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I had the humiliating experience last night of running into an acquaintance. After exchanging pleasantries, I noticed she kept saying things like "Since I got sick" and "Sometimes it's hard for me to stand". I asked her what was wrong and she replied "I've been diagnosed with Lupus". I mumbled something appropriately sympathetic sounding all the while realizing that I didn't have a clue what Lupus was. I had heard of it but didn't KNOW what having Lupus entailed. I decided to research it and here's what I found...

What is Lupus:

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease where the body's antibodies attack one's own tissues. It can affect different parts of the body including skin, joints, lung, blood, kidney and brain and its primary symptom is inflammation. There are four types of Lupus:

• Discoid (cutaneous): is a skin rash that is diagnosed by a biopsy of the rash
• Systemic: Can affect almost any organ and general no two people have the same symptoms. Systemic lupus includes periods where few or no symptoms are evident - remission and other times when it becomes more active - flares.
• Drug Induced: is caused by the use of certain drugs most commonly hydralazine(for hypertension) and procainamide (for irregular heart rhythms). Usually the people that develop Lupus while taking these medications find the symptoms fading upon discontinuation of the medications.
• Neonatal: a rare condition that is associated with a rash that appears within the first few weeks after birth.

The Lupus Foundation of America has the following to say about living with Lupus: " It is also important for people with lupus to receive regular health care, instead of seeking help only when symptoms worsen. Results from a medical exam and laboratory work on a regular basis allows the doctor to note any changes and to identify and treat flares early. The treatment plan, which is tailored to the individual’s specific needs and circumstances, can be adjusted accordingly. If new symptoms are identified early, treatments may be more effective. Other concerns also can be addressed at regular checkups."

Needless to say I wish I'd never had to learn about this disease. That my friend and anyone else suffering from Lupus never HAD to learn about it either.

Here's some links to sites with more information on Lupus:

• Mayo Clinic
• The Arthritis Society
• National Library of Medicine (interactive animation)
• Google Search on Lupus with 14,800,000 results