What are the Causes, Symptoms and Treatments for Lupus , A personal Story

Lupus is an autoimmune disease. The cause is not clear but there is some evidence that there is a hereditary factor to it. Lupus is seen more often in women than men. The Black race is also more effected than the white.

Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease in which the body attacks itself. It can involve the heart, lungs, brain, joints, kidney, and blood system.. There are actually four types of lupus, systemic, neonatal, drug induced, and discoid.

Symptoms

malaise

joint pain

achy legs

headaches

fatigue

emotional problems

trouble sleeping

irritability

mouth ulcers

hair loss

dry eyes

memory loss

chest pain

difficulty breathing

skin rash

anxiety

fever

weight loss or weight gain

finger turning blue when exposed to mild cold

easy bruising

Treatment is aimed at controlling the symptoms.

Getting adequate rest is very important. Your family needs to be supportive of your need to rest more and take things slowly. Try to keep stress to a minimum

Exercise is important in that it help elevate possible heart problem but also helps you to feel better

Wear hats and sunscreen when you have to be in the sun

Eat a well balanced diet taking extra vitamin D and calcium to prevent osteoarthritis

Don't smoke

Medical treatments include plaquenil, an antimalarial drug that seems to present flare ups. Steroid's are often used either in the lowest does possible, or every other day. some doctors will use medrol dose packs or a burst of prednisone to calm down a flare. NSAID' s such as aprin, advil, aleve and stronger prescription drugs are often used. The biggest problems with NSAID's are stomach problems and liver problems.

There are some new drugs being tried like cytoxan, an immunosuppresive drug. Belimumab (Benlysta®), a B-lymphocyte (BLyS) It reduces the number of B cells in the blood thought to cause a problem in lupus.

The American Academy of Rheumatology has decided on 11 criteria. If you have at least 4 of the 11 you are most likely positive for lupus

• Scaly rash called discoid rash found on your skin or hair line
• Face rash which doctors often call a butterfly rash
• mouth ulcers
• joint pain
• Swelling around the heart and/or lungs
• Kidney disease
• neurological symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, memory problems, seiures, stroke and even behavior changes, or stroke

• Low blood counts such as red blood cell, platelet or white count
• Positive anti-DNA and in some false positive syphilis
• Positive ANA blood test

1. Increased fatique
2. pain
3. rash
4. fever
5. abdominal pain
6. headache
7. dizziness