Brit,

i am so sorry to hear that you are struggling with this at such a very young age. I am 37 and have two teenage daughters. I had very low platelets when I was 12 or so, the doctors were unsure of the cause. I was always very tired and beleive I have had lupus since then. I think mine was triggered from a serious sunburn when I was away at camp. I really don't know if pregnancy could have triggered yours, but I hope that you get the assistance you need. I am always tired in the afternoons and have to take naps everyday. I wish you the best.

Redwolf

I read somewhere (can't remember where) that there has been a link between female hormones and flare ups of this disease. Try a google for hormone replacement therapy and lupus or something, I think that was the nature of the article. I also have read that pregnancy can cause a flare. Maybe the two are related.

I have a daighter who is 9 and was diagnosed with lupus nephritis in feb of 2003 it started off with real bad muscle aches and the rash she is doing a lot better now her chemo is down to 1x every three months. And prednisone every other day but my problem is she constantly has a rash on her face but she isnt having any flares she wears sunblock and hats and goes out side very limited. She even has gotten glasses from the chorto steroid she has cataracks. She has also double her weight since she was diagnosed with lupus. But we watch what she eats and has lost 5 pounds this month. Is there anything over the counter I can use for the rash besides hydrocortisone cream it doesnt seem to work very well. And the doctors keep telling us she isnt having a flare up and dont know why she still has the rash. Any suggestions please help she is so sentsitive on how she looks and feels about this dreadful disease.

I would suggest anybody get the lupus book by dr wallace(sp) in it he explains a lot of things. I know that there is a connection between female horemones and lupus and that pregnancy is also connected in some women. I am having a fog day and can't recall everything he wrote but hope this helps.