What is Lupus? My mom was diagnosed with it and I want to make sure it's not a serious disease. What exactly is Lupus and how can you cure it??? Please help!
Thank u for all answers. ;D Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can affect various parts of the body, including the skin, joints, heart, lungs, blood, kidneys and brain. Normally the body's immune system 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 like lupus, the immune system cannot tell the difference between foreign substances and its own cells and tissues. The immune system then makes antibodies directed against itself. These antibodies -- called "auto-antibodies" (auto means 'self') -- cause inflammation, pain and damage in various parts of the body.
There is no cure for lupus but there are effective treatments available. Learn all you can about your mothers condition so that you will be better informed and more able to help out. Well my dad has Lupus.
He can barely go to sleep at night.
He gets sick extremely easy.
thats what happens with a low immune system though.
and he lost some fingers due to bad circulation.
but he is still happy.
and I'm pretty sure its not going to be too serious for him(: There is a ton of medical info on the internet. It would probably be better for you to read about it in there. I f you would like I can connect you and your mom with some people who have recovered from this auto immune disorder through taking simple nutrition, which will give your mom relief, give me a call. Cell phone> 719.232.6715. My name is Dave There is no cure for lupus. Good nutrition helps, but it does not cure lupus. But if your mom works as a partner with her doctors there is a very good chance she can keep it controlled. You can help by not causing stress for her. Stress is not good for lupus patients. And it's not good for you. Please don't let that person who wrote that horribly long post frighten you, OK? Lupus is serious. The vast majority of the time it is manageable.
Lupus is serious. I will not lie to you. I have it and I know what it can do. But if the lupus patient follows their treatment regimen, they have a pretty good shot at living a normal life span.
You mom may get tired a lot. Let her rest and don't push her. Even more important, notice when she is pushing herself. We moms tend to do that.
She should not be out in the sun much. A little sun is fine, hanging out a the ball field all day is not a good idea. Sun makes lupus worse.
Learn about lupus. The link below is a good starting point. But please understand lupus affects each person in a different way. You will read about lots of things that COULD happen, Most of them won't.
Lupus patients may feel good some times, almost normal, and then crash. This can happen even during a single day. Let your mom rest when that happens. Let her enjoy feeling good and doing things when that happens. Your mom is an adult. She can figure that out. If is very frustrating for those of us with lupus when our kids or friends or spouses think they know what we should and should not do. Let her make her own choices.
Don't pity your mother. It does not feel very good to be on the receiving end of pity.
Don't act like your mother is going to die any second. How do you think that will make her feel? Most lupus patients live a pretty normal life span. I know two women with lupus, one is 85 and sent me an email this morning. The other is 86 and teaches yoga to people and wheel chairs and she still dances!
It make take some time for your mother and doctor to find just the right medications. Each lupus patient reacts differently. Be patient while they figure this out.
I hope this gives you some of the information you were looking for. I am a 56 year old grandmother with lupus. You can write to me if you want. it is serious. do a web search for information I think everyone has pretty much summed it up for you. I was diagnosed in 2000 with SLE(systemic lupus erythematosus). The best advice I have for you is to learn ALL you can about the disease. The more you learn about it, the easier it will be to understand what your mom has ahead of her. Unfortunately, there is no cure, but it is manageable. Best of luck to you, your mother and your family! To be honest these guys all have gave you the text book answer to lupus. If you have other questions feel free to ask. I've had lupus and Mixed Connective Tissue Disease since I was 10 yrs. old. Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can affect various parts of the body, including the skin, joints, heart, lungs, blood, kidneys and brain. Normally the body's immune system makes proteins called antibodies, to protect the body against viruses, bacteria, and other foreign materials. These foreign materials are called antigens.
my Mom had lupus of the skin, she had too take medicine and special diet.She didnt die from Lupus. Ellen provided you with the best link to learn more about Lupus. I would like to add that Lupus is hereditary and you may want to consider asking your doctor to either send you to a hemo, rheumatologist or have your doctor do the pre-disposed genetic clotting disorder testing on yourself and any other family members. You may want to ask them to check for the 202010 gene mutation at the same time as it's a separate test.
Best of luck to you & your mom. Lupus, also called systemic lupus erythematosus (sis-teh-mik lew-pus er-eh-thee-muh-toh-sis) or SLE, is a disease that affects your immune system. Normally, your immune system fights infections caused by germs. Instead of protecting your body, your immune system makes the mistake of attacking your body's healthy cells. Lupus can affect almost any part of your body, including your joints, skin, kidneys, heart, lungs, blood vessels, and brain. There is no way to know what part of your body will be affected. For most people though, lupus is a mild disease affecting only a few parts of your body, and some patients don't get inner organ problems (like in the heart and lungs), but do have skin and joint problems. Normally, lupus develops slowly, with symptoms that come and go. For some, it can cause serious and even life-threatening problems. Even for patients with diseases that hurt their organs, with good care and management and a strong partnership between a patient and her health care provider, the prognosis is good.
Who has lupus?
Lupus affects up to 1.4 million people in the United States. About 9 out of 10 people who have lupus are women. Lupus is 3 times more common in black women than in white women. It is also more common in women of Hispanic/Latina, Asian, and American Indian descent. Black and Hispanic/Latina women tend to develop symptoms at an earlier age than other women. African Americans have more severe organ problems, especially with their kidneys.
What are the different types of lupus?
There are several forms of lupus:
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). SLE is the most common type of lupus. SLE can affect many parts of the body including joints, skin, kidneys, lungs, heart, blood vessels, nervous system, blood, and brain. Although SLE usually develops in people between the ages of 15 and 44 years, it can occur in childhood or later in life. The signs of SLE vary and there are usually periods of both illness and wellness (also called remission or having no symptoms). Some people have just a few signs of the disease while others have more. Its symptoms can include:
* "butterfly" rash across the nose and cheeks
* skin rashes on parts of the body exposed to the sun
* sores in the mouth or nose
* painful or swollen joints
* fever
* weight loss
* hair loss
* fatigue
* chest pain when taking deep breaths
* purple or pale fingers or toes from cold or stress
* abdominal pain
* kidney inflammation
* headaches
* paranoia
* schizophrenia
* hallucinations
* depression
* trouble thinking
* memory problems
* seizures
* strokes
* blood clots
Discoid (diss-koid) lupus erythematosus (DLE). DLE just affects the skin. It does not affect other organs, like SLE. Its symptoms can include:
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a red, raised rash on the face, scalp, or other parts of the body. The rash may become thick and scaly and may last for days or years.
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sores in the mouth or nose (sometimes)
A small group of people with DLE later develop SLE. There is no way to know if someone with DLE will get SLE. A skin biopsy (removing a piece of skin to look at under a microscope) of the rash is taken to diagnose this type of lupus.
Drug-induced lupus. This type of lupus is a reaction to some prescription medicines. The symptoms of this type of lupus are similar to SLE, except you don't have problems with your kidneys or central nervous system. It can take months to years of taking the medicine before symptoms appear. After you stop taking the drug, it could take days, weeks, or months for symptoms to go away.
Neonatal lupus. While rare, some newborn babies of women with SLE or other immune system disorders get lupus. Babies with neonatal lupus may have a serious heart defect. About one-half of babies with neonatal lupus are born with a heart condition. This condition is permanent, but it can be treated with a pacemaker (a device that helps the heart set a rhythm). Other affected babies may have a skin rash or liver problems. Some babies have both heart and skin problems.
What causes lupus?
The cause of lupus is not known. It is likely that there is no single cause but a combination of genetic, environmental, and possibly hormonal factors that work together to cause the disease. Lupus is not contagious-you can't catch it from someone. No specific "lupus gene" has been found, but it does run in families.
How is SLE diagnosed?
SLE may be hard to diagnose and is often mistaken for other diseases. For this reason, lupus has often been called the "great imitator." No single test can tell if a person has lupus. There are many ways to diagnose SLE:
1. Medical history. Give your health care provider (HCP) a complete, accurate medical history. This information, along with a physical exam and special tests, helps your HCP rule out other diseases that can be confused with lupus.
2. Symptoms. Having 4 (or more) of the 11 symptoms of lupus, as defined by the American College of Rheumatology. For a list of these symptoms, go to www.rheumatology.org/research/classifica...
3. Lab tests. The Antinuclear antibody (ANA) test is a commonly used test. An antibody is a chemical the body makes to fight off infections. The test looks for the strength of your antibodies. Most people with lupus test positive for ANA. However, other health problems, like malaria (a disease from a mosquito bite), can also give you a positive test. That's why other tests may be needed.
What are flares?
When symptoms appear, it's called a "flare." These signs may come and go. You may have swelling and rashes one week and no symptoms at all the next. You may find that your symptoms flare after you've been out in the sun or after a hard day at work. Even if you take medicine for lupus, you may find that there are times when the symptoms become worse. Learning to recognize that a flare is coming can help you take steps to cope with it. Many people feel very tired or have pain, a rash, a fever, stomach discomfort, headache, or dizziness just before a flare.
Take steps to prevent flares:
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Learn to recognize that a flare is coming.
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Try to set realistic goals and priorities.
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Limit the time you spend in the sun.
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Maintain a healthy diet.
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Develop coping skills to help limit stress.
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Get enough rest and quiet.
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Exercise moderately when possible.
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Develop a support system by surrounding yourself with people you trust and feel comfortable with like family and friends.
How is lupus treated?
There is no known cure for lupus, but there are effective treatments. Most of the symptoms of lupus are from inflammation (swelling), so treatment focuses on reducing the swelling.
Treatment may include taking these medicines:
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Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). NSAIDs are often used to reduce joint and muscle pain and inflammation in people who have mild SLE (pain isn't bad or organs aren't affected). There are many different types of NSAIDs, both prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs. They include aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and other medicines. Common side effects of NSAIDs can include stomach upset, heartburn, drowsiness, headache, and fluid retention. If you have any side effects, talk to your HCP. NSAIDs can also cause problems in your blood, liver, and kidneys. Stay in touch with your HCP to ensure these problems aren't happening to you.
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Antimalarial drugs. Medicines used to prevent or treat malaria are used to treat joint pain, skin rashes, and ulcers. Two common antimalarials are hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) and chloroquine (Aralen). Side effects of antimalarials can include stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, dizziness, blurred vision, trouble sleeping, and itching.
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Corticosteroid hormones. These are powerful drugs that reduce inflammation in various tissues of the body. They can be taken by mouth, in creams applied to the skin, or by injection. Prednisone is a corticosteroid that is often used to treat lupus. Corticosteriods can have various side effects, so HCPs try to use the lowest dose possible. Short-term side effects include swelling, increased appetite, weight gain, and emotional ups and downs. These side effects generally stop when the drug is stopped. Long-term side effects of corticosteroids can include stretch marks on the skin, excessive hair growth, weakened or damaged bones, high blood pressure, damage to the arteries, high blood sugar, infections, and cataracts. People with lupus who are using corticosteroids should talk to their HCPs about taking calcium supplements, vitamin D, or other drugs to reduce the risk of osteoporosis (weakened, fragile bones).
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Immunosuppressive agents/chemotherapy. These agents are used in serious cases of lupus, when major organs are losing their ability to function. These drugs suppress the immune system to limit the damage to the organ. Examples are azathioprine (Imuran) and cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan). These drugs can cause serious side effects including nausea, vomiting, hair loss, bladder problems, decreased fertility, and increased risk of cancer and infection.
Work closely with your HCP to ensure that your treatment plan is as successful as possible. Because some treatments may cause harmful side effects, promptly report any new symptoms to your HCP. It is also important not to stop or change treatments without talking to your HCP first.
Hope THAT HELPED
GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY im sure someone will give a link but just my plain knowlege its a disease that attacks the immune system, leaving you with cronic fatigue and sickness you have to take much more precation in caring for your body because you can become ill so much easier then the "normal guy" sometimes they might suffer from hairloss, bruiseing, etc. tend to always feel worn out and should try not to have a lot of stress cause that can make matters worse.. it has ups and downs.. |
