I live in central PA., these cold winters really make the joints ache
more., happy holidays., Brenda

FWIW, you can have SLE and all the bloodwork show otherwise.  Lupus is very
difficult to diagnose at times.
Plaquenil can take several months before it starts working so you'll have to
be patient.
Good luck
BTW, where do you live?  I'm in Central CA.
Nicole
Here's some info that'll help
please go to the Lupus Foundation of America site www.lupus.org and read all
the information they have.  It is the most current information available and
you will learn a lot!

Also, either buy or go to the library and get Dr Daniel Wallace's "The Lupus
Book" 3rd Edition and read it cover to cover.

Dr Wallace explains in layman's terms everything you need to know.... just
as the LFA does.  The LFA also offers a magazine called Lupus Now which is
full of great info.

The Arthritis Foundation www.arthritis.org also has a lot of helpful
information, a magazine Arthritis Today.  There are over 100 forms of
arthritis so there's a lot to learn.

The National Institue of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
offers FREE publications.  Take advantage.  http://catalog.niams.nih.gov/

There is a wonderful lupus booklet which is completely free.  There are many
other pieces of great info also.

Medline: Lupus

offers links to news and resources about the chronic autoimmune disease in
which the immune system, for unknown reasons, becomes hyperactive and
attacks normal tissue.

www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/lupus.html

Glean your information from reliable sites such as those listed above.

I only quote from the above sites but even on this list, there can be
incorrect information and has been.

You have to be your own health care advocate.  Your doctor is not going to
sit down and educate you in regards to lupus, fibro, etc.  He/she doesn't
have time and most likely doesn't even know where to begin.

I had my first Rheumy appointment yesterday , i had all the blood
special blood tests taken and a urinalysis, because my doctor knows i
have the skin form of lupus and checking to see if i have SLE, results
won"t be back for a week, he put me on 2 medicines i know nothing about
can anyone help? The first is PLaqentil 200 mg 2x daily and etodolac 200
mg 3x daily.  My question is are these safe ? how bad are the side
affects going to be? Thanks for helping me., Brenda