I am now 54 and was diagnosed with lupus in March 2006. I have since been diagnosed with 4 other autoimmune, fibromyalgia along with a list of other diseases. I'm currently on 27 meds plus I have meds I take on a "as needed" basis.

The hardest part for me was trying to tell myself that I needed help. I was such a very independent woman, always multi tasking many things at one time and suddenly fall to a place where I couldn't even remember the last sentence you said. Then the chronic pain that I just couldn't seem to get anything that helped.

I was never a very patient person and I always expected to have results quickly from certain medicines. Unfortunately, it seemed that everything my rheumatologist put me on took 3 months to get in my system only to find out it didn't work.

Sometimes just to sit and cry and feel like the world was on my shoulders and that I didn't have the support of anyone and God only knew that I never asked anyone for help, my world just came crashing down. One of my medical advise nurses who called to check on me twice a month because I had so many things happening to my health at one time, she diagnosed depression. After beginning depression meds it helped me immensely.

The one thing I could advise, is to ask for help. Whether that's help from a family member, a friend, a doctor or a specialist.

Getting older will probably never be graceful unless you are able to give in to what these diseases due to you.

I like to write in a journal. I keep track of how I feel daily, how much my pain feels from 1 -10 and then throughout your day, write down things that you notice makes you feel better and what things make you feel worse. Sometimes when pain comes or fatigue, we tend to focus on it and usually you don't remember exactly what and how certain things made you feel or how you got into that situation. That's why picking up a journal and writing it down, will allow you to go back and read things that you may have not remembered that can help you later.

I know that sometimes, listening to your body and resting when you need to, clearing your mind, however that works for you, such as reading, listening to music, walking, looking at nature, just to name a few. Relaxation is key.

Stress about anything can bring on flares, so trying to base things on age is quite hard to do when there's no rhyme nor reasons for these awful diseases. Finding things that work for you is very important. If you have a senior citizen place near you that you could join may help you a lot. They take field trips, have game days, Bible studies, etc. Just getting out can help as well.

I'm sorry for the book, but I hope there is something that will help you in all of this.

JohnMoore, you have voiced one of the more aggravating symptoms of SLE.....that is the sapping of your energy reserves. I too experience what I term "extreme fatigue" and weakness. Contributing respiratory issues, a complication of SLE also, compounds the experience. ---I was riding my bicycle for about 6-7 miles as a senior before beuing diagnosed. My health issues just came one after another within one year prior to SLE diagnosis. I was dumbfounded because I was so healthy before, even played squash/raquetball. I was never sedentary throughout my life. Now all I can do is sit most of the day(s) to recharge. ---My strategy now is to sit a long while in my wheelchair recliner then get up and do so small chore then sit a while more. Sometimes that can end up having to be more than a day. (laughing) I just keep chugging but remain dumbfounded over having SLE...and aging. I am "grieving" over the loss of my healthy former condition and gradually facing my newness. I say "newness" because difficult situations usually test us and strengthen our spiritual fiber at the same time. ---Avoid anger or rage. That will not help you but sets you back even further. Denial does not help either. ---Facing what is the newness with the fiber of your spirit will brighten your spirit more day by day. The body may be wasting away perhaps at a pace we had not planned for but the spirit of man strengthened by GOD, is able to lift the body/move the body, when it counts. In other words, unplanned REST is a gain for both the spirit and body. JohnMoore, always remember there is no such thing as the dying of the light. The Light is forever! Keep facing the Light! The Light is Life!

i am 72.....SLE has taken my energy ....almost permanent tiredness and weakness which are both needed to fight the various other terrible wonders that is lupus...i am a battler and i want some sort of my life back..good luck to you..let me know what works for you and i will let you know also..Rage against the dying of the light..

Aging gracefully for us is hard. I have adjusted my lifestyle to accommodate some of the problems so it is not as noticeable. I have to pick and choose more carefully what I want to do. Try to rest when you can especially if you have a social event you want to go to in the evening. Some days I have more energy and can do more but the problem with never really knowing how each day will be is the problem to commiting to things. I had to give in to a walker it really made a difference, it was better than limping or not being able to get around, with the walker I can do more and move faster, so better than not being able to.
You have to be on top of your doctors as we age they put so much on that instead of the disease, only you know your body the best, you have to fight for them to look further. The things that have changed the most for me of course is the energy to do what I used to in a run of a day. Dancing I used to love doing, but only a couple at a time now if any one some days. I still go to the beach but have an umbrella. I shop but it is slower. Try to keep moving as much as you can or start swimming to keep the joints moving and eat as healthy as you can and rest is the best advice I can give you. But try to keep up the things that give you joy. gentle hugs and blessings.

Hi Viki S, your text could've been taken right off my page. I'm glad you shared it. The only thing I have to add to everyone with autoimmune disease, " be prepared for your doctors to dismiss your aches and pains as you grow older". My doctors just keep sending me from one doctor to the other. My internist will send me to my GI my GI sends me to my RA then more blood work or more x rays. Now I've learned to just live with the pain. That's what one of my doctors said the other day, " just deal with it the best you can". One doctor said " my insurance didn't pay him enough to give me more than 5 minutes". Oh yeah he actually said that! I've been treated so badly by doctors. I just don't go unless I absolutely have to. I was diagnosed 22 years ago. Yes it's hard to deal with, it's hard to get people to help. I've asked for help, I've offered to pay. I was so independent when I was younger. Yeah I was super woman! I really wish I had some good advice to pass on. One thing I will add is, try to keep your friends or make new friends.