Lupus Awareness Month 2018
The aim of Lupus Awareness Month is to raise awareness and educate others about this life changing disease.
🦋 Lupus is an autoimmune disease. In a healthy immune system, the body produces antibodies which destroy unhealthy cells such as bacteria, viruses and foreign waste. However, lupus causes an overactive immune system to produce auto antibodies which attacks healthy body tissue. This can affect most parts of the body including any organ.
There are several types of lupus, the most common being systemic lupus in which any organ of the body can be affected. Organs which can be damaged by lupus include the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain and skin. Other areas of the body can also be affected including the blood and the joints.
In about 20% of cases, the eyes are affected. Other types of lupus include Cutaneous lupus which affects only the skin causing sores and rashes, and drug induced lupus brought on through the use of some types of prescription drugs. There are over 5 million people with lupus of which 90% are female.
Symptoms of lupus include fatigue, fever, headaches, sensitivity to light and hair loss. People with lupus may also have a butterfly shaped rash across their cheeks and nose. Fatigue is one of the main symptoms affecting about 80% of people with lupus.
🦋 Lupus can often be hard to diagnose as the symptoms are similar to other diseases. In some cases it is not uncommon for several years to pass before a diagnosis of lupus is confirmed as other diseases may be ruled out first. As symptoms of lupus can come and go it can make diagnosis even harder.
Lupus Awareness Month is supported by the Lupus Foundation Of America. They provide ideas and resources on how people can help raise awareness.
These 'awareness kits' include website banner ads, flyers, wristbands and t-shirts.
For more information on this event, visit the Lupus Foundation of America website
🦋 Lupus is more pervasive and severe than people think, and has a devastating impact that the public doesn't realize. In fact, research shows that a staggering two-thirds of the public knows little or nothing about lupus. You can help change that.
Participate in World Lupus Day by bringing greater attention and resources to the efforts being made to end the suffering caused by lupus. Urge people in your community to join efforts to raise awareness of lupus and urge your government officials do more to help find cures for this deadly disease.
How can you be a part of Put on Purple Day? It’s simple – wear purple, tell others why and let them know where to donate.
- Take a pic of you or your group putting on purple and post to your Facebook, Instagram and Twitter using the hashtag #PutOnPurpleor #POP.
Add a Frame to your Facebook profile photo during the month of May.
Post your pics on our social media pages so we can share throughout Put On Purple Day.
(Your Day To Day Life After a Diagnosis Of Lupus)
Whether you were recently diagnosed or have been living with lupus for some time, what do you need to know about your day to day life? Let's talk about your diagnosis, the initial strategies, your lupus care and regular medical care, as well as how to learn more about your disease and find support.
🦋 Living With Lupus
Those who have been newly diagnosed with lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus) may find themselves shocked at first, possibly relieved if they had envisioned something terrible, and finally confused.
Not only is the diagnosis challenging—with many people initially misdiagnosed—but the treatments vary significantly from one person to the next. Lupus has been coined a "snowflake," describing how no two people with the condition are exactly alike. Where do you begin and what are the next steps you should take if you've been diagnosed with lupus?
🦋 Newly Diagnosed With Lupus
“I have what?” is the initial reaction of many people diagnosed with lupus. And because the general population knows little of the disease, this is no surprise. Most people only know they’ve been suffering from vague, painful signs and symptoms of lupus that come and go, with no set pattern of predictability. Strangely enough, most lupus flares are triggered by something (though the causes vary) and sometimes follow a pattern. Understanding what triggers flares, and possibly being able to lessen or prevent them from occurring, is a major key to living with this illness and maintaining a high quality of life.
🦋 Finding a Doctor To Treat Lupus
Once you have a diagnosis, or even if you are still being evaluated, it's important to find a doctor who cares for people with lupus—usually a rheumatologist. Since lupus is relatively uncommon, many doctors have seen only a few people—or may never have seen—someone with lupus.
Just as you would choose a house painter who had painted dozens of houses over a first-time painter, finding a doctor who is passionate about treating people with lupus is important.
If you are at this point in your journey, we have a few more tips on finding a rheumatologist to care for you with lupus. Choose wisely. You will want a doctor who will not only be with you through the inevitable frustrations of the disease but one who can help coordinate your care with the other specialists and therapists you will see.
🦋 Initial Strategies After Your Lupus Diagnosis
It may be difficult at first to realize you’re dealing with a chronic illness; one that has no absolute causes or cures. As with other chronic diseases, however, just being diagnosed can be a great relief. At least you can give a name to your symptoms and do something about them.
Your doctor will talk to you about the treatment options available. It's helpful to understand that "treatment" is an ongoing process. Learning about all of the treatments available can seem overwhelming, but you don't have to learn everything at once. Early on you may only wish to learn about any treatments you need right away and any symptoms that should prompt you to call your doctor.
🦋 Adopt Wellness Strategies
You may feel that all you want to focus on is your initial treatment, but when you are first diagnosed (or, for that matter, anytime) it is a good time to begin developing strategies for wellness. In some ways, getting a diagnosis of a chronic condition is a "teachable moment" and many people find themselves more conscientious about wellness than they had previously been.
Wellness strategies include stress management (through meditation, prayer, relaxation therapy or whatever works for you,) an exercise program, and eating a healthy variety of foods are a good start. It's important to continue to enjoy your usual activities as much as you are able.
Some foods appear to improve or worsen lupus symptoms, though studies looking at this are in their infancy. Since everyone with lupus is different, the best foods for you, even when studied, could be very different. If you believe your diet may have an effect on your disease, the best approach is probably to keep a food diary (like those which are kept by people trying to figure out if they are allergic to a specific food.)
🦋 Regular Care With Lupus
You will need to see your rheumatologist regularly, not just when you have symptoms that are worsening. In fact, these visits when things are going well are a good time to learn more about your condition and talk about the latest research. Your doctor can help you recognize the warning signs of a flare based on any patterns she sees with your disease. These may be different for everyone, however, many people with lupus experience increased fatigue, dizziness, headaches, pain, rashes, stiffness, abdominal pain, or fever just before a flare. Your doctor may also be able to help you predict flares based on regular blood work and examinations.
In addition to regular medical care, many people are finding that an integrative approach works very well. There are several alternatives and complementary treatments for lupus which can help with concerns ranging from managing pain to depression, to swelling, to stress.
🦋 Preventative Medicine With Lupus
It's easy to push preventive care to the back burner when you are diagnosed with a chronic disease such as lupus. This is not only unwise in general but given that lupus impacts your immune system, regular preventive care is even more important. Care such as regular gynecological exams, mammograms, and immunizations should be included in your treatment plan.
🦋 Bottom Line On Coping With Lupus Day To Day
Coping with Lupus isn't easy. Compared with some other conditions, there is less awareness, and many people talk about hearing or receiving hurtful comments about lupus from others. Despite these challenges, however, most people with lupus can live happy and fulfilling lives. Being your own advocate, building your social support system, learning about your disease, and finding a physician who can be a team with you in managing your disease can all help that happen.
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{aka} Big Sister Southern Heat 🦋
