major lupus flare........near death

[season]

For the past week, my neice is in  critical condition. She has lupus and seizures along with it.

Her kidneys and her bowels have now shut down. Doctors are scrambling to save her life.

I didnt realise that a major flare of lupus could lead to so many serious life and death situations.

Only two years ago she was so healthy (or it appeared so) and now we are afraid of losing her.

[Cricket]

I am so sorry.  Will be keeping her in my thoughts, keep us posted.

[artsyamerican]

How horrible and scary for all of you : (  I didn't know flares could get so out of hand either.  My thoughts and prayers are with you all.

[irish]

Lupus has a quite high mortality rate if not treated with the new medications. Back in the 60's when I was in nurses training a lupus diagnosis brought an almost certain death sentence.

The death rate from lupus has been cut way down because of all the medications that are available nowdays. The first thing is to get diagnosed and the second thing is to be treated with medications like imuran, cellcept, etc. Also, plaquenil can be used along with these meds plus the steroids are very necessary.

I know that a lot of people on this site think that I can be hard core about a lot of things, but because of my nursing experience I am well aware of the dangers that are hovering in the background when these autoimmune diseases are not treated full bore.

We can go along thinking that all is well and in the snap of a finger we can find ourself at deaths door. Autoimmune can be a relentless taskmaster and when the docs are not willing to treat things it just drives me nuts. So many times the sjogrens can all of a sudden be called lupus. These diseases are hard to diagnose and it takes both the patient and the doctors to keep ahead of things.

When people refuse to have treatment it drives me crazy because I have not been able to take the imuran. For over 5 years my doc has not given me imuran as he is afraid it will cause me to have a life threatening infection because of my low t-cells.

Now he wants to start with a low dose imuran and plenty of blood work to keep track of infections. I think that he feels my autoimmune is starting to get worse. This only makes sense as I am getting older. When we get older our immune systems become less productive and it stands to reason that our autoimmune disease can escalate out of control. Anyway, I will see what will be done in the next months.

Season, I am so sorry that your niece is in such bad shape. I will pray that all the meds do their work and kick start her body again. So sad, so sad. Irish

[Dolly Dimples]

Oh Season, On top of your own problems, how unfair life can get!
          I send my best wishes that your neice can fight through this. God be merciful!
                                                       Dolly x

[Daisy1234]

Season, how scary this terrible situation with your neice must be on you and on her parents and all of her family.   

I will be keeping your neice in my prayers and also sending many positive thoughts for a quick and gentle recovery for her to stabilized health.  As Irish mentioned, there are many newer generation medications that often can help so please continue to have hope and know that we are all thinking of you!

Hugs,
Daisy

[Katybarstool]

Season

My heart goes out to your and our family. I will emmebr you all, and your niece, in my prayers.

Kathyx

[harlin]

Season
I am so sorry your niece is in such bad shape. I also have a niece
with lupus. She is getting married on Saturday. She has her ups and downs

I am praying for your niece and your family.
Love harlin

[Narablueeyes]

Your niece will be in my daily meditations and positive thoughts for you and the rest of the family.

[Carolina]

oh Season, how terrible!

My niece who is 41 has to have dialysis three times a week.  Her kidneys are completely gone from lupus that has NEVER really gone into remission.

She says it isn't so bad now that it has completely destroyed her kidneys.

But the dialysis is killing her as well.

We are hoping for a kidney transplant.

I hope Your niece pulls through this crisis.

Keep us posted.

Hugs

Elaine

[Sadie963]

Season

I am so sorry your niece is extremely ill. It's scary how quickly a person's health status can change.   

I will pray for your niece, family and her medical staff. Hopefully they will be able to turn her medical crisis around so she may get healthier and stronger in the days ahead.

[Bucky]

Season - keeping your niece in my thoughts and prayers that she will pull through this major lupus flare.

May the doctors find the right treatment plan that will help her recover.

Hugs,
Bucky

[Duchess]

Praying for your niece that she will make a full recovery.

This thing is so scary, it smacks you right in the face!

Duchess

[susanep]

Also praying for your niece. I am so sorry that she has to suffer like this. None of us know when we are hit with a sudden flare of some type.

Please let us know how she is doing.

susanep

[Reanne]

ditto Irish