After having my son 2 years ago, I unforunately got really sick and had alot of fluid on my lungs and protein in my urine. I was hospitalized for 2 weeks not sure at first what was going on, they thought at first that i might have Lymphoma because my lymph nodes were all swelled up through my body and extremely high fevers. After alot of tests they finally diagnosed me with SLE and not knowing what to do at first, it seemed scary to me. I didn't know if this disease was fatal or if it was something that I would have to live with for the rest of my life or what. I lived in Az at the time I was diagnosed and my husband was orginally from Boston, MA.

So when I got home from the hospital, I had alot on my mind and didn't know really what to do or how to deal with this new illness in my life. My husband decides for us to go back to Boston, Ma where they have outstanding drs and hosptials.

Finally, being in the Boston area for almost 2 years now, I'm doing so much better with my health with Lupus. I'm on Prednisone, Plaquenol, and Immuran for my medications right now.

Thinking that my lupus was under control, i had another obstiscle with dealing with Avascular Necrosis, of the hips, knees and shoulders because of the long term doses of prednisone. So I decided to see a bone specialist and he decided to do MRI's and x-rays.

He then referred me to see a surgeon about this matter and from there he did surgery on my hips August 5, 2008 which was core compression of the hips. Hopefully this procedure will work so that i don't have to have a hip replacement in about 6 months.

So that pretty much sums it up for me and my dealing with Lupus and Avasular Necrosis, I think I'm a very stong person having to deal with this and always looking for a better alternative in life.

I hope i found a good support group to where I can find good friends that are going through the same thing and help each other out.

Eva

Ali