Lupus, Need More Info...

I've had it for almost 20 years, since I was 19. I won't sugar coat it... I take medication daily and have done so for (pretty much) the entire time. I have kidney disease as a result and had to have chemo once a month for six months last year. Most of the flare-ups are stress-related. I have been advised that, in my circumstance, I shouldn't bear children. First, because I take medication that will cause birth defects. Second, there can be major complications due to my kidney disease. My husband and I are adopting.

My mom has lupus. There is no cure. It is managable and treatable though :D My mom doesnt take medication for hers unless she has a "Flareup"

Lupus is an autoimmune chronic inflammatory disease that can affect various parts of the body, especially the skin, joints, blood, and kidneys. In lupus, something goes wrong with your immune system, which fights off viruses, bacteria, and germs. Normally our immune system produces proteins called antibodies that protect the body. Autoimmune means your immune system cannot tell the difference between the foreign invaders and your body’s healthy tissues and creates autoantibodies that attack and destroy healthy tissue. These autoantibodies are what cause the inflammation, pain, and damage in various parts of the body. No, it cannot be cured by cord banking from another sibling.

Here's an article explaining in more detail what lupus is:
http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/...

Caring for a child with lupus is one of the greatest challenges a family can face. After the diagnosis is made, the first step for parents is to learn as much as possible about the disease and the special needs of a child with lupus. Parents need to educate the child with lupus and their other children plus their child's teachers, and family friends. Your friend will need to become an expert, of sorts, on lupus, and be her daughter's advocate.

Here's an article about adolescents with lupus and what her daughter may go through:
http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/...

Here's an article for parents of children living with lupus:
http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/...

Here's an article about caregivers (your friend) caring for themselves. She should seek out a support group, and a constructive outlet for the anger she may be feeling in not being able to protect her daughter from this.
http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/...

Living with lupus will be restrictive in some ways, but if she does what her doctors say your friend's daughter should be able to live a full life. I myself have fibromyalgia, also an autoimmune disorder, and know this for a fact. Lupus.org has much more information your friend should find helpful and informative.

Be there for your friend, she'll need an understanding person in her corner, God bless her and her daughter.

I have quite a few family members that have Lupus and I am being diagnosed with it. Basically medications to help with the flareups, and those are not fun at all. There are good days and there are bad days.

Just be there for your friend, be a shoulder to cry on. When her daughter is having a flareup bring over a meal, one less thing for her to have to worry about.

i have lupus. i have it under control, i take one pill a day and see the doctor once a year.... i know it seems scary but relax you can rule the disease and not let it rule you. I think that one thing honestly that has helped me a great deal and is the key to everything really is exercise I think I owe alot to it. if you have any questions at all please ask and I will answer if I can. please know during the summer living with lupus you should not have long,long periods of sun exposure and if you are out especially in the temps. we have been having wear sun block......... you will be tired,flu itred some days ,you may get what they call a butterfly rash across your face this could be a sign of a flare....the sun I was speaking of that can cause a flare. go to lupus.org it has all info regarding the disease.

I have a friend that has it. There is no cure but it is very manageable and you can lead a very normal life. His mom had it as well. She passed away about a year ago. While having lupus she fought cancer 3x (went in remission 2x). The last bout with cancer she also contraced H1N1 we were so worried then. She recovered from it then. But about 6 months later the cancer took her. I only tell you this because many times people think that lupus will prevent your body from fighting. It is not true! The best to you and your friend.

Lupus is an autoimmune disease. I have 3 friends with lupus (all over 40). They are all on medication daily. They were diagnosed many years ago so I'm sure they have better treatments now. One of my friends has a severe case and she has had lots of physical problems - in and out of hospital, reactions to medicines, etc. My other 2 friends who have it have few flareups and live normal lives. There is a national Lupus organization that can give you more info on treatment. Good luck to your friend's daughter.

I would suggest getting a book for your dear friend.

Varying types of Lupus so hard to answer your question.

There are 4 types of lupus, ranging in severity, so it's hard to say, and even then each case can be vastly different. I know my roommate gave her sister who had lupus a kidney. It can be very life threatening, but usually through other variables such as kidney failure and such. But in other cases it doesn't effect overall day to day life and is very manageable.

More info is here:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/lupus/DS00115

Hi, I was diagnosed with lupus when I was 25, I am now 52....when I was first diagnosed and in the hospital...they wanted to put me on prednizone. (yes, I'm sure there are better and other medications now adays) but back then that was what they put you on when you had lupus.) I refused it because I had heard "horror" stories. I told the doctor I wanted to do something more natural. He told me I needed to eat very healthy, and EXERCISE, EXERCISE and be under as little stress as possible...so I did just that once I got out of the hospital...and was faithful to that regime for months and months! When I moved to the Seattle area and went to a new doctor (the University of WA) the doctors there redid all the tests...they couldn't believe how healthy I seemed and wondered why I was there...the tests still showed I had lupus, but what I was doing was working...and I have done that ever since. I never lay out in the sun for any extended time...try to be careful. I still get headaches. But I have raised four children without any problems. So, there is hope and help. But I do believe that every lupus case is individual and each person has to be disciplined to take care of themselves and want to help themselves!