My sister, Aimeé first started showing symptoms of Lupus (muscle pain and fatigue) around Christmas time. Mid January, the GP took a blood test and their original diagnosis was Anaemia.

Aimeé spent 3 week on iron medication but just kept getting worse. So she had to go to Derby Royal Hospital, and the doctors suspected lupus nephritis. Two nights later she was transferred to Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham because she needed to have a renal biopsy (kidney) to confirm Aimeé’s lupus and since Nottingham have the leading Rheumatology team.

The biopsy came back to show class IV Lupus Nephritis. She was reviewed overall and advised a liver biopsy as well, given some odd liver function results. After a week in QMC, 2 biopsy's and a lot of talking to doctors, Aimeé was allowed to come home on 4 medicines (hydroxychloroquine, prednisolone, omeprazole and amlodipine).  She also needs stronger medicines that you can’t have at home called Cyclophosphamide and Rituximab, given by infusion(drip) in the hospital. Aimeé’s regime on these medicines means she goes into day-care in the hospital, they attach her to a tube then the medicine can be pumped in at the right pace. Sometimes this can take more than 6 hours but only a few doses are needed every 6 months since it is done on a cycle.

Now, all the medicine is having affect and Aimeé is making her way back to full health. She will have lupus for the rest of her life, but she’s not going to let this stop her enjoying her life.