What Is Lupus?

I can give you a medical definiton about what lupus is.

This information was curtsey of www.lupus.org

Definition of lupus:
Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body (skin, joints, and/or organs inside the body). Chronic means that the signs and symptoms tend to last longer than six weeks and often for many years. In lupus, something goes wrong with your immune system, which is the part of the body that fights off viruses, bacteria, and germs ("foreign invaders," like the flu). Normally our immune system produces proteins called antibodies that protect the body from these invaders. Autoimmune means your immune system cannot tell the difference between these foreign invaders and your body’s healthy tissues ("auto" means "self") and creates autoantibodies that attack and destroy healthy tissue. These autoantibodies cause inflammation, pain, and damage in various parts of the body.

What may trigger Lupus:
Genes
Environment
Hormones

Symptoms of Lupus:
1. Malar rash – a rash over the cheeks and nose, often in the shape of a butterfly
2. Discoid rash – a rash that appears as red, raised, disk-shaped patches
3. Photosensitivity – a reaction to sun or light that causes a skin rash to appear or get worse
4. Oral ulcers – sores appearing in the mouth
Arthritis – joint pain and swelling of two or more joints in which the bones around the joints do not become destroyed
5. Serositis – inflammation of the lining around the lungs (pleuritis) or inflammation of the lining around the heart that causes chest pain which is worse with deep breathing (pericarditis)
6. Kidney disorder – persistent protein or cellular casts in the urine Neurological disorder – seizures or psychosis
7. Blood disorder – anemia (low red blood cell count), leukopenia (low white blood cell count), lymphopenia (low level of specific white blood cells), or thrombocytopenia (low platelet count)
8. Immunologic disorder – abnormal anti-double-stranded DNA or anti-Sm, positive antiphospholipid antibodies Abnormal antinuclear antibody (ANA)
9. Hair loss
10. Fatigue

What Living with Lupus is like for me:
* It prevents me from being the best mother I can be.
* small daily tasks are hard for me to accomplish
* skipping out on dates with friends and family
*daily naps are required for me to function
* I have to ask my husband for help…a lot.
Every day is a constant never ending battle. I fight extreme Fatigue, and at times I feel like the pain I suffer from is just too much. I’ve learned the only way to do battle this disease is to stay positive, rest a lot, and cherish the good days.
During a flare up I read inspirational quotes, hug my kids more, and try to laugh as much as possible.