Hi all,I am on Plaquenil, and except for when l had flu over xmas and the Covid booster, the Plaquenil has worked really well.
I am going through a bereavement of sorts (my elderly dog is receiving palliati e care) and l am having a hard time of it. I have suddenly developed tendonitis in both achillies, and joint pain in multiple sites. In other words, all the rubbish symptoms l used to get.
Is my emotional state and recent symtoms likely to be a flare, or just a coincidence? And in either scenareo, should l ask my rheumy for a dosage increase or try and ride it through?
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Blue_feather
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I’m so sorry you are going through such a painfully sad and difficult time. It is absolutely a bereavement, as they are also a very much loved family member and the grief felt is all too real. So, I’d imagine, that as prolonged stress can induce a flare and as the symptoms you have now are identical to how they used to be prior to taking Plaquenil/HCQ, that you could be flaring again.
I’m unsure that a dosage increase of HCQ would help this, as dose is prescribed based on your weight (and especially if in normal circumstances your current dose was adequate). However, it would be worth speaking to someone in your Rheumatology team to see if they can prescribe anything to help, or at give you some advice specific to your medical history, especially as you were previously well controlled.
Hello Blue_featherLupus is so unpredictable that sometimes its hard to know what is triggering your flare. Speak you your Doctor about your concerns. Take care
Lupus can be triggered with stress and sadness. When I am emotionally distressed, I always have a flare. Even delaying my sleep two three hours can cause a massive flare in the morning. I am very sorry to hear about your furbaby. x
Hi.im in a stress induced flare after a series of events this year inc our eldest dog (14) being very poorly with geriatric vestibular disease and an elderly parent in hospital. I happened to have an appointment anyway and increasing my hcq was suggested but as yet hasn't been done as I take another drug it interacts with. Things had eased a bit ....until I got a chest infection 10 days ago 😫. There is no harm in asking for advice / reassurance from your rheumy. Take care..you are in my thoughts and prayers 🙏 xx
Thank you all for your heartfelt replies. From what l am reading, it is likely to be that then, so l won't give the nurse a call just yet. Thanks again all. Reasurance needed more than anything, l think.
⁷I started on 200mg per day hydroxychloroquine in Jan 2022. A few months in, one by one symptoms improved.
December 2022 had a flare. Was put on short course prednisolone, then after that hydroxychloroquine increased to 300 mg per day.
Symptoms improving again: sleeping better, and more energy, no joint pain, no kidney pain etc
(My weight would allow me to be on 400 mg per day.. but trying to reduce my weight if truth be known. Finding also better control of sugar levels on hydroxychloroquine, not craving food so much ..maybe weight loss is possible..)
I;m so sorry to hear your sad situation with your elderly dog. I’ve always found stress, anxiety and bereavement have made my condition worse and often led to a flare. Stress feeds Lupus as they say. So I would speak with your Rheumy if possible (or Helpline) for advice about increasing meds until your stress levels settle. Take care. Thinking of you. Xx
This is so hard for us to learn to CONTROL STRESS because it is a MAJOR "Trigger" for Lupus Flares.
The body reacts in LUPUS in various ways as a RESPONSE to our STRESS.
Learning STRESS minimizing Techniques during "stressful events: death, MOVING, JOB, Children, HOLIDAYS, CAREGIVER for a loved one, "overdoing it". etc" is very important and recogizing the STRESS will help you to know that you need to RELAX, is very important and HARD for us to do when we have these situations.
If you cannnot get your Lupus Flare under control, many people do call their Rheumatologist and may ask for a short pack of prednizone for 20-30 days and wean down from 20 mg just to help bring back your body to its more normal state.
RESTING is very important to just REVIVE your better self - When you have the FLU, YOU "REST" because your body is fighting a Virus.
It's the same with Lupus, we need "REST to REGAIN" strenght, stop joint inflamation, or WORSE symptoms.
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