World Lupus Day May 10th

[Emmylou]

I know I'm nearly a week late, but what the heck.
May 10th is World Lupus Day.
Lupus is an autoimmune disorder.It has a variety of symptoms including skin rashes,debilitating fatigue,fever,nausea, joint pains,anaemia,kidney failure,pleurisy,pericarditis, miscarriage, hair loss, mouth ulcers,depression....and many more. Often the symptoms are overlooked and diagnosis takes months or years.
Lupus may be mild, may be disabling and in some cases can be fatal. To date there is no known cure.
Someone you know may have Lupus...
World Lupus Day is to promote awareness of Lupus.
For more information visit LUPUS UK :: Welcome
You may have lupus, you may know someone with it, you may not have heard of it until now. I hadn't until I was suddenly ill in 1996 and diagnosed relatively quickly. Luckily for me, I currently have no symptoms. But it is a condition that comes and goes.
Visit the web site of LUPUS UK. If only one person becomes aware of this weird condition that 5 million people worldwide suffer from through me posting this thread then it will have been worthwhile me sitting and typing this.

[Glutton4...]

Lupus - that's Wolves innit? Do you howl at the moon?

Sorry, bad taste - but that's how my sense of humour works! It's not until you hear of someone with an ailment that you start to learn about it. Hope all is OK for you!

[Emmylou]

Yes, you are right Glutt, Lupus is latin for Wolf. The condition was given this name due to the "butterfly rash" seen on cheeks of many lupus patients, said to look like the facial markings of the wolf.
I am one of the lucky ones who was very poorly for a relatively short period of time, and touch wood, haven't had any major flare-ups as most people diagnosed get. I don't even think about it usually.
Wanted to do my bit to raise awareness. There are lots of people suffering vague symptoms who don't get a diagnosis for years, if ever. The condition in most cases can be controlled, or at least helped with drugs.

I don't usually howl to the moon....although often feel like it!

[hmk]

Isn't it called SLE anymore?

My first ward as a student was rheumatology and there was a lot of research going on in the hospital into SLE/Lupus. (This was....a few years ago!) You're right, most people have never heard of it (though it was a possible diagnosis in one episode of House!), and it should have a higher profile.

Glad to hear you've been well, and hope it stays that way!

[Emmylou]

[QUOTE=hmk;454605]Isn't it called SLE anymore?

Yes, I think so ( Systemic Lupus Erythematosus ) but I think Lupus is just a more general term. SLE affects many systems of the body, including kidneys and joints (as well as the skin). Discoid Lupus affects exposed areas of the skin.

[SarzWix]

It's a possible diagnosis in practically every episode of House
My sister was tested for it, but it turned out to be HMS, (which is also massively under-diagnosed) which all I & my sisters all have.

[hmk]

It's a possible diagnosis in practically every episode of House
My sister was tested for it, but it turned out to be HMS, (which is also massively under-diagnosed) which all I & my sisters all have.

Ah well, every episode of House is much like another (House reluctantly takes on case after being threatened by woman in charge of hospital, insults co-workers and finds diagnosis (SLE or other) whilst also upsetting another patient, almost getting the hospital sued. Original tricky patient fails to improve, he makes the correct diagnosis just in the nick of time and in the process forces previously mentioned coworkers to break the law to look for evidence of cause of mysterious disease and alienates even the nice oncologist that usually supports him. All whilst popping painkillers. ) so I may have seen it in more than one without realising...

HMS= Hypermobility? My son is hypermobile, although comparatively mildly, so I'd agree with you on that.