Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body – skin, joints, and/or organs inside the body; lasting often for many years. The autoimmune disease invades those with a compromised immune system, which forces the body to create antibodies that attack healthy tissue. The auto-antibodies cause inflammation, pain, and damage in various parts of the body.

Medical professionals do not know for sure what triggers the onset of lupus. Some think that there are people born with the genetic makeup predisposed to developing the disease and that something in that person’s life triggers the disease. Scientists do believe, however, that a mix of genetics, environment and hormones are involved in the onset in patients.

There are four basic types of lupus: Cutaneous (skin) Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Drug-induced Erythematosus and Neonatal Lupus. The most common form of the disease is Systemic lupus. Systemic lupus can be mild or severe. Some of the more serious complications involving major organ systems are:

• inflammation of the kidneys, damaging a patient’s ability to filter body wastes
• increased blood pressure in the lungs
  
• inflammation of the nervous system and brain, affecting memory
  
• inflammation in the brain’s blood vessels, which may cause fevers and seizures
  
• hardening of the arteries, which can damage the heart
  

Symptoms of lupus cross a wide spectrum of medical problems. Because the disease can affect many organs and occurs in varying intensities, flaring up and ebbing for reasons that are not known, symptoms come and go, appear at different times and intensities.

The most common symptoms of Systemic lupus are as follows: extreme fatigue, headaches, painful or swollen joints, fever, anemia, swelling in feet, legs, hands, and/or around eyes, pain in chest on deep breathing, butterfly-shaped rash across cheeks and nose, sun- or light-sensitivity, hair loss, abnormal blood clotting, fingers turning white and/or blue when cold, mouth or nose ulcers, and more.

One lupus sufferer, Sherry S stated the following when relating her 30 plus-year experience with the disease:

“I’ve been living with Lupus for so long, I don’t think much about it. My positive diagnosis was made when I was 19; however, in retrospect, I think I had the active disease as early as 13 or 14. There were days when I would have really, really achy bones and joints, my glands would be swollen, I’d run a low-grade fever and sleep—sometimes two or three days pretty much straight.

“Our pediatrician discounted this to growing pains. The stiff hands and joints and odd pain became the rule and not the exception. Then the lesions appeared my hair began to fall out. That’s what really got me to the doctor and tested.

“I’ve been lucky. I have a relatively mild disease. Sometimes the Lupus flares up—not so good. I’m a hard-head, and, admittedly, will push the envelope as far as I can until the Lupus kicks me to the curb.

“It’s like a Mack truck hits me, then reverses and backs on over for another hit.  These are the times when I feel so guilty about worrying my family and causing them anxiety. Then there’s been times when I’m in the company of those who just don’t believe I am sick. That can be very frustrating, demeaning and irritating.

“Living with Lupus has taught me to be my own medical advocate, and to be responsible for my own wellness. My doctors are human, not gods; they are my team mates and I have to take on my own role in the team—listening, researching, documenting, asking questions and maintaining a sense of humor.

“It’s been more that 30 years since my positive diagnosis. In the grand scheme, I have an abundant life, and think I’ve beaten the odds. Lord willing, I plan to be around for another 30 years.”