QUICK FACT 18

In approximately 10 percent of all lupus cases, individuals will have symptoms and signs of more than one connective tissue disease. A physician may use the term "overlap syndrome" or "mixed connective tissue disease" to describe this condition. 

Depending on how lupus affects their body, some people with lupus may need additional care from specialists, like a dermatologist for skin problems, a nephrologist for kidney disease, or a cardiologist for heart complications.

Depressed? What to do?

    
     Depression affects millions of people. There is no single cause that has been identified.  It seems to be interactions between genetic, environmental, biochemical and psychosocial factors that play a role.  Those of us with lupus or other chronic illnesses may suffer from depression due to a number of reasons. 
     I personally take medication that causes depression. I also get down about how lupus has negatively affected my life. I had to realize that I was depressed and try to "snap out of it!"  We must remember that depression is NOT a personal weakness or a condition that can be wished away.  It is a real illness, but it can be successfully treated.
    Treatments include medication, psychotherapy, and other natural remedies. If you know or think you are depressed you can try these tips for a natural approach to promote healthy living. Maintain proper sleep hygiene as advised by your health care professional, Eat a well-balanced diet, Manage anxiety as advised by your health care professional, Participate in a structured and supervised exercise program as advised by your health care professional, Set realistic goals for yourself, Create small and manageable tasks & Let others you can trust such as family and friends help you.


Here are some other ways to get rid of your depression on your own.

• Do not make important decisions while depressed.
• Try to avoid stress.
• Take care of your body.
• Eat regularly and with pleasure.
• Avoid negative thoughts.
• Communicate with friends and family, even overcoming yourself.
• Report any changes in your health to your psychotherapist.
• Do not take drugs or alcohol.
• Do not abuse hypnotic drugs.

Information from www.pristiq.com and www.depressionam.com

Also remember that it is always a good idea to consult your doctor about depression and its treatments. ☺

QUICK FACT 17

Since many symptoms of lupus mimic those of other illnesses, lupus often can take three to five years to diagnose. Symptoms of lupus can come and go over time, which makes a definite diagnosis more difficult.

QUICK FACT 16

Successful treatment of lupus often requires a combination of medications. Nearly two dozen clinical studies are underway to develop new safe, more tolerable and effective treatments for lupus. 

QUICK FACT 15

Systemic lupus is the most common type of lupus. Systemic lupus can affect any organ system of the body, including the heart, kidneys, lungs, blood, joints, and skin.

QUICK FACT 14

♔ Only ten percent of people with lupus will have a close relative who already has lupus or may develop lupus. Some people with lupus also will have a relative who has lupus or another autoimmune disease.

QUICK FACT 13

✔ In approximately 10 percent of all lupus cases, individuals will have symptoms and signs of more than one connective tissue disease. A physician may use the term "overlap syndrome" or "mixed connective tissue disease" to describe this condition.

QUICK FACT 12

♂ "There are significant differences in the way men and women might react to the diagnosis of SLE. Men might have the misconception that lupus is a "women's disease" and therefore a man with SLE is less masculine than a man who does not have SLE. This is simply not true. The roles and expectations of males and females in today's society are changing, but acceptance of these changes takes a long time. These types of stresses, coupled with the fact that lupus is mistakenly referred to as a "woman's illness," can make it difficult for males to cope with this chronic disease." 
Information retrieved from LFA- Men and Lupus 
   

Men's Health and Lupus

10 Foods to Boost Men's Health 

~ Oysters   (high in zinc)

~ Bananas   (high in potassium)

~ Fatty Fish   (high in Omega 3 fatty acids)

~ Broccoli  (heart disease and cancer preventing nutrients)

~ Brazil Nuts   (high in magnesium and selenium) 

~ Whole Grains   (high in fiber and Vitamin B)

~ Plant Stanols   (lower blood cholesterol levels)

~ Soybeans   (high in isoflavones) 

~ Berries and Cherries   (high in anthocyanin) 

~ Red-Orange Vegetables  (high in vitamin C and beta-carotene)

This week is National Men's Health Week, well depending on the source it is National Men's Health Month. This is the perfect time to address Lupus in Men.  Many think of Lupus as a women's disease.  Men can and do suffer from Lupus as well.  It can occur in men of any age, just as with women.  I have come across several men of various ages and ethnicities who have Lupus, and they have the same issues that women have. 

Before puberty, about 1 male will develop Lupus for every 3 females.  In teens and adults, 1 male will develop Lupus for every 10 females.  After the age of 50, 1 male develops Lupus for every 8 females.  These gender differences are seen in only systemic lupus, not in cutaneous (skin) Lupus.  

Males have similar symptoms as females, including joint pain, skin rash and extreme fatigue. The clinical course of Lupus is about the same in both genders.  Males are treated with the same therapies as females.  Some researchers have found that later manifestations of the disease differ between sexes.  Studies have found more severe kidney, nerve and blood vessel disease in males with Lupus compared to females with Lupus. However, there is no great evidence to support a significant difference in severity of Lupus in males and females.  

Researchers are now studying Lupus in aging males.  Young men with Lupus have normal levels of hormones.  Their Lupus activity is usually much worse than older men. Late-onset Lupus may depend on lower levels of male hormones.  (LFA)

Quick Facts:

~ Young men with Lupus have normal reproductive histories.

~ Lupus should not affect their ability to be sexually active.

~ Men with Lupus may not be able to continue working to support his family.

~ They may have difficulty with tasks requiring physical labor.

~ Stress may be caused by the inability to carry on the traditional male role.

~ Men can have hair loss, weight gain and skin rashes.

~ Men are more concerned with loss of job and change of job.

~ False sense of "loss of masculinity" and loss of independence is difficult. 

QUICK FACT 11

✔ Some of the factors that may trigger lupus in people who have the genes that make them prone to develop the disease include infections, ultraviolet light, extreme stress, certain prescription drugs, and hormones. (LFA)

   

Lupus, The Great Imitator

Did you know that Lupus is sometimes referred to as the Great Imitator? Lupus symptoms are very similar to those of several other common illnesses.  The most common symptoms of Lupus are fatigue, headaches, anemia,  joint pain, sun sensitivity, discoloration of fingertips in cold, fever, swelling, chest pain, butterfly rash, hair loss, blood clotting, and tiredness.  Quite the list in my opinion, but lets keep in mind that those are only the most common. 


Many of these symptoms can occur in other conditions and illnesses, such as arthritis, Lyme disease, diabetes, chronic fatigue syndrome, pneumonia, alopecia, hemophilia and more.  This is why Lupus is called the Great Imitator, its symptoms are like the symptoms of many other conditions and illnesses.
 Full Article Here


I believe that this is also a reason that it is so difficult to diagnose Lupus.  When diagnosing Lupus doctors have to analyze multiple physical symptoms and test results.  The fact that every Lupus patient is unique (different combinations and severity of symptoms) increases the difficulty of diagnosing and treating the illness.  Lupus seems to imitate many illnesses.  Oh lucky me!! I get a taste of it all. I have even managed to develop the imitator (Lupus) and the imitated (arthritis).  Many of us have at least one other illness to accompany Lupus throughout our life.  All we can do is learn to cope and live life to the fullest.  Education is key!!  You should know what is going on with your body.  Take care and spread awareness!! 


With Love ღ
Simmi

QUICK FACT 10

✔Most people with lupus will experience joint pain without swelling. However, lupus is not a form of arthritis. (LFA)

QUICK FACT 9

✔There is no single laboratory test that can determine whether a person does or does not have lupus.  Diagnosing lupus involves analyzing the results of several lab tests that are used to monitor the immune system, along with a review of the person’s entire medical history. (LFA)

QUICK FACT 8

It's Fibromyalgia Awareness Day! 


People with Fibromyalgia have similar symptoms to those of us with Lupus and arthritis.  What is Fibromyalgia?  It is a rheumatic condition with characteristics of widespread muscle/joint pain, fatigue and other symptoms.  Fibromyalgia is often misdiagnosed and misunderstood just like Lupus.  This illness can lead to depression and social isolation as well.  


More than 12 million American have Fibromyalgia.  Women are ten times more likely to get this disease than men.  Symptoms of Fibromyalgia are abdominal pain, anxiety and depression, chronic headaches, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, stiffness, IBS, tingling in fingers and feet, hypersensitivity to heat or cold, inability to concentrate, dryness of eyes, mouth and nose, and incontinence.  This disease is a diagnosis of exclusion.  Meaning doctors rule out other conditions that can cause similar symptoms.  


Sound familiar?  Please share your Fibromyalgia and Lupus stories.

QUICK FACT 7

✔Lupus can run in families, and research suggests that genes are involved in the development of lupus. However, lupus also can develop in people with no family history of the disease. (LFA)


   

QUICK FACT 6

✔ Types of Lupus:

     ☞ Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (the most common) affects many parts of the body

     ☞ Discoid Lupus Erythematosus - causes a skin rash that doesn't go away

     ☞ Subacute Cutaneous Lupus Eryth. - causes skin sores where exposed to the sun

     ☞ Drug-Induced Lupus - can be caused by medications

     ☞ Neonatal Lupus - a rare type of Lupus that affects newborns

   












Fox House M.D. It's Not Lupus Navy T-Shirt Tee  

QUICK FACT 5

✔ Neonatal lupus is a rare condition that affects infants of women who have lupus and is caused by antibodies from the mother that affect the infant in the womb. With proper testing, physicians can now identify most at-risk mothers, and the infant can be treated at or  before birth. (LFA)

QUICK FACT 4

Foods That Cause Inflammation:
☹highly processed foods
☹red meat
☹candies
☹crackers
☹soda
☹trans-fat
☹sugary foods
☹healthy saturated fats
☹bread
☹salad dressings
☹baked goods
☹alcohol
☹fried foods
☹nightshade vegetables (tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant,  peppers, etc.)

Anti-Inflammatory (Good) Foods:

☺Fruits

☺Vegetables

☺Omega-3 foods

☺Wild Caught Cold Water Fish

☺Fish Oil Supplements

☺Flax Seed

☺Raw Nuts

☺Olive and Grapeseed Oils

Choose wisely! If you cannot totally give up the bad stuff, at least have it in moderation, and eat all natural and organic foods. It will make a big difference.  Sacrifice will pay off in the long run!!!

Search Amazon.com for anti-inflammation diet and recipe book
Search Amazon.com for lupus diet

Save Second Base

I stumbled upon a cool Breast Cancer Research Fundraiser last night.  A friend and I decided to go out, but we had no idea where to go.  So we picked a street and went to the first bar that we saw.  When we walk in, we are bombarded with pink and white t-shirts.  What's going on???  Well it just happened to be a fundraising event going on, how COOL!!!  Save Second Base!!!  We donated, entered raffles, bought goodies, and met some great people.  We really had a good time.  Something told me to take my camera, and I am so glad I did.  

Remember this is a bar, so there was a lot of silliness going on.  A guy with balloons in his shirt, pictures of big breasts all over the place, and many more foolish things all in good fun for a great cause.  I really enjoyed myself at this event, and the fact that I was supporting Breast Cancer Research made it that much better.  We need to stick together and support each other.  Support and Spread Awareness!!!

Search Amazon.com for breast cancer awareness



Happy and Feelin' Good,
Simmi    

 

QUICK FACT 3

ChNew research is confirming a definite connection between chronic inflammation and both physical and neurological diseases including:

• asthma
• Alzheimer's Disease
• cancer
• diabetes
• digestive disorders
• heart disease
• hormone imbalances
• osteoporosis

These conditions are linked by inflammation.  Research suggests that once you have one inflammatory disease there can be a spiraling downfall.  This means that you are at high risk to get another inflammatory disease, or one of the illnesses causes by inflammation.  Take care of yourself well to prevent further damage to your health.