Lupus is not a diagnosis that anyone wants to hear come from their doctor’s mouth. It’s not very well understood by most and although it can be comforting to know the reason for your symptoms, it can be downright terrifying to think about your future. Lupus is a condition of ups and downs, sometimes extreme downs, but it is possible to live a happy, full life while also living with lupus.
What we call lupus is really a collection of manifestations of an imbalanced immune system that has led to out of control inflammation. There are some predictable lab and antibody tests as well as commonly seen symptoms that allow us to group people under the wide lupus umbrella, but the truth is, most lupus patients are very individual with nuances that are specific to them. For that reason it is dangerous to compare one’s lupus to someone else’s and why internet stories of “curing lupus” have to be taken with a giant grain of salt.
Understanding Lupus takes time
This is part 2 of our 2-part series discussing the things every lupus patient should know. Part 1 discussed the hard truth that there is no cure for lupus and the phenomenon of flares and remissions. In this week’s video, we discuss who is most likely to get lupus, the theories as to why lupus develops in the first place and end with a lofty but attainable perspective on dealing with any chronic condition.
The items discussed:
- Lupus is most commonly seen in women ages 18-35 but is not exclusively seen in this group. Men, children and older individuals can also get lupus.
- What causes lupus?
- The genetic risk of lupus – ie Will a lupus patient’s children have it?
- Can a lupus patient get pregnant?
- Why lupus can be a gift.
If knowledge is power and lupus causes powerlessness, just the fact that you are here, reading and learning about lupus is the first step to taking your power back. Any autoimmune condition can leave one feeling betrayed and disappointed, but learning the facts and tuning into your body are the building blocks to your new life WITH your chronic condition.
Keep learning and asking questions!
In good health,