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| *Women health>>>Lupus |
Does anyone know the symptoms of Lupus, does the skin become very irritated? |
I was told I may have Lupus, MS, or Arthritis, after my ANA test returned positive Red rash or color change Painful or swollen joints Unexplained fever Chest pain with deep breathing Unusual hair loss Pale or purple fingers or toes Sensitivity to sun Other yes skin can be very red. It affects all the systems of the body - a systemic disease. But the good news is that it can be well controlled on medications. I am sorry to hear this - there is loads on the net but as everyone is different don't go frightening yourself! There is probably a good support network out there near you, you GP may be able to help with that if you would like that. Lupus is one of those strange autoimmune diseases, where the body turns on itself, for no reason. It is often associated with arthritis. It appears mostly on the face, making the cheeks and nose very red; the rash is a kind of "butterfly" shape; it was given the name Lupus(wolf) because it was thought that severe cases made the sufferer's face look like a wolfs! There is often pain and inflammation in the joints too; your best bet would be to seek clarification from your doctor. the internet is also a great place for information, but sometimes it can give you too much! What does a positive ANA result mean? ANAs are found in patients who have various autoimmune diseases, but not only autoimmune diseases. ANAs can be found also in patients with infections, cancer, lung diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, hormonal diseases, blood diseases, skin diseases, and in elderly people or people with a family history of rheumatic disease. ANAs are actually found in about 5% of the normal population. The ANA results are just one factor in diagnosing, and must be considered together with the patient's clinical symptoms and other diagnostic tests. Medical history also plays a role because some prescription drugs can cause "drug-induced ANAs". LUPUS............oh-oh, There are 2 types of it. systemic and discoid. the latter, "discoid lupus", involves the skin. My uncle has this particular disease. He complained of pain in shoulders when moving his arms in the "fly" style exercise, and once had the "butterfly rash" across the bridge of his nose & cheeks. He is in his 60's now, and never had to take steroid derivative medication, like the universal "Prednisone". ( lowers your immune sys. to prevent your own white cells from attacking any or all your cells in your body). back to you... I suggest you get a specific test for S.L.E. (systemic lupus ethromiatoses). spelling?...anyway, that is the bad one. I know because I HAVE IT!..since diagnosed in 1981, I have suffered kidney failure, undergone many years of dialysis, ( two 15 gage needles inserted in a artifical artery & vien that pretty-much hurts like a %$#@tch ...then, 3 1/2 hrs. of blood circulating through a filter & never ever feel good again.) normally people don't survive as long as 20 yrs. of renal (kidney) failure, unless they get a kidney transplant. I've had 3 consecutive transpants.- 2 from cadavers & one from my sister that lasted a wonderful 7 years. oh well, got a good run for my money anyhow. another tid-bit: "siphillis can be a false-positive test result for potentually having lupus" ya, that lupus can sure be devistating if it wants to. others I've heard that get diagnosed by a Dr. never complained much more than feeling a little fatiged. But dont be fooled. there are alot of different ways to trigger a "flare-up" with lupus.....-over active ammune system on the warpath to self-distruct. ,reminds me of an old "ELVIRA" hosted horrer film called "THE INCREDIBLE MELTING MAN' and she say's OOOh - a lupus dream! ...was on T.V. over 20 yrs. ago. ..One sure way to trigger lupus is the way I found out that I had somthing seriously wrong with me...living in the desert area, one day I got really sunburnt on my face and chest. I did'nt think much of it at first, but when 3 days went by and I found myself unable to get up off the floor in my bedroom ( dont remember laying down let alone falling out of bed. maybe I was crawling for water or some help. but I was soon found, and taken to E.R. with alot of dumbfounded docters scratching there heads. well back in 1981, lupus was kinda hard to figure out. My skin began to scab-up instead of healing from a sunburn and it kept getting worse. This condition might explain were the term "Warewolf Deasease" came from. If you look in the dictionary, under lupus, it reads: lupus; canis-lupus ;<wolf-like> in the 17th century, people stricken with it, appeared to be disfigured and go insane. so back then one unscrupulus observer thought he saw a warewolf. Imagine if this folklore was true, us lupus-burdened dialysis patients would'nt have to worry about are severe diet restrictions (they're primarilly carnivoars). the reality is that if you are positively lupus positive, especially "systemic" lupus, where all your internal organs are in jeapardy, you better comply with your physician. such as lower stress (important one) . avoid U.V. rays if possible. careful about anti-biotics (I have my own theory about those). ...well, I feel for ya, if you do have it. and your lucky if ya don't. ..................but then you might have a false- pos. for syphillus. I dont know... I'm not a doctor. J.Z. Experience There are different types of skin irritation in lupus, but that is not the only sign, and a positive ANA is not necessarily an indicator of lupus. The most "popular" lupus rash, known as a malar rash, is a reddish, sometimes blistery, rash over the cheeks, nose, and going up to the forehead...generally the more exposed areas of your face...kind of like a sunburn...and is caused by UV exposure. As few as 30% of those with SLE ever exhibit the rash. It is not itchy, and usually not painful. Discoid lesions are round patches of a rash, and can scar. Purpura are red or purple dots or splotches, usually on your legs, arms, and sometimes chest or abdomen, and are caused by vasculitis or other blood disorders common in lupus. Except for discoid lupus, only having a malar rash is not indicitive of lupus, though it may be the first symptom. ANA is very general. Though up to 98% of those with lupus have a positive ANA, up to 30% of healthy individuals also test positive for ANA. A more precise test would be for anti-double strand DNA, or ds-dna. 96% of those with an abnormal count have lupus. Unfortunately, these antibodies also tend to be more specific for the more dangerous forms of lupus, and you would be more likely to develop kidney or CNS problems. You need at least four symptoms that meet specific criteria for a definite lupus. If you have a positive ANA and exhibit symptoms of an autoimmune disorder, which can include things like unusual, unexplained fatigue, painful joints (not necessarily red or swollen), neurological symptoms, gastrointestinal problems, frequent unexplained fevers, constantly feeling like you are on the verge of a cold or the flu, etc. (the list seems endless), you need to have a complete autoimmune workup, which includes tests for many different kinds of autoantibodies, general inflammation in your body, a complete blood count measuring the amount and types of blood cells in your body, cholesterol, a hormonal workup to check your thyroid, adremal glands, etc., check liver and kidney function, etc. Often multiple tests are needed, since the abnormalities will come and go....and all too often they will not cooperate. You also need to find a GOOD rheumatologist who listens to you, and will follow multiple blood tests if necessary to make a diagnosis. That isn't always as easy as it sounds, either. Most importantly, listen to your body, and if you KNOW something isn't right, it isn't. It takes, on average, between 2-5 years from the time a patient first goes to a doctor with symptoms and diagnosis of an autoimmune disorder. Your best weapon is knowledge...learn as much as you can about the different disorders, how to interpret your blood tests, etc. Also, don't be afraid to ask questions. If your doctor doesn't like to answer them, it is time to find another doctor. Most autoimmune diseases are very manageable, and even lupus, in which the most serious forms were 95% fatal in the 1950's, are up to 90% survivable today with good care and a good doctor. Improvement in care is growing even faster today. Good luck. Michelle |
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| Incontinence Infertility Irritable Bowel Syndrome Liposuction Lung Cancer Lupus Health Insurance Heart Disease Hepatitis High Blood Pressure |
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