General Discussion

In early jan 1990 my 12 year old son developed rashes under is eyes, elbows and knees. Hmo doc said it was the soap. I told him we had lupus in our family history, he said I was overreacting. I took him back to doc many times just to be told switch your laundry detergent. In early summer he stated to experience fatigue. By fall he was unable to walk two blocks to school without resting. In December he started to detereate to the point he could not walk a few feet. I had to threaten a lawsuit to finally get a test I had requested in January. Which came back positive for lupus. He was admitted to children's in Los Angeles two days later. He was diagnosed with dermatomyositis which is an autoimmune disease. Almost a year delay in treatment caused so much damage to his muscles. Spent two years in a wheelchair.
Edited to add: they only treatment at the time was to shut down his immune system during the flare. He spent three months in children's Hmo doc tried to have him released after 2 weeks. Getting him the needed physical therapy was a nightmare.hmo only authorized 90 days. I had to learn his daily exercises in order for him to regain his ability to walk. The medication was denied and than approved after many fights and changes in California health care laws