Lupus Community

Sorry, but there is no magic bullet to shoot at the fatigue. The best bet is to get the overall Lupus disease activity under control. Calming the raging immune system down may help with the energy level.

Two front line standard meds for treating Lupus are Plaquinel and Prednisone, but there of course many other meds used for Lupus than those two.

Good luck and keep resting!

K2

I am on a course of Chemical and Natural treatment. I had to. I couldn't walk, dress myself, or stay awake for more that 6 hours at a time. I have 2 children and a husband. Plus I needed to get back to work. But before you start this, please talk to your doctor! If you have Kidney or heart involvement, especially. Print this out and take it to them, please.

I take 400mg Plaquinil and 1000 mg Naproxen, daily. But with the introduction of the following things, there are months when I don't take Naproxen at all and only 200mg of Plaquinil, daily.

I also take 1 Cayenne Pepper Pill/day (To dry up water weight and a catalyst for the other herbs I take); Licorice Root (For energy and drying of the water weight caused by Lupus and Meds, which makes the Joint pain and stiffness worse also) - 3 pills, 3 times daily with meals. Burdock Root pills (For healthy Skin and Hair support, also to fight photo-sensitivity) 3 pills, 3 times daily with meals. Dandelion Root Pills (For healthy Liver/Lymphatic system support. Clean them out to help keep from getting infections. Also, to clean your system of all the chemicals you will have to take.) 1 Pill, 3 times a day with meals. 2400 mg Fish Oil, either all together with one meal, or one Capsule (1200 mg) 2 times a day with meals (to support better joint mobility, reduce stiffness, and promote better skin and heart heart. Will also help lower Bad Cholesterol - Important especially if you are a woman as Lupus itself can cause clotting and a woman over 35 has more issues with clotting anyways. If your cholesterol is too high, all these factors combined put you at a very high risk for Stroke or Heart Attack. Lastly, I take a Super-B complex, 2000 iu of Vitamin D, and 1 Acidophillus with Breakfast. The Super B for energy and helping to convert food to energy, Vitamin D - to promote better skin health and help protect from the sun. It will also help you rest better when you sleep, giving better quality of rest, so you will have more energy. The Acidophillus is an active culture for good digestive heath, to help flush everything else and other wastes from your body - which will give you more energy.

Drink plenty of water, too. I drink about 1/2 Gallon every day.

If you are on Prednisone (I once was), it will cause a lot of water weight and other weight, draining your energy. So stop eating meats and salt. Eat Fish, Lean Turkey, Lean Chicken. Never fry it. Eat plenty of vegetables and Fruit. I went from 130 pounds to 340 due to Steroids, it trashed my metabolism and pancreas, because they had me diagnosed wrong at first. I lost 50 pounds just from being off the Steroids. But I lost down to 200 pounds just by changing my diet, like this. I also don't drink soda anymore.

When I can afford it, I get Accupunture (it does not hurt). Also try a trip to the Desert/Las Vegas/ somewhere dry. One weekend will help to dry up your joints and help you feel a lot better. Of course be careful of the sun. But places like that have a lot of covered or outdoor/Indoor places.

I hope this helps.

Hi Noel, I have lupus/fibromyalgia. I was told fish oil is not good take, it has vitamin A (which is not good for), also read not to take anything that boost your immune, cause our immune is already over active.
I also lack vitamin D, and I saw Vitamin D in 2000IU and 5000IU which would be better to take?? I gave up one my favorite drinks...coffee, which I really miss. Would having one cup be wrong for me to do?

We often use plaquenil in the medicine category or antidepressants if that is causing it, but otherwise what works best is what you do for yourself ie good diet, exercise, attitude. You cann not fix everything with pills

I've been told and have used CoQ10 for this. I'm not falling asleep at my desk anymore!

I was recently diagnosed last September. I was put on Plaquinil and baby aspirin. I can't help but wonder is Plaquinil doing its job and what exactly is it's job its suppose to do? lol I see all these other people on tons of medications and all I have is 2. Im still in pain but thankful my headaches have lessened.

I was thankful my lupus was caught in time cause I was pregnant when I found out. I looked at my chart and I think my Dr is gonna tell me I need to take calcium pills cause Im really low on it and also I will find out on Monday if I need to see a kidney specialist.

For the first year I started with only 200 mg plaquenil and large doses of sodium salicylate (this drug is no longer used and is like giant horse pill aspirin) After that, I only took 200 Plaquenil for 14 years. I am now on several medications for lupus and other things.

Plaquenil takes several months to become effective. You may not see an immediate result, but hopefully you will see some improvement.


Lupylisa

I am on Plaquinil 200 a day. I was diagnosed 1.5 years ago after a stroke with Lupus. I have recently gone for a second opinion. The new DR. says I don't have it and to stop taking the pills. I am scared to stop taking them, in case I do have it. What damage to my body could happen if I have taken it without having Lupus? I now want a third opinion. Then a fourth, fifth, etc. When can I trust the opinions?

no damage from taking Plaq ( you should be getting eye exams though) but I really cannot answer you question re lupus ( whether you have it or not)

With much respect I want to respond to this. Good diet, exercise, and attitude aren't things that are going to help your lack of energy during a flare of Lupus. Those things could help anyone with almost any health issue. When it hurts to even get up to go to the bathroom because your knees are the size of softballs... red, hot, swollen softballs...and you have a rash all over your body for no apparent reason, your kidneys are killing you, and you're only 27 years old (I'm referring to myself).. then having a positive attitude isn't going to help you much. You can smile and joke all you want to, but you need to be on some sort of medicine for it. Plaquenil, Prednisone.. something! Those things will help with time. I went to Mayo Clinic and saw an excellent team of doctors that didn't just throw the "diet, exercise, attitude" regime at me and send me on my way. Thank GOD for them.

Good luck to you monday. I am 97 years old. I have lupus and i have a daugther that is 9. I want to have another baby but, the doctor said is not a good idea to have a baby. Because of the lupus.I heard is very hard to be pregnant and have lupus. What do you think? thank you

I mean i am 37 years old.

LOL I was about to say, wow! 97!! I am not physically able to have children. I miscarried several times. The fertility doctors can't give me a reason besides the Lupus. I'm sure because my body can't handle it.

I have had lupus for over 30 years. It took me 3 years to get pregnant the first time. I miscarried that child - a boy. The following year, I got pregnant again and gave birth to a healthy baby girl. She is now almost 20! I was pregnant 2 more times after my daughter. I miscarried both times - both boys at 6 1/2 months. My grandmother also had lupus. She was pregnant 7 times. She had 3 healthy girls and miscarried all 4 of her boys at 6 months and beyond. I am so sorry about your miscarriages!! There has been some research done about women who can't carry boys. I don't know if this is what is happening to you. I had to have a total hysterectomy after my last miscarriage. I hope that you will be able to have a child someday.