Rebecca D. - Diagnosed at age 22
I believe my symptoms first started when I was 18. I had trouble staying awake in my classes in school. I would start to get achy and tired and people would make comments like, "but you're so young, why are you so tired?" It was very mild though and kind of came and went over the years, and the "real" symptoms started around age 21. I started to feel random pain in certain areas like my toes or wrists for example. With no explanation or no recollection of injuring the areas, they would hurt for days and feel worse when I first woke up in the morning. My shoulders and knees would ache so bad it would hurt to walk down the stairs or lay in bed and try to sleep.
I came back from a trip I took to Argentina and felt very achy all over. I went to the doctor and they gave me an over the counter pain reliever and just said it could be tendonitis. Then several months passed and I got a really bad cold and cough that wouldn't go away. I then started getting fevers and chills and couldn't keep any food down. I was frustrated and tired of being sick and tired and not knowing what was wrong with me. After continuous fevers and high blood pressure, multiple tests and a kidney biopsy confirmed I have SLE and lupus nephritis. It was a relief knowing what the problem was and doctors now being able to start treatment for it.
The hardest is part was undergoing chemotherapy and a high dose of steroids. Those treatments saved my life but also put my body through so much as well. I gained 50 pounds in one month, and now have my torso and arms covered in stretch marks thinning my skin out and the weight gain stretching it out all at once.
I am now 39 years old and am thankful that my lupus has stayed under control for the most part. I had a high risk pregnancy but delivered a healthy baby boy 8 years ago. I also underwent gastric bypass surgery 3 years ago and lost over 100 pounds and started exercising and eating better to maintain the weight loss and help keep lupus flares minimal and manageable.