How do you explain lupus to family?

A good way to start to explain lupus is to make clear what lupus is not:

1. Lupus is not contagious. You cannot "catch" lupus from someone or "give" lupus to someone.
2. Lupus is not like or related to HIV (Human Immune Deficiency Virus) or AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). ...
3. Lupus is not like or related to cancer.

What is lupus in simple terms?

Overview. Lupus is a disease that occurs when your body's immune system attacks your own tissues and organs (autoimmune disease). Inflammation caused by lupus can affect many different body systems — including your joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart and lungs.

How do you explain lupus to a loved one?

How to Tell Your Loved Ones About Your Lupus Diagnosis

1. Set the Stage. ...
2. Allay Fears. ...
3. Make It Easy for Others to Understand. ...
4. Explain How Lupus Affects You. ...
5. Ask Them to Be Another Set of Eyes and Ears. ...
6. Involve Them in Your Treatment. ...
7. Point Them to Credible Resources. ...
8. Tell Them How to Help You.

How can I help my family understand lupus?

How you can help your loved one with lupus

1. Educate yourself about lupus. Work together with your loved one to better understand the disease.
2. Work on healthy communication. Lupus is a big adjustment, make time to talk about how this transition is affecting you.
3. Create a care file. ...
4. Develop a daily care plan.

How do you tell your kids you have lupus?

Use these talking points with your middle school-aged child:

1. You have lupus because of a problem in your immune system. ...
2. Having lupus isn't your fault. ...
3. Sometimes lupus will make you feel tired, sore, and achy. ...
4. If you are not feeling well, tell your parents, teacher, coach, or other adult.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) - causes, symptoms, diagnosis & pathology

Is lupus inherited from mother or father?

Lupus can be hereditary in both men and women.

Does lupus get worse with age?

With age, symptom activity with lupus often declines, but symptoms you already have may grow more severe. The accumulation of damage over years may result in the need for joint replacements or other treatments.

What should lupus patients avoid?

5 Things to Avoid if You Have Lupus

• (1) Sunlight. People with lupus should avoid the sun, since sunlight can cause rashes and flares. ...
• (2) Bactrim and Septra (sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim) Bactrim and Septra are antibiotics that contain sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim. ...
• (3) Garlic. ...
• (4) Alfalfa Sprouts. ...
• (5) Echinacea.

What is the life expectancy for lupus?

For people with lupus, some treatments can increase the risk of developing potentially fatal infections. However, the majority of people with lupus can expect a normal or near-normal life expectancy. Research has shown that many people with a lupus diagnosis have been living with the disease for up to 40 years.

Is lupus a terminal illness?

With close follow-up and treatment, 80-90% of people with lupus can expect to live a normal life span. It is true that medical science has not yet developed a method for curing lupus, and some people do die from the disease. However, for the majority of people living with the disease today, it will not be fatal.

How do you describe a lupus flare?

A lupus "flare" or "flare up" is when your lupus symptoms worsen and you feel ill as a result.
...
Common symptoms that indicate a flare are:

1. Ongoing fever not due to an infection.
2. Painful, swollen joints.
3. An increase in fatigue.
4. Rashes.
5. Sores or ulcers in the mouth or nose.
6. General swelling in the legs.

What I wish people knew about lupus?

You can still live a full life while having lupus.

The main thing Harris wishes people knew about having lupus? That you can still experience life to the fullest. "A lot of people don't think that you can live with it. And they think they're gonna die but you can live a full life," she says.

What are the 11 symptoms of lupus?

Eleven common symptoms of lupus include:

• Extreme fatigue.
• Joint pain or swelling.
• Swelling in the hands, feet, or around the eyes.
• Fever.
• Headache.
• Sensitivity to light.
• Chest pain when inhaling deeply caused by inflammation in the lining of the lungs.
• Butterfly-shaped rash on the cheeks and nose.

What are the top 5 signs of lupus?

The list of potential symptoms of lupus is lengthy. Other symptoms include oral ulcers, enlarged lymph nodes, muscle pain, chest pain, osteoporosis, and depression. Rare symptoms include anemia, dizziness, and seizures.

What triggers lupus flare ups?

Lupus flare-ups can be triggered by stress, infection, or missed doses of medication. To prevent a lupus flare, focus on your medication schedule, self-care, and sun protection. Hydroxychloroquine is the best medication to help prevent lupus flares.

What are the top 10 signs of lupus?

Top 10 Most Common Lupus Symptoms Include:

• Achy or swollen joints (arthralgia)
• Unexplained fever (more than 100° F)
• Swollen joints (arthritis)
• Prolonged or extreme fatigue.
• Skin rash, including a butterfly-shaped rash across the cheeks and nose.
• Pain in the chest when breathing deeply (pleurisy)
• Hair loss.

What are the 6 stages of lupus?

Stages of lupus nephritis

• Class I: Minimal mesangial lupus nephritis.
• Class II: Mesangial proliferative lupus nephritis.
• Class III: Focal lupus nephritis (active and chronic, proliferative and sclerosing)
• Class IV: Diffuse lupus nephritis (active and chronic, proliferative and sclerosing, segmental and global)

What are the 4 types of lupus?

But there are four kinds of lupus:

• Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the most common form of lupus.
• Cutaneous lupus, a form of lupus that is limited to the skin.
• Drug-induced lupus, a lupus-like disease caused by certain prescription drugs.
• Neonatal lupus, a rare condition that affects infants of women who have lupus.

What are the 3 types of lupus?

There are three types: Acute cutaneous lupus. Chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus, or discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus.

Does lupus make you gain weight?

Weight changes — Lupus can sometimes cause weight loss or weight gain. Weight loss may be unintentional and due to decreased appetite or problems with the digestive system (see 'Digestive system' below). It can also be a side effect of some medications used to treat lupus.

Can lupus go away?

There's currently no cure for lupus. Treatment of lupus is focused on controlling your symptoms and limiting the amount of the damage the disease does to your body. The condition can be managed to minimize the impact lupus has on your life, but it will never go away.

Does drinking water help lupus?

While there is no lupus-specific diet, being mindful of what you put in your body, eating healthy and staying hydrated is very important for lupus warriors to feel their best.

Can you have lupus for years and not know it?

Lupus symptoms can also be unclear, can come and go, and can change. On average, it takes nearly six years for people with lupus to be diagnosed, from the time they first notice their lupus symptoms.

Are you born with lupus?

Just because you have a specific genetic predisposition doesn't necessarily mean you'll get lupus. An environmental trigger, such as a specific virus or perhaps a certain lifestyle factor, is likely needed for people with a genetic predisposition for the disease to actually develop it.

Can I live a normal life with lupus?

Many people with lupus can minimize flares, lessen the burden of the disease and live a quality life by following their treatment plan and taking care of themselves. In fact, nearly 90 percent of people with lupus live to a normal life expectancy.