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
Linear Mode
