I now know that I was in a major flare up at the time of my diagnosis. Extreme swelling in one hand, trigger finger in the other had, and one leg and foot were swollen so bad I could not put a shoe on. I had ulcers in my mouth, extreme pain and fatigue. I had an ear infection that lasted for months upon months which resulted in permanent hearing loss in my right ear. I was partly lucky and partly just my own advocate. I got a diagnosis within 6 months! I was officially diagnosed in December of 2017. I started taking plaquenil & several other lupus related drugs. I have good days, I have very bad days. I have had several major flare ups & my kidneys are not good. I am so very tired....all the time. The pain, the depression, the everything that comes along with lupus, sucks. I, however, refuse to just give up. I will fight. I will be a voice.