Friday, 30th November, 2007 and my life changed forever. I had not been feeling well for quite a while but kept putting it down to hormone problems and my hysterectomy that I had had a year earlier...

My everyday battle with the Wolf (alias SLE), fibromyalgia, arthritis and degeneration in my spine and facet joints. Just a little thing to deal with in life, along with the other less significant problems such as Sjogren’s Syndrome, Antiphospholipid Syndrome, pleuritic pain in the chest due to fluid around the heart, headaches and muzziness.

My problems began in March 1998 while I was at work. I started with flu like symptoms which progressed to fevers, followed by night sweats. Three visits to the GP and a bunch of antibiotics later, I had not improved at all. In fact, my fevers were spiking higher daily and having been like this for three weeks, something had to be done.

My lupus story really begins in 2004, despite the fact that I had suffered from other health issues (that may or may not be lupus related) before things went from bad to worse. Things turned sour over Christmas break 2004-2005, I noticed my need for sleep had increased dramatically and I found myself suddenly sleeping all day long.

It all started around the age of 17. I would get stiffness in my wrists, which was making driving uncomfortable at times. I thought nothing of it, for the first few months, but then I started to get stiffness and swelling in my knees as well. Being so young, I didn't imagine it to be anything important or worth worrying about, but my mum was concerned about it and she encouraged me to go to the family doctors.

I was diagnosed with lupus in 1988 but looking back at some of the things that happened in the years prior to that, it would seem that it’s been around for most of my life. After a couple of years during which I was quite poorly and felt like a walking toothache, our super team at the Louise Coote Lupus Unit sorted me out and got the lupus under control.

I must start by saying I haven't found it easy to sit and right my story. Putting the last four years down on paper proved to be difficult. For one I didn't want to physically write it ! Frustrated because I haven't quite mastered using the computer, much to the amusement of my 14 year old daughter Grace, whose assistance is unending!

I was diagnosed with Lupus in 1996. Before that I was experiencing new symptoms every day. I had to endure loads of checkups, blood tests, x-rays but no one was able to pinpoint the source of the problem. I went from doctor to doctor with no exact answer.

What, How, Why? These are some of the responses I had when I was diagnosed with Lupus at the age of 34, and are many of the questions I have if I tell anyone about 'my Lupus!' It took quite a while for my diagnosis to be confirmed, but in 2008, when it was, OMG - What a Shock!! My husband was fantastic, and still is.

I'm married with two children and I was first diagnosed with Lupus (SLE - systemic lupus erythematosus) in 1995. It all started with a throat infection and joint pains that lasted for several weeks. My doctor referred me to the hospital to see a rheumatologist and I mentioned that my mum had lupus. A test was carried out and it was confirmed within two weeks that I had SLE.

Hi, my name is Caroline Hill and this is my story. In June 1996 I was a happy, healthy 30 year old woman, I ran a wine bar, had a good life, worked long hard hours and played hard too. I loved water sports, the beach and football. A day out that summer led to my life being totally wrecked, I went to the beach on my day off to go surfing, by 10pm that night I was in my local hospital covered in what looked like a bad case of prickly heat!

"Yes, definitely lupus, lupus erythematosis," said the dermatologist. "This is a sort of auto-allergy but don't worry, it's just your skin. Keep out of the sun and use this cream". Knowing that we were about to go abroad for a couple of years, she added "and don't let those foreign doctors put you on steroids!"

Firstly, let me tell you about myself. I am 31 years old and recently married to my soul mate and long term partner Tony. I am an incredibly sociable person and am lucky enough to have a lot of very good friends and the best family (OK, I am a bit biased!)...

At age 21 I collapsed and was rushed into hospital with severe renal failure. I was in intensive care for a couple of days and then back onto haemodialysis, a kidney biopsy was taken...