Lupus?

[Tryska]

does anyone know anything about Lupus? or any past experience with it? I'm planning on doing my own research...but this is an animal i'm not familiar with. A friend of mine just had some labwork done because she hasn't been feeling well, and her doctor seems to think the results point towards Lupus. She wants to go an herbal route, because right now the doc has her on Prednisone, and she doesn't want to stay on it for a long time....

any input, advice, etc?

[Taras]

It's an autoimmune disease which can vary tremendously from one person to the next. Some people have very minor symptons, and some people die from it. The specialists that usually have the most expertise in treating lupus are rheumatologists, so your friend might want to consider seeing one. I can't imagine that any type of herbal treatment would be very effective, unless she has an extremely mild case. You might want to check out a lupus website.

[Tryska]

yeah....she does seem fairly mild, and there isn't a full diagnosis just yet....I think she wants stuff that will ease her symptoms....like joint pain and whatnot....i did find some pretty cool info yesterday, which i'm gonna send on to her.....

[Celestial]

My father has had it for 20yrs and it honestly lucky to be alive. He has been very ill for a long time. In all honestly she is gambling with her life by not taking medication. I am not a pill popper myself but when i have seen the affects of lupus my entire life with my father...and knowing that if he didnt have medication he would have died 18 yrs ago...not a pleasant thought. Sure herbal might get rid of her symptoms but basically the disease starts shutting down her internal organs....till you die from it...and i am sure no herbal remities will rid that:( Do a search for some lupus sites online. They can give you more info!

[Delphi]

Ditto what Celestial said. I don't primarily take care of these people, but I've had to put in quite a few dialysis grafts when their kidneys shut down.

[Tryska]

damn...what a sucky disease.....in any case, she is on prednisone and ritalin right now...(i think that's all) anyways...she seems to be doing well at the moment..looks real good and smiley and stuff.

[Fauxpas916]

My doctor thought I had lupus but I have now been diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis, and tendenitis and Rheumatic Heart Disease. Lupus and rheumatoid arthritis are often mistaken for each other, or so I've read. Rheumatologists do treat both types of patients though, for the arthritic symptoms. That probably didn't help at all... but there ya go.
This might help though... it's from a great book I have. It's pretty old, but not outdated from what I've researched...

There are two types of Lupus. and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.
Discoid Lupus Erythematosus
Definition- A skin disorder. This is different from systemic lupus erythematosus, a connective-tissue disease that affects many different organs. About 1 in 20 persons with discoid lupus progresses to systemic lupus.
Body parts involved- Skin only of the face, scalp, ears, neck and arms.
Sex or age most affected- Adults of both sexes. The peak incidence occurs in women in their late 20s.
Signs & Symptoms- Plaques (red, raise skin lesions) with the following characteristics:
>Plaques are 1cm to 4cm in diameter and have clearly defined borders.
>They may appear anywhere on the face, but the cheeks and jawline are the most comomon sites. Some people descrive them as "butterfly" lesions when two lesions of unequal size appear on both sides of the nose.
>Lesions sometimes appear on the scalp with localized patches of hair loss.
>Lesions scar as they heal.
Causes- Unknown, but probably an autoimmune disorder.
Risk increases with- Exposure to sunlight.
How to prevent- No specific preventive measures. Protection from sunlight decreases the severity.
Probable outcome- this disorder is characterized by remissions and flare-ups. It runs its course in 10 to 20 years. 95% of patients (those who don't progress to systemic lupuus) live a normal lifespan.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Definition- an inflammatory disease of connective tissue. Lupus is not inherited or cancerous.
Body parts involved- connective tissue (collagen). Many body systems are affected, including joints, skin, kidneys, brain, heart and lungs.
Sex or age most affected- All ages and both sexes, but 90% of cases occur in women between ages 30 and 50.
Signs & Symptoms- Lupus symptoms frequently flare up and then subside. Episodes generally include fever and fatigue, plus any 4 of the following:
>Rash, usually on the cheeks.
>Ulcers in the mouth
>Red palms and hands
>Joint pain with redness, swelling and tenderness- but no deformity.
>Swelling of the face and legs.
>Shortness of breath
>Rapid or irregular heartbeat.
>Chest pain
>Hair loss
>swelling of the lymph glands
>protein in the urine.
>Increased sensitivity to the sun.
>Anemia.
>Mental changes, including psychosis.
Causes- Unknown, but lupus is probably an autoimmune disorder. In an autoimmune disorder, the body's immune system functions abnormally and attacks its own normal tissue- usually connective tissue.
Risk increases with- stress, use of drugs such as hydralazine, procainamide, methyldopa and chlorpromazine. Genetic factors; the incidence is higher among blacks.
How to prevent- Cannot be prevented at present.
Probable Outcome- Lupus is currently considered incurable. The disease is characterized by remissions and relapses. Life expectancy is reduced, but symptoms can be relieved or controlled for many years.

[Tryska]

hey faux pas...thanks for the info!

update on my friend. they are "acting as if" right now, because apparently lupus is hard to diagnose. she's still on prednisone, but she might start taking DHEA instead....other than that, she seems to be hanging in there pretty well.