I am doing a research project for my senior year in high school and its on LUPUS, and how people live w/ it and their struggles, day by day, so if you'd like to share some info about it, that'd be SO GREAT =) thankyou.
-what you go through each day?
-constant reminders that you have lupus?
-what were some symptoms?
-can you tell you have lupus, or do you look perfectly normal?
I just basiccly need, whatever you have =) thankyou so much. Hi ALex
THis is probably more than you need, but here is the most common answers on Lupus.
Definition
Lupus is a chronic, inflammatory, autoimmune disease that affects the blood and connective tissue.
Types
There are two main types of lupus. Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) affects the exposed areas of the skin and sometimes the joints. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is more serious and potentially fatal condition that affects the body`s organs in addition to the blood and connective tissues.
Symptoms
Lupus symptoms vary according to the severity of the illness and the affected organs. SLE can strike abruptly, accompanied by fever and mimicking an acute infection. But it can also occur slowly over months, even years, exhibiting only sporadic episodes of fever and fatigue. Most people with SLE complain of pain in various joints that mimics arthritis, or in children it simulates growing pains. In adults, there is often a history of growing pains. Over time, muscular contraction may deform the joints.
Many patients also manifest rashes on their face, neck, upper chest, and/or elbows. In DLE, the rash starts as red, circular thickened areas that leave scars, most often affecting the face and scalp, and can also cause permanent hair loss. In SLE, there is a characteristic "butterfly-shaped" rash that occurs on the cheeks and over the bridge of the nose. Rashes in SLE patients do not scar and do not cause permanent hair loss.
Ulcers on mucous membranes such as the mouth and nose are also common. Swelling of the hands and fingers can occur, as well, as can sensitivity to light, kidney disorders, pleurisy (inflammation of lining of the lungs), pericarditis (inflammation of the membrane surrounding the heart), iron deficiency, anemia, and high blood pressure. Swelling of lymph nodes is also common, especially in children.
SLE is considered as mild if the symptoms are mainly fever, joint pain, rash, headaches, pleurisy, and pericarditis. It is considered severe if it is associated with life-threatening diseases. Severe SLE requires immediate corticosteroid therapy, which can only be administered under a doctor`s care. Since SLE is often chronic, with periods of improvement and relapse over many years, years of remission can occur in between periods of symptoms. This does not necessarily mean that the disease is gone. To be sure, you may need blood tests for antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and sometimes skin biopsies.
Note: According to the American Rheumatoid Association, four of the following eight symptoms must be present for a diagnosis of lupus: ANA antibodies in the blood, low white blood cell or platelet count or hemolytic anemia, joint pain in a number of joints (arthritis), butterfly rash on cheeks, abnormal cells in the urine, light sensitivity, mouth sores, and seizure or psychosis.
Cause
Food allergies (there is a 100 percent correlation between lupus and food allergies), rheumatoid arthritis, other connective tissue diseases, parasites, candidiasis, bowel problems, and digestive enzyme deficiencies can create symptoms that mimic or exacerbate SLE. Migraines, epilepsy, and psychoses must also be ruled out before a proper course of treatment can be decided upon.
Both forms of lupus primarily strike young women (90% of cases) and young children.
The drugs hydralazine, procainamide, and beta blockers can cause false-positive readings of SLE, and can also produce a lupus-like condition that disappears when the drugs are no longer taken. Birth control pills and environmental stresses can also exacerbate lupus symptoms.
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Natural Cures
Diet: Eat an organic, whole foods diet. Also avoid overeating and limit your intake of dairy, beef products, and polyunsaturated oils. Also screen for food allergies and avoid all foods to which you are allergic or sensitive. Increase your intake of vegetables, especially green, yellow, and orange, and consume non-farm-raised fish several times a week.
Herbs: Supplementation with Swedish bitters with each meal can increase hydrochloric acid production. Also drink an infusion of nettle twice a day. Other useful herbs include echinacea, goldenseal, licorice, pau d`arco, and red clover
Juice Therapy: Drink the juice of carrot, celery, flaxseed oil, black currant oil, and garlic.
Nutritional Supplementation: Hydrochloric acid (HCL) deficiency is common in people with lupus, therefore HCL supplements with each meal is advised. Other useful nutrients include vitamin A with beta carotene, vitamin C and bioflavonoids, vitamin B complex, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, calcium, magnesium, selenium, zinc, essential fatty acids, proteolytic enzymes taken away from meals, digestive enzymes taken with meals, and the amino acids L-cysteine, L-methionine, and L-cystine.
Topical Treatment: PABA cream applied topically can help ease symptoms.
Alternative Professional Care
If your symptoms persist despite the above measures, seek the help of a qualified health professional. The following professional care therapies have all been shown to be useful for treating Lupus: Acupuncture, Biofeedback Training, Bodywork, Cell Therapy, Chelation Therapy, Detoxification Therapy, Environmental Medicine, Enzyme Therapy, Guided Imagery, Homeopathy, Juice Therapy, Light Therapy, Magnetic Field Therapy, Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy, Naturopathic Medicine, Oxygen Therapy, Qigong, Rolfing, and Traditional Chinese Medicine
Best of health to you - It's never lupus. One suggestion could be for you to join an on-line support group for either Lupus patients, or care givers of Lupus patients. I have a similar disease, but do not at this time have a Lupus diagnosis. I do have most all of the symptoms, but a negative ANA, I have Lupus Anticoagulant Antibodies and Anticardiolipin Antibodies. I am a multiple stroke survivor and have chronic fatigue and joint pain as well as peripheral pain Most people would guess that I have MS in seeing me, but I have a diagnosis of Primary Antiphospholipid Syndrome, which can also cause organ failure. I know many from a support group, that have Lupus as well. You may check with your state's Lupus foundation and see if you could attend a support meeting. Good for you for picking this topic. New medical findings are happening right now at a fast rate. It is estimated that 50% of Lupus patients also have this disorder. Lupus varies widely from patient to patient. It also manifests itseslf differently at different times.
I spent 4 years on disability, unable to work. About a year ago I returned to work and am doing well. The lupus affected my bone marrow, blood, heart, lungs and kidneys. I also had extreme joint pain and fatigue.
I try to make all my choices of food, exercise, and activities with the thought of whether this will help build health or aggravate the immune system.
I take medication 3 times a day. That's a pretty constant reminder. I have a complete blood count, complete metabolic panel and 24 urine collection evaluated for protein excretion and creatine clearance every three months and will have to do that for life. That's a pretty constant reminder too.
The earliest symptoms were a flu like feeling, joint pain and fatigue with frequent fevers. It's like you get sick and just can't seem to get over it. That progressed to chest pain as the outer lining of the heart swelled with fluid, the lining of the lungs inflamed and fluid began seeping into my lungs. The kidney disease caused fluid retention in my legs and feet.
I look normal. Most of us do unless we have skin involvement. There is a great site www.butyoudontlooksick.com that you might check out. It is maintained by a person with lupus. If you go to the link below and click on the community section, you will find stories of people's struggle with lupus. |
