It started with a rash......I thought maybe it's an allergic reaction to something I've eaten or touched. A few months later, another bout of hives; this time accompanied by a swollen face & swollen painful feet, just 2 hours after landing in Spain. Rushed to their local hospital in case it was Anaphylaxis; given 2 jabs, antihistamines and painkillers and the swelling subsided. Returned home to my doctor, unable to walk and in a wheelchair- but once again, my symptoms presented as an allergic reaction and I was given a course of corticosteroids to reduce the inflammation- which worked!

The rashes on my face reoccurred 3 times and I began to accept the possibility that I had developed an intolerance to something at this stage in my life; I just didn’t know what the culprit was. However shortly after; in addition to the facial rash, pins and needles, shooting pains; pains in my joints & chest on inhalation; very itchy skin; intense fatigue, hair thinning and irritability slowly crept in. The feeling of constantly being drained, frustrated and low in spirit started to take its toll and I was struggling to function and conceal it at home and at work. 

I took my concerns to my doctor in Nov 2012 and described how I felt: 'My body was attacking itself' and urged him to do blood tests; despite his reluctance, he went ahead. A few days later blood results showed inflammation but they would need to do further tests. Their suspicions were Rheumatoid Arthritis but could not confirm anything till these tests were completed. Over this course of time, I took to my good friend and worst enemy 'Google' and decided to do my own research; everything pointed towards a condition called SLE- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. 6 months later- it was confirmed, as well as Sjogren's Syndrome. I felt devastated, frightened, angry but strangely a sense of relief that I was not going crazy and that there was a reason for my sudden and recent impaired health. I have been on treatment since and I can honestly say I feel fortunate- firstly because it was identified in its infancy and hadn't attacked any of my vital organs; secondly because I responded so quickly to the treatment (God bless the NHS!!!) and slowly but surely I am starting to feel more like 'me' again just with a few but manageable niggles.  Not many people have been as lucky as I am. SLE is known as the great mimicker and sadly many people still suffer or have lost their fight against this illness due to delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis. Not enough is known about this incurable illness and we need your support to spread awareness and raise the funds required to research into it, in the hope of understanding the reasons behind its onset and ultimately creating a cure for it.

Please, PLEASE help us with our plight. Thank you for reading my story and visiting my page.

Claudia xx