). Not a big fever, but my joints are very warm to the touch. I should mark this down because by the time I have my phone follow up with the rheumatologist, I get nervous and say everything is fine to just get it over with. And I forget everything.

[KayHimm in reply to Willow7733]

I think a fever of 101 is significant in a lupus patient. You are clearly not well, and you need to be evaluated.

[posthinking01 in reply to Willow7733]

Be careful this could be kidney related - you may have a UTI please get medical help to check you out - shivering is not good.

[KayHimm]

Willow -

It sure sounds like a flare of your lupus. But you have other things that are really concerning like that chest pain. If I were you, I would go to A & E, particularly since you have already shown tendency toward pulmonary embolism.

Just do the safe thing.

We will be thinking of you.

K

[happytulip]

Keep doing LFTs, it's taking quite a long time for them to become positive sometimes. It look 7 days of symptoms before I got the double red line. It's the sore throat that is suspicious, typical Omicron symptom. Feel better soon.

[Willow7733 in reply to happytulip]

I am pretty sure it was an acute flare and not omicron because when I woke up this morning, fever, sore throat, and chills, and muscle soreness are completely gone. I have had this many times before, for years. I push myself when my body is telling me to stop and rest. After all the pulmonary embolisms I have had in the past year, I don’t have many sick days left, so I pushed through this week. My chest pain yesterday felt very similar to the previous blood clots in my lung. 🤷‍♀️ This has been coming on since last Tuesday, and I didn’t slow down, and yesterday it just got so bad.

[Hidden]

Hi Willow,Note my diagnosis is Stills Disease (which manifests as RA in the main for me) and not Lupus. The herald was a sore throat in 1979 and even now it still announces a bad bout. Other symptoms are low grade sporadic fever, joint pain and swelling combined with other AI associated illnesses like Lichen Sclerosis and Interstitial Cystitis. I’m not under any care and have been drug free since my mid 20’s (now 60) except for pain relief and joint support contraptions. I’m replying because at least every two weeks I get a bout of symptoms and this recent lot made me feel so bad I washed my dressing gown in case of hospital admission. For me rest REST and REST is the only solution. I understand your situation but if you don’t put your health first now when will you - don’t leave it too late.

Sending you the fortitude to rest.

[Willow7733 in reply to Hidden]

The flare is not quite over, though I am feeling quite a bit better today. I am debating if I should take the day off tomorrow - just to rest a bit. I am scared if I jump into my long hours at work again this week, I will have another flare. I felt so awful yesterday. I was definitely ignoring the warning signs all week last week. I really do need to give myself time to get over this. I was diagnosed with lupus in the hospital after they found I had APS (a blood clotting disorder secondary to the lupus). I really don’t want any to push it to the point that my blood starts clotting again (which happens after a bad flare). I have quite enough of that (9+ clots in my lungs since last year).

[Tanitani]

Sounds like a flare to me. Call your doc for meds.

[Willow7733 in reply to Tanitani]

I am going to call first thing in the morning.

[Hidden in reply to Willow7733]

👍🏻