Lupus update!

Hello Folks! So I went to my rheumatologist and my wonderful doctors have determined that I am having a "flare up". What that means is that my disease is active. I knew that she was going to say that because of the symptoms I have been having as of lately. These symptoms include itcy scalp, redness of the affected area, flaky scalp, and soreness in the affected areas of my scalp. At this appoinment I was informed that the disease is getting worse because I have a lot more lesions on my scalp compared to the last time I was there. I was prescribed a topical steroid solution called clobetasal. I was instructed to use it every day, twice a day. It was also suggested that I come back the following week to receive steroid injections in the affected areas. I went back the following week to receive the injections. My doctor also suggested that I start taking something in pill form. I am also G6PD defficient so that limits the kind of drugs I could take. G6PD or Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency is a defect that causes red blood cells to break down prematurely. What does G6PD have to do with Discoid Lupus? Well apparently the pill hydroxychloroquine that is used to treat discoid lupus can lower or destroy your blood cells. For someone who has G6PD it is not a good idea to prescribe medication that can lower your blood count. So it was also suggested by my doctors that I get a blood test so that they see where my blood levels are. I was told to come back in one month and hopefully they can come up with a treatment for me and hopefully get my hair to grow back. Please visit www.lupus.org for more info.