My early symptom at the age of 16 was joint pain. It felt like I was sleeping under an air conditioner and was very stiff. My mother has lupus, which made it easier to diagnose. My biggest flare up now is skin rash from the sun. It was most prevalent during my pregnancies. I have a wonderful doctor who has kept me healthy with the right mixture of drugs. I am now 36 with two healthy children and a wonderful husband who supports me. Published: October 22 ::

At the onset of my lupus, the only symptom I had was joint pain. Each morning, I'd wake up with pain in a different joint. One day, my wrist, the next day my knee, then my fingers, my elbow, etc. The pain would last all day, and it didn't matter if I took Tylenol or Advil or anything. It was there until I woke up the next morning with a different sore joint. Published: September 11 ::

I was diagnosed with lupus at 30. I have joint pain at the knee and my right middle finger swelled up and would not straighten. Subsequently, all of my fingers swelled and were very painful. My eyes were bloodshot most of the time. I was diagnosed with arthritis initially. When it was full-blown, I had a fever every morning, and I also had rashes on my face. Now, I am suffering from hair loss and lethargy post-treatment, and I’m on immunosuppressants. Published: November 17 ::

My symptoms of lupus were joint pain, severe headaches after sun exposure, nosebleeds and rashes. Published: November 06 ::

The only symptoms I have are related to skin --- butterfly rash, swollen face and lips, open sores, skin sheeting off, bleeding arms etc. Sores were not itchy, but wounds on arms were very painful. Large amount of prednisone dramatically ended peeling and swelling. Published: October 23 ::

My symptoms at onset were arthritis and a bad rash in the butterfly area. I also lost a lot of the hair on my head, and the remaining part of it became thin and weak. I live in Denmark and I am a teacher. I was diagnosed with SLE in 1993, at the age of 23. Published: October 09 ::