Arthritis Insight-Member Stories-Lorrena

Lorrena</font></b><font face="Verdana"><b>'s Story

Hi, my name is Lorrena and I was diagnosed with lupus 11 years ago and three years ago with rheumatoid arthritis. Both these diseases have wreaked havoc on my body. i now have diabetes because of the steroids. I have an enlarged spleen which is attacking my platlets and red cells. I have an enlarged liver and have kidney damage. Just recently I developed a conditon called 'antiphospholipid antibody syndome". The doctors here have told me that there is nothing more thy can do for me because they do not know enough about this antiphospholipid antibody syndrome.

I have been on all the drug regimens..and am still on Plaquenil and Prednisone. I tried methotrexate, but it made me very sick. I am 44 years old and I am a divorced mom of two teenage boys. My oldest son Presley is autistic. I live on a very small disability and have no family support and the few friends i had have pretty well gone their own way. they do not understand the pain and the fatique that comes with this disease.

The doctors did not think that at the time of my diagnoses with rheumatoid arthritis that it would advance as quickly as it has. Everyday chores, and just the simple routines are now dificult. I walk with two canes and also have a walker for longer distances. i never thought I would ever be where I am right now.

Being diagnosed with both diseases has been a challenge...and I have had to learn to re-evaluate my life and find my prioroties. Getting diagnosed with the lupus was the biggest challenge. It took so long to find out why I was so sick. When I developed the rheumatoid arthristis, it was just after the death of my father on Christmas Day, 1997.

Being a single parent made the stresses seem all the greater. I spent alot of time away from my boys in and out of hospitals. I now get alot of my treatments done at home now so that I can be here with them. A nurse comes in every three months to do my home IV therapy, and we are now looking at having a permanent IV line put in as my veins are now difficult to access.

I am hoping to find some kindred spirits through here that have been on the same journey as i have and understand what it is like to walk this long road. I have my good days as well as bad, but try to remain as active as i can. I make the most of the good days knowing that when a flare up is imminent, that I can be house bound for weeks or months. I have my faith, which keeps me going thru those dark moments, but sure would love to make some friends. My e-mail is Amalie02@yahoo.com. I sure would love to hear from others looking for new friends.