Lupus Information

It is my hope that they will find a cure for Lupus and all the other autoimmune diseases one day soon.  In the meantime, raising Lupus awareness seems to be the best I can do to help the fight, so today's post is aimed at doing just that.

Many people think "Lupus" is one thing, but there are four different types of Lupus.

• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
• Discoid Lupus (Cutaneus)
• Drug Induced Lupus (DIL)
• Neonatal Lupus

SLE is the most common and most deadly form of Lupus.  SLE is unpredictable.  It flares.  It goes into remission.  It can and will kill you, but it usually takes a very long time to do so.

With SLE you will be okay one day and the next day you can barely move or breathe, etc.  SLE can affect your heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, blood and/or skin in very bad ways.

These are my Lupus symptoms when it is flaring:

• White or purple fingers and/or toes from cold or stress (Raynaud’s phenomenon)
• Painful swollen joints 
• Muscle pain
• Sometimes unexplained low-grade fever
• Breathing problems
• Hair loss
• Sensitivity to the sun and/or heat and/or high humidity
• Swelling (edema) in legs, hands, face, glands, etc.
• Mouth ulcers that don't necessarily hurt
• Extreme fatigue
• Fuzzy thinking and memory problems when too tired

You may have other or different symptoms.

My ANA will be positive when I'm flaring.  My inflammatory markers will be too high in my bloodwork.  My C-Reactive Protein will be too high, etc.

Discoid Lupus on the other hand only affects the skin.  You will have unexplained rashes that can appear anywhere on your body, but typically appear on your face.  A butterfly rash on your face that extends from one cheek across the nose to the other cheek can be a sign of Discoid Lupus. 

Discoid Lupus is often unsightly, but it will NOT kill you.

However, Discoid Lupus can sometimes turn into SLE.

DIL is similar to SLE, but will go away once the offending medication is stopped.  At least 46 drugs are presently known to cause DIL in some people.  These include drugs for (but not limited to) heart disease, thyroid disease, hypertension, and neuropsychiatric disorders.

Very rarely a mother who has Lupus can give birth to a child with Neonatal Lupus.  Symptoms of Neonatal Lupus include rashes, anemia, or liver problems, but these symptoms usually go away after a few months and cause no permanent damage.

People with all types of Lupus can live a normal life span.  However, there is nothing normal about your life when you have Lupus.  

Living a normal life span and living a normal life are two entirely different things.

Remember that when you encounter a person with Lupus.  

People with Lupus do NOT look sick!!  This does NOT mean they are healthy.  This does NOT even mean that they are okay.

Remember that when you encounter a person with Lupus.

If you suspect you have Lupus, a rheumatologist is the specialist you need to see.

For more information about Lupus, click HERE or go to http://www.lupus.org/