Health Update: Managing Medicine-Induced Lupus and Sarcoidosis

Apologies for the long silence; life has been quite hectic lately. I’m back and ready to share the latest updates on my health journey, particularly my experiences with medicine-induced lupus and sarcoidosis. I’ll discuss the treatments I’m currently on and how these conditions have impacted my day-to-day life.

The Effectiveness of Remicade and Its Side Effects

Remicade Treatments:
Initially, Remicade treatments were doing wonders for stabilizing my brain tumor. However, after a year on Remicade, I started experiencing new, worrying symptoms—severe swelling in my hands, making it difficult to bend my fingers or write, and a persistent butterfly rash on my face. These changes prompted a visit to a rheumatologist for further investigation.

Diagnosis of Medicine-Induced Lupus:
After reviewing my symptoms, the rheumatologist diagnosed me with medicine-induced lupus, a form of lupus triggered by Remicade. Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks healthy tissues, leading to inflammation and damage. The butterfly rash and swollen joints are hallmark signs of lupus, and in this case, they were directly linked to my treatment with Remicade.

New Medications: Azathioprine and Hydroxychloroquine

Azathioprine for Sarcoidosis:
In light of my lupus diagnosis, my treatment plan was changed. I was switched to Azathioprine for managing my sarcoidosis, another chronic illness I’ve been dealing with. Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease that affects multiple organs, particularly the lungs and lymph nodes, and causes small clusters of inflammatory cells (granulomas) to form in various organs. Azathioprine helps by suppressing the immune system, which in turn helps control the inflammation.

Hydroxychloroquine for Lupus:
To address the lupus, I was prescribed Hydroxychloroquine, a medication often used to treat malaria but highly effective for lupus. Hydroxychloroquine works by reducing inflammation and modulating the immune system. So far (fingers crossed), I haven’t experienced any major illness since starting this treatment, just a few minor sore throats that didn’t last long. Thankfully, I’ve also managed to avoid COVID-related complications.

Understanding Sarcoidosis and Lupus

What is Sarcoidosis?
Sarcoidosis is a condition where the immune system causes inflammation, leading to the formation of granulomas—tiny clusters of inflammatory cells—in various organs, most commonly the lungs and lymph nodes. While the exact cause is unknown, it’s believed to result from the body’s immune response to an unknown trigger. Symptoms often include fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and respiratory problems. Treatment typically involves anti-inflammatory and immune-suppressing medications to control symptoms.

What is Lupus?
Lupus (specifically systemic lupus erythematosus or SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues and organs, causing widespread inflammation. Lupus can affect many parts of the body, including the skin, joints, kidneys, and brain. Common symptoms include fatigue, joint pain, skin rashes (such as the butterfly rash), and fevers. Managing lupus often requires medications that reduce inflammation and modulate the immune system to prevent flare-ups.

Moving Forward

Living with Chronic Illness:
Managing multiple chronic illnesses like sarcoidosis and lupus is no small feat, but I’m remaining hopeful. The combination of Azathioprine and Hydroxychloroquine has been effective so far in managing my symptoms. I’m looking forward to more stable health days ahead and am grateful for the medical team guiding me through this.

Stay Connected:
Thank you all for your patience and continued support. I promise to keep you updated more frequently as I continue navigating this health journey. If you have any questions or want to share your own experiences, feel free to leave a comment below. Let’s support each other through the ups and downs of chronic illness.