When Gina Williams began suffering with pain in her joints and found herself struggling with tasks as simple as holding a toothbrush, she put it down to becoming a new mum.

Unfortunately, the joint pain became progressively worse and other symptoms emerged until she was diagnosed with Lupus, an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system attacks your tissues and organs.

Gina, 28, of Hadleigh, said: “I had pain in my joints, starting off in my hands, which got progressively worse.

“I struggled with nappy changing, getting my daughter dressed, opening things, holding my daughter and even holding a toothbrush.

“The pain was worse in the mornings and physically getting out of bed everyday became a real task. Every joint ached, I felt like a 27-year-old in a 97-year-old’s body.

“I put the pain down to just being a new mum so I put off going to the doctor until I noticed other changes, such as my fingernails becoming pitted and my feet and ankles swelling making it difficult to walk.”

Gina saw a doctor who suspected arthritis and sent her for a series of blood tests. It was only then that the results of the blood tests, along with Gina’s symptoms, indicated Lupus.

Lupus mainly affects women and the variety of symptoms that it can produce means it often goes undiagnosed for long periods and can cause damage to a number of different organs such as the skin, lungs, heart and brain.

Gina said: “I was in shock and denial for quite a while when I was told I might have Lupus.

“When my health declined even further and I ended up back in hospital with excessive protein levels in my urine showing my kidneys had been affected, a biopsy was done leading to my diagnosis of Class 4 Lupus Nephritis.

“Treatment began immediately and I felt completely overwhelmed by everything.

“Within a month I went from thinking I just needed physio to being told I had an incurable disease, that my kidneys were damaged and I’d need very strong medication for the rest of my life.

“It’s scary to think that if my daughter was to get chicken pox, I would have to move out or I could die.”

The mum-of-one has been taking medication for a year and is regularly monitored.

She is only just coming to terms with the illness, which affects her mentally as well as physically.

Gina added: “I cannot fault the care of Southend Rheumatology and Renal departments, and my consultants have been fantastic.

“Awareness is so important as it goes misdiagnosed or undiagnosed for many years.

“I was fortunate to receive a diagnosis so soon after seeing a doctor.

“Had it been any later I could’ve ended up on dialysis and be waiting for a kidney transplant.

“A common trigger for lupus is childbirth so I would suggest anyone who has similar symptoms to see a doctor straight away.”

Gina spoke out as part of Lupus Awareness month which is held annually in October to make more people aware of the condition.

Visit lupusuk.org.uk/lupus-awareness-month/ for more information.