My name is Kathy, I am 54 years old and have lupus and am a below knee amputee.  I live on the beautiful Gold Coast. 

My Lupus began around the age of 15 with swollen and sore joints, disappearing daily and arriving in another joint the next day.  Doctors decided it was growing pains!!!  A number of years with many visits to doctors, blood tests, xrays went by. I was diagnosed after a “good doctor” decided to test me for Lupus. I had a stiff and swollen neck and needed help to get in and out of bed.

 My gorgeous son was born in 1979 and about 2 years after his birth was when I was diagnosed.  I was started on anti inflammatories and felt good.  Next came a big flare up with all hell erupting.  Swollen all over, aching all over,  pericarditis, pleurisy, severe migraines, incredible pain in the ends of my fingers etc. etc. ALL AT THE SAME TIME. Started on Prednisone and been on it ever since.   Had a reasonable run from then on, apart from the usual arthritis and having  to have a total hysterectomy after months of tests. Luckily I saw another doctor who diagnosed me with huge tumors and cysts and pelvic inflammatory disease. Saw him on the Friday and on the Monday I was in surgery.  Got over that and then in 1990 I had a blocked artery in my right leg, then gangrene, then amputation.  This was due to anticardiolipin antibodies which I didn’t know I had and had no idea what it was.  I had no symptoms of a blockage in my leg.  I recovered really well and couldn’t wait to get back to my normal life.  I went back to work and haven’t stopped since, love to work.  

I get the aches and pains but since I had my leg amputated I haven’t been too bad.   I work 3 days a week as a book keeper, I am on the committee of the amputee advisory association which is a voluntary position, I visit new amputees to show them how to get on with life after an amputation.  I have my 2 gorgeous granddaughters on my days off, 1 & 3 years old.  I walk 3/4 hour every morning.  I am on 3mg prednisone and other stuff, but hey, it’s all part of Lupus.  Last year I lost 17 kilos (didn’t have that much to lose) due to an overactive thyroid, but am on medication for that and have put a few kilos back on. I have osteoporosis from being on prednisone for so long and take medication for that, luckily I haven’t broken any thing except for ribs.   I have been married 31 years to my gorgeous understanding, supportive husband. Some times I get upset about my leg….  but I can’t make it grow back. I live my life to the fullest as best I can.    I travel with my girlfriend and have fun; I have lots of hobbies and enjoy my life.