| lupus |
30-06-2009 12:41 AM |
Live & Kicking
I am a Lupus sufferer, I'm in my 30's and I'm still alive & kicking thank you very much!
Lupus is an auto-immune system disorder, which basically means we have a VERY high immune system that constantly attacks our body. It affects mainly women, and is most common in races with a darker skin tone.
It is a chronic disease, which means you cannot cure it or get over it. I will have it for the rest of my life and I must manage it with medication and a sensible lifestyle.
As the disease can attack every part of your body - including the brain - people can have many different symptoms. The most common are sensitivity to sunlight (no tanning for us!), pigmentation or lesions on the skin, a butterfly shaped rash across the bridge of the nose, arthritis, fatigue, tendonitis, kidney problems, migranes, dry eyes, sticky blood & poor circulation. I have all of these symptoms and many more, but I am lucky.
Some unfortunate people can suffer from severe organ failure, neurological damage, blindness, alopecia, heart disease and ultimately death.
I was diagnosed 23 years ago at the age of 8, was in a coma for 6 weeks and very nearly died on a few occasions. At the time I was told I probably wouldn't live past 30 and I wouldn't be able to have kids. So I spent my life having a good time and enjoying myself whilst I could. I pretty much ignore everything my doctors ever tell me and I live my life as I want to, my Lupus will not rule my life.
And now I'm in my 30's and have a fantastic 3 year old son. I have to avoid the sunshine as much as possible and my skin in covered in red lesions from where the UV has scarred me. My knees hurt, I can't get through a whole day without a nap and sometimes my boyfriend has to help me get around cos i hurt like an old lady!
But I still party and I get luvdup and dance whilst the sun comes up. So please don't think that Lupus is a death sentence! I have no plans on kicking the bucket anytime soon!
But it's great that Sophia has bought some awareness to this debilitating disease, even if it was short lived! She may have the same disease as her late sister, but that doesn't mean she's going to die at the same age. Her poor sister obviously had serious complications, but Sophia looked to be in control of her disease to me. She would have known if her body was up to the challenge or not. She's been living with the disease for most of her life so she's not going to suddenly drop dead on telly now is she!
And of course, Michael Jackson was also a Lupus sufferer, so maybe that will also bring some light to it!
If you know somebody with Lupus, don't treat them like an invalid, just understand they might be extra tired now and then and maybe a little tearful. Just give them that extra support when they need it, it's not everyday we feel like this.
:wink:
|
