New Lupus Medication

On Tuesday November 10th I went in for blood work & a urine test. I had not heard from my physician this week, so I waited until my appointment yesterday On November 19th to talk to my rheumatologist. I feel like having lupus is like having a full time job, each and every week I am going up to the hospital for something. My appointment yesterday went better then I thought considering all that has been going on. I have been off of the Imuran for about three weeks now. I have several friends with lupus & many of them tell me of their pains that they have in the joints, & muscles. I had never experienced the pain, so I could not fully empathize with them......up until now. Since being off of Imuran I have experienced so much pain. At times it can be unbearable. I have joint & muscle pain & when I move my bones make popping & cracking noises. My ears, neck, shoulders, arms, wrists, fingers, hips, thighs, knees, ankles & even the bottom of my feet have been killing me. A few days out of the week, I have cried myself to sleep right after I have said much needed prayers. It is to hard to talk to my family about the pain, because the first thing they want me to do is to go to the ER. When I was first diagnosed with lupus I stayed in the emergency room for every little thing I was feeling, including some of these pains. I do not like taking pain medication & the few times I have, it has not helped. However this time I have to talk to my doctor about what I have been dealing with since he took me cold turkey off of my Imuran.

At my appointment I seen the Physician Assistant & I was fine up until my physical exam, he touched my shoulders & immediately I busted out in pain & tears. I realized there were spots on my legs that hurt when he touched them, that I didn't even realize were hurting. My rheumatologist came into the room shortly after & sat down with me to discuss what is now my new lupus medication. It is called Cellcept & Iam not happy about having to take it. I say I am not happy about having to take it because I have heard some terrible stories about this medication. Yes I know that no two lupus patients react to medications the same, but my other question is there are so many of us on the same medications, so I may experience what some else already has. I do not have a problem with change, but I do have a problem with a medication that I am taking, not working well for me & after two years of being on Imuran, which has not helped....I now have to take a stronger medication that I am going to dread taking. After my appointment I decided not to go get the medication due to fear.

Today November 20th I woke up in prayer & decided to let go of my fear & go get my new medication. I have them right here by me, but decided not to take them today. I will start anew tomorrow it is late in the day & I would like to take this new medication when I am feeling at my best. I will take it tomorrow afternoon.
Funny how this medication happens to be purple......my favorite color & the color for lupus. I faced my fear & bought the medication, but I did not take it??? I go back for blood work in two weeks to see if this medication is working well for me or not, until I take this medication tomorrow I will do some more research on it & say some more prayers. I almost forgot to mention that I got a shot in each hip with prednisone (steroid) for my pain. Today although the shot sites are sore, I can say that I feel like running in a few circles, and am feeling like a million bucks!