My friends' moms have Lupus.... and I am still wondering what it is and what it does to you... maybe you guys could tell me? please? Thanks

Kaylee

Hi Kaylee -

There are so many variables that each person's experience is different to a degree. Lupus means your immune system is out of wack and doesn't recognize your own body cells from invader or germs. The immune system most often attacks joints, but can attack any internal organ. Again, depending on which type lupus you have, the symptoms can vary from annoying to life threatening (more rare now than in the past).

Most of us deal with deep fatigue, arthritis, and sensitivity to the sun (makes the fatigue and aches much worse). The sun can also cause us to be very, very hot, have a difficult time cooling off, and have a facial rash, sometimes in a butterfly pattern across the cheeks and nose. Thinning hair is common and a bummer. Some of us have various rashes, itchy or not itchy, and in various locations.

You can now understand why your friends' mothers who have lupus are unusually tired and probably try to stay out of the sunshine. I hope you'll help your friends understand their mothers' limitations aren't just imaginary.

Hope this answer helped. You can get more information by reading the sticky about diagnosing lupus at the top of this thread.

Wishing you well - Barbara :)

Dear KayleeC, As Barbara just wrote, lupus has a huge range of possibilities.

The main groupings are "discoid lupus" (affects skin & sometimes overall health somewhat); "subacute cutaneous lupus" (an intermediate form); and "systemic lupus" (considred the severe form---but even IT can remain mild). Also drug-induced lupus & neonatal lupus...

"Systemic lupus" (SLE) is what comes to mind when people see the word "lupus", and kidney or central nervous system involvement comes to mind---but these severe problems occur only in *some* cases of SLE. And even the more severe cases fare much better today, thanks to modern diagnostics and treatments.

The doctors who specialize in lupus are rheumatologists, or in "light" cases involving mainly the skin, dermatologists. Others specialists are consulted as needed (pulmonologists, hematologists, nephrologists, neurologists, gastroenterologists, urologists, ETC.)

You could find several excellent hardcovers in your local library or bookstores. The two I always think of right off are one by Dr. Daneil Wallace, and another by Dr. Robert Lahita.

Lupus is NOT contagious---it's an "autoimmune" disease.

Hope your reading is helpful! Sincerely, Vee