Hello Everyone!
Thank you for inviting me into your group. I am 25 years old and I was diagnosed with Lupus last month. I am currently on Plaquanil, but it hasn’t taken affect yet. I have to admit that I was not expecting the symptoms to be as bad as they are. I have severe joint and muscle pain and I constantly feel sick. My question is: Will it get better with time because right now I feel like I can’t possibly live with it.
Welcome Ashleigh, this is a great site for you to find information and friends.
When I first started taking plaquenil I felt so bad like you do. It took some months to feel better, but there is hope. You will start to notice that maybe you are feeling better and hopefully you will go into remission!
Most people with lupus have another autoimmune disease or two. It depends, everyone’s degree of illness is different and what treatments work. So hang in there and see what others share on this site.
Hi Ashleigh!
Welcome! I am also 25, new to this group, and recently diagnosed with lupus only a few weeks ago after having the diagnosis of undifferentiated connective tissue disease for the past year.
As for your question about feeling so sick I can say from experience that the plaquenil does make you feel horribly crappy for the first few months while it works through your system. It took about 3-4 months for it to really start taking effect for me and to start actually feeling a difference. It seemed like it had to get worse before it got better, but it does get better. For me I still always have some type of pain. Some days worse than others. And the flares can be really bad but I couldn’t imagine how much worse it could/would be if I wasn’t taking my plaquenil. I did stop last summer trying to deny what I was facing then I had a horrible flare this past winter that made me realize that I needed to follow my Rheumy’s orders. I hope you start feeling better soon and we’re all here for you.
Thank you guys. You give me hope 