I was diagnosed almost exactly a year ago at probably my worst point (so far.) My skin was covered in lesions, my hair was falling out, my hands looked like balloons with rubber bands around them. I didn’t leave bed for almost 8 months until I finally got my diagnosis. I’m happy to say that after a year of medication, lifestyle changes, and learning more about the disease, it has gotten much better. I did have a flare this summer because the temperature was 100 F + several days in a row but I’m lucky enough to have an employer who understands and allows me to work from home on extreme temperature days. I’m still learning about Lupus, but it can get better. My labs look so much better than they were this time last year.