KNOWING lupus KNOW IT SUCKS LOL

Hi Everyone!

 

I am feeling OK this morning. Not so much pain and my hands feel like they are working today. I have had a lot of emails asking me about lupus. ( I never capitalize diseases.) So I thought I would give a bit of info.

First I have been living with lupus for 14 years. Before that, illness and medical problems were never associated with lupus until after the fact. I had a doctor that went over my past with me and at every point told me what was directly related to lupus.

If only I had known. LOL

Second, I work hard to keep healthy and I have made the choice to do it with herbs. I do NOT take any lupus meds. This is my choice and it works for me. Please if you have lupus or any other type of autoimmune talk with your doctor before making any changes to your care.

 

What is lupus? (other than is sucks? LOL)

Lupus is a chronic inflammatory dis-ease that can affect various systems of the body, especially the skin, joints, blood, kidneys, liver, digestion, lungs, heart, eyes, and brain (CNS)  The body's immune system normally makes proteins called antibodies to protect the body against viruses, bacteria, and other foreign materials.  These foreign materials are called antigens.  In an autoimmune disorder such as lupus, the immune system loses its ability to tell the difference between foreign substances (antigens) and its own cells and tissues.  The immune system then makes antibodies directed against "self."  These antibodies, called "auto-antibodies," react with the "self" antigens to form immune complexes.  The immune complexes build up in the tissues and

 can cause inflammation, injury to tissues, and pain.

So in other words your body attacks itself. Sounds like a sci-fi movie doesn't it?

 

There are three types of lupus. Discoid (cutaneous) which mostly effects the skin. 

 

Systemic lupus is usually more severe than discoid lupus and can affect almost any organ or system of the body.  For some people, only the skin and joints will be involved.  In others, the joints, lungs, kidneys, blood, or other organs and/or tissues may be affected.

 

The third is drug induced and this is important to know;

Drug-induced lupus occurs after the use of certain prescribed drugs.  Check it out here.

 

So that is the basics of what lupus is. Of course I have SLE (systemic lupus erythematosus)

Every part of my body is involved and the older I get the worse it seems to be. A part of the time I am up and running. This is "remission" when I am not feeling well this is called a "flare". No two people have the exact same symptoms. So if you suspect that you may have lupus do some research and talk with your doctor. There are specific testing now that can detect if you have lupus. In addition a new medicine, the first in 50 years. Took em long enough right?

 

lupus for me effects my central nervous system, (CNS) stomach and digestion, bones, muscles, blood, eyes, and lungs. How fun is this??? LOL NOT.... The flare I am in right now is more like a raging fire. Fear not I do have extinguishers!!  I will not allow lupus to win. I will not give into its army that attacks me from the inside out. I will not loose!!!! lupus can be difficult to live with. There are many who bead that live with it and we do OK. Support is important and I thank each one of you for sending wonderful well wishes, healing energy, and prayers.

May health abide in us all

 

Here are some wonderful sites to check out. 

http://www.lupus.org/newsite/index.html

http://www.lupusinternational.com/

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/lupus/DS00115

http://www.usinlupus.com/?google=e_&rotation=9931&banner=70170&kw=29

 

This is me with my mom, last year when I was feeling pretty well. 

 Mom is 82 here. Doesn't she look great?

 

 Honor and Integrity in Life in Art

Nicole/Beadwright