Hi,

i am sorry that you are going through the help issues that you are. Since you have not officially be diagnosed as having lupus, I say do not claim it. No matter how many family members you may have with it. Everyone in the family doesn't have it. I am 31 and the youngest of 4 children. My mom has lupus and I was diagnosed two years ago. None of my other siblings have it, so I am guessing it might be the 1 out of 4 genetic deal (but of course that is not always the case). But do not take yourself through the stress and worry.... I will tell you that I have had swollen nodes plenty of times. Sometimes due to lupus activity and then others due to sinus/allergy issues, hormonal issues, infection, etc.... So there are a number of reasons your node could be swollen... I mostly get a swollen node in my neck and behind my ear when I have a bad sinus infection that has gone on for a while untreated. Usually at this point I am not sneezing, coughing or spitting up flem any more, so there are no other signs besides the the swollen node that is really irritating..... I say all of this to say, do not worry so much. If you are a religious person - pray and meditate. Try to keep a positive outlook. Look for the best in everything. I had to learn to do that..... I will say that if you ever decide to get off of the birth control pills to be careful and work with your doctor to check your blood thickness levels (pt/inr). I got off of birth control pills and had two bad boughts with blood clots. I think the sudden change in hormones did it... So just be careful and work with your doctor when you decide to stop taking them because I got off cold turkey and look where it got me.... Take care of yourself. Get plenty of sleep, exercise as mush as possible, eat healthier and cleanse your body every so often from the inside out. I hope this helps you a little.

A week later, my lymph node got to a point where it got bigger and it hit my ear bone and it's hurt and red. I guess it's inflamation and my pcp given me antibiotic for a week and it gotten better...Now, the lymph node's still there, but it doesn't hurt. I've been tired almost everyday,on/off. My hairs been gradually fallen out. From times, I have some rashes on my arm and thight,if I scratch it. It healed by itself. My arms are very itchy and so I scratches a lot. I try to put lotion, since I have dry skin. So I try not to scratch or else I might get rashes again. Some days, I would feel like I have hot flashes or sweat for no reasons. Sometimes, at night times I would wake up in a sweat. Did I have a flu or fever? I've noticed last year, but not sure if it's related to lupus symptoms or not, my hormone has release some chemical out of my body with some foul odors, like garbage like/odor on it own without my control. I've told my obgyn, and she said it's nothing to worry about. I also noticed my leg hair isn't as much as usual. I've just have flu shot, is it okay? I wonder.