anyone with Lupus please HELP!!!?

Hi, Im Chris and I have SLE (Systemic Lupus). Its very hot here in CA right now, and I do have problems with sun and heat, but other than that, besides the occasional migrane I'm doing pretty well this year.

For many Lupus paitents it a very unpredictable road. Lupus is an autoimmune disease, meaning it is created within our own bodies. Our bodies think they are under attack from an outside invader, when in fact they are not. Our own cells thinking they are protecting us, go into overdrive, and start going after our own cells, organs, blood, skin, and central nervous system, and anything else in our bodies. Nothing is off limits.

The type of Lupus I have and the type I think you are asking about, has periods of "flares" and "remissons". Besides the sun and heat, and the migranes that are happening from them, compared to other times over my 20+ years with this disease, I consider myself to be in some dort of remmission.

Joint, muscle, fatigue, Brain fog (forgrtfulness, memory problems, cognitive problems, and other normal brain functions) is a very commen problem. Pain is a very natural and common issue for those of us with Lupus. Many people with Lupus also tend to suffer from deppression, anxiety, even some can have episodes of psycosis. All those considered part of the Central Nervous System Attack.

Some days I feel great, like I can do anything, other days, I am listless and just want to rest or sleep. I personally do not suffer from long lasting depression which needs any medical intervention, but have days where I wish I can just rewind the day. How do I feel within my body? It changes daily, but trying to feed it proper vitamins, food, and taking my specially perscribed medications to control it do help. Lupus is a disease of many faces. No two people handle it the same. We all have different issues, different organ involvment, levels of pain, and tolerance for the pain. It seem those who have had it longer usually cope better IF they accept what they have, and understand it's chronic and has no cure. For new paitents, it can be very difficult to understand.

I co-own a lupus/autoimmune support group. We have those who have had it for many years, and those waiting or newly diagnosed. We just all lean on one another. We provide research, information, nutrition information, and emotional support, and even some laughs, because while we may be ill, you cant allow the illness to swallow you up, because it can. If you allow it to.

Ill leave you some links to lupus sites, and the support group. I do know this, no two people feel the same, experience it the same, or tolerate it the same. Attitude and in person family and friend support have a lot to do with a Lupus paitents well being.

If you have it, Im sorry, I wish you the best, but know with the right attitude, and proper care, you can live a long time.

Chris

Yes, I have lupus and I have organ involvement. 4 1/2 years ago I was in hospital close to death. Now I have several jobs and a full life. I spent 4 years on disablity. My case was extreme. Lupus is unpredictable, but if you work closely with your rheumatologist, follow your treatment regimen, and try to maintain a healthy lifestyle you have an excellent chance of living a normal lifespan.

Rest before you are tired. Use hot baths and showers to relive pain and stiffness. Eat lots of fruits and veggies. Avoid processed foods. Learn stress management techniques that work for you. Exercise (yes you are tired and yes it hurts, but in the end it will relieve pain and help you sleep). Learn everything you can about lupus. Develop a good working relationship with your rheumatologist.

Become a lupus advocate. Go to www.lupus.org and click on the take action link. This is a critical time for us lupus people to make some noise with congress!!!

I wish I could tell you better news, but my wife died from it. It is a commonly mis-diagnosed disease, and there are drug treatment regimes one can use. When first diagnosed, my wife was given 6 months to live. She actually went on another 20 years (a credit to the new advances being made), but, well... it is the body against itself.

The drugs DO make you feel depressed, tired, sluggish. And there are often complications from other body areas. Each of the drugs have known side effects, which are helpful to know about beforehand.

You can best help someone with Lupus by first understanding what it is, and isn't, and the drugs involved with therapy and their effects. Also, by pitching-in whenever that person isn't up to par (which will be often). Lupus patients also need rest.

Im 23 and I have lupus . Im doing very well with it, I've had it for 3 yrs. now. I am extremely blessed because I know it can have a toll on your life if you let it. I dont know how severe yours is, but do what your doctor says and take your meds!! I had really achy joints before I was diagnosed, but once I got on some meds I felt a lot better. Prednisone will cause you to eat more, just fight it. Dont stress, that will cause you to flare. Get your rest and relax. God bless you...you will be fine.

Hi, hedzy! OK, certainly one of my all-time favourite moments on that exhibit used to be the episode wherein Kramer makes a decision to undertake a component of the Arthur Burkhart (sp ?) freeway. When Kramer makes a decision to widen the street by way of getting rid of a lane and fails miserably whilst it explanations site visitors disorders, he douses the street with paint thinner. The scene wherein Newman, who's using his mail truck with a few particles stuck beneath it that is taking pictures sparks all over the place, begins screaming because the street catches on fireplace even as he is making a song "Three Times a Lady" STILL makes me chuckle so rough that I cry. Favorite episode, even though, is the only wherein Jerry buys the automobile from Puddy and takes George with him. "Au revoir, Le George!" and the sweet line-up rock.

Hi Sunshine

Here are some ideas to heal the issue. Also learning about detoxifying the blood by doing colon and liver cleanses will change your health forever.

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.

------------------------------...

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

Hydrotherapy: Hydrotherapy is the application of water, ice, steam and hot and cold temperatures to maintain and restore health. Treatments include full body immersion, steam baths, saunas, sitz baths, colonic irrigation and the application of hot and/or cold compresses. Hydrotherapy is effective for treating a wide range of conditions and can easily be used in the home as part of a self-care program. Many Naturopathic Physicians, Physical Therapists and Day Spas use Hydrotherapy as part of treatment.

Hyperthermia: Hyperthermia involves artificially creating fever in the body for the purpose of boosting immune function. Hyperthermia can be a highly effective method of eliminating toxins and heavy metals, as well as infectious bacteria and viruses that cannot survive in elevated body temperatures.

*Purified water is essential for any hydrotherapy or hyperthermia treatment. Remedies for Treating Chlorinated Bath Water offers clear instructions and recommendations.

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.

Best of health to you

my friend has it and she has to take medicine and it makes her gain weight! and ever since she got it she is alot more depressed and even tried to kill herself! but now shes ok! well i hope!