The weekend of February 8, 2013, it was cold and chilly. Little did I know it was the beginning of what I would feel for a month straight now. In the past, I've had aches and pain, headaches and migraines that never lasted more than 2 days and it was nothing that ibuprofen or naproxen couldn't fix. That weekend my whole body was sore, like if I had majorly worked out and I felt tired. I figured it was due to being out that Friday night in the rain and I just needed rest. As a week and a half went by it wasn't going away, I was feeling limited in motion, all my joints were in pain from my toes to my shoulders. I thought heavily about 2 things, 1, I don't have insurance and 2, lupus. Even though lupus is not inherited, it runs strongly in our family, crazy huh? I have considered it throughout the last 10 years, but because symptoms didn't persist I didn't think much of it. I just felt there was something to be concerned about now and partly due to me taking naproxen and it not working. Hubby heard of a clinic, so I looked into it, got an appointment, went in saw the doctor. He wanted to rule out 2 things first, HIV and Strep. Good news, it took less then 15 minutes and I don't have HIV or Strep. Bad news, he would now test for Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus, the bonus, it will be 2 weeks for the results. In the meantime, he gave me a pain pill. The pain does not completely go away with the pain pill and naproxen, it just eases it. I also only take them at night. During the day I was nauseous, sleepy and emotional, there was no way I could function during the day like that, especially at work. Over the last 2 weeks, I have felt new symptoms. Although my legs no longer bother me during the day, at night I wake up to the agonizing pain in my knees, at least 3 times, I have to re-position myself, which is no easy task, with my shoulders, arms and hands in ache and no strength. Now not only my joints ache in my arms but the muscles also, they are sore like if I have lifted weights. My hands/fingers, are tight and hurt to stretch or make fists, they have no strength, not even to lift a pillow. To type is no easy task either, it hurts. I can not bend my writs, forward or backwards. It feels like I have a stiff neck everyday, a knot in my upper back and a sore lower back. Being in pain has been exhausting, the other night I went to sleep at 7:30, I just could not keep my eyes open. On the weekend I just want to lay down. I feel bad for my family. They didn't sign up for this wife and mom. They have been understanding and helpful. I'm just scared that one day Hubby will throw his hands up and say, I can't do this anymore. I'm scared I am going to live like this for the rest of my life. I haven't had one day that I have felt like my normal self. Finally in 3 days I will see the doctor for my results and maybe he can fix me.
