Anyone out there who has Lupus, Hypothyroidism and experienced a stroke?

I'm 25 years. Not overweight and on the outside, looks almost completely healthy. On the inside however it is a different story. I have lupus, hypothyroidism and last year had a stroke. I feel like crap most days and have struggled with my weight for the past 8 years.

It's most definately like a yo-yo. I'm just wondering if there are any other people in the world who have the same diseases like me and what they do to alleviate the pain associated with their lupus and how they overcome the side effects of medication in relationship to weight gain?

Thanks. :)

{{{hugs}}}

you are having a rough time of it, eh?

is there an alternative medication you can try?

thank you for your support. currently i am taking two types of steroids in combination with plaqunil and synthroid. and asprin as a blood thinner.

i am at that weird point where they don't want to bombard me with heavier drugs because they don't know what will happen. it's almost as if i am some type of medical mystery at times. i was just wondering if anyone had the same experience.

But thanks for your hugs. :) Much appreciated.

I've never had the same issues as you, but I have experienced the whole "we've never seen a case like this before, let's just try a bunch of stuff and see what it does" thing.  I was 14 and I had a brain hemmorhage without any incident of brain injury, which has mostly been seen in women over 40, and never at age 14. My doctors called all the top neurologists at all the top hospitals, and nobody had ever seen something like what I had, and only could suggest different drug combinations.  I was basically a test subject, and they even did a preasentation on my in the medical school to get any suggestions from medical students (I was at Dartmouth).

It can be depressing not knowing how to fix what is wrong with you, and it can be discouraging to be on steroids while being so sick (especially with the weight/bloat gain). 

The only thing that ever helped me even a little bit was when the doctors basically gave up on finding a medication that would make my migraines go away (this was after the hemmorhage healed with the help of about 25 different meds) and sent me to chronic pain rehab.  I went to Spaulding rehab in Boston, and they concentrate more on helping you deal with the pain by methods other than pills.  There were different physical therapy routines that helped me a bit, along with some relaxation and icing techniques, which are basically parts of alternative medicine.
I would suggest trying some alternative methods of pain relief in conjunction with medication, maybe check into seeing a wholeistic doctor, they could reccomend different things like accupuncture, aromatherapy, and other things that could give you relief.

And I know what slow going it is when they try to find the right medication combination without loading you up too much.  I'm so far into the list of migraine medications that they are now working their way down the list of other medications which are not approved for migraines, and are very rarely used for them (i.e. they just started me on a heart medication which, upon seeing it's website, shows a bunch of happy 70+ year olds, and talks about tips to prevent heart failure and high blood peassure... I found it comical).  Just hang in there, and if they do start you on the medications that they aren't sure about, make sure they only have you add 1 new medication at a time, or else any horrible side effects will leave you with having to throw out 2 choices, not knowing which one really caused it.

((hugs))

Good luck, and hopefully you will get something to relieve you.

Oh honey, I'm so sorry to hear about your situation. I've been my endocronologists + oncologists fav giunea pig for years....... I hope you get better soon.

nalugirl, I feel your pain. Literally and figuratively. I haven't been diagnosed with lupus, but I have severe debilitating pain throughout my body every day. I also use oxygen 24/7. They don't yet know what disease process has caused all of this. I also have hypothyroidism. So I really do feel your pain. Hang in there. My doctor told me to get the book Forever Young Diet and Lifestyle by James O'Keefe and follow that program. I have done that and certain aspects of my health have improved. So you might consider looking into that. Best wishes!

Thank you all for your suggestions and support. I am planning on meeting with a holistic doctor soon and see if he/she can recommend some alternative treatments. I will also go to Borders and check on the book recommended by Pam. Thank you all!!!

Living with chronic illness is hard.  Here's a website that might offer you something.

But You Don't Look Sick

I've linked you to one of my favorite pages on the website.  Be sure to look at all the menu options, and let us know if it is of any help.

Good Luck!

Thank you Clairelaine. I totally relate to that story. Now I know how to explain myself to others.

hi my name is jamie and i had hypothyriod and polycystic ovarian syndrome...i was taking birth control and had a stroke in july.

i feel like **** most days but i have always struggled with weight and i am a yo yo. i loose in gain weight in unheard of amounts ranging from 50lbs-80lbs. i am not proud of this and i am currently at the heaviest i have ever been. anyways i read your post and wanted you too know that you are not alone in this battle.

its so discouraging to try so hard and not see any results...it makes me want to give up and go to McDonalds or something. let me know how your struggle is coming

 jamie