What is a universal symptom of lupus?
365023
Take a look at this on WebMD http://www.webmd.com/hw/lupus/hw123406.asp
823279
Well, it could be MS, but I think she should also be tested for Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome and APS can mimic MS symptoms.\n\nI will give you some links so you can compare the two.  Email me if you have more questions.
730800
Absolutely.  I have systemic lupus among w/other health problems.  Science will be able to learn a lot from my cadevar.
471
Massage therapy has been proven to be an efffective alternative relief for Lupus people suffering from Lupus.\n\nMassage is believed to be beneficial effects in several ways. Besides being physically and emotionally relaxing, massage improves blood and lymph circulation, reduces nerve irritation and brings fresh oxygen and other nutrients to the affected tissues. Massage may also cause the body to produce fewer stress hormones like cortisol and norepinephrine (formerly adrenalin), and may also increase the body's production of pain-killing endorphins and the mood-altering hormone serotonin.\n\n  While seeing a professional massage therapist is relatively expensive, a friend or family member may be able to learn enough technique from a book or video to provide some relief for you.
893938
well what symptoms do  u have
146222
I have been checking some notes that I have.  Earl Mindell says to increase your Omega-3 fats.  I have found a study that says that aspartame (the component in no-cal sugars) can cause lupus.\n\nPeople with lupus or other autoimmune diseases should not eat – I-canavanine, a compound in alfalfa, can trigger an autoimmune response in the body similar to lupus.\n\nFor Potassium, I found: Deficiency Symptoms: Gastrointestinal disorders; Irritability and depression; Lupus (mega-doses have shown a positive response in 80% of cases studied)\n\nSulfur Deficiency: Degeneration of cartilage, ligaments and tendons, Lupus, Several collagen diseases, Sickle cell anemia \n\nIt has been claimed that supplementation with pharmacological doses of pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) may alleviate the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and lupus erythematosus.\n\nAnd one I did not expect to find:  Water cures ... lupus...  These conditions are caused by prolonged chronic dehydration.  In these conditions exercising one's muscles should be part of the treatment program.\n\nLots of different information, but some good leads.  I would try one or all of them.
1128544
Fatigue is a common symptom.  Dizziness or balance difficulties and a general feeling of malaise often occur.  Most affected people have a low grade fever at some point.  The problem is that symptoms vary widely depending on what kind of autoimmune disorder a person has.  Here's a good website for further information.
676971
Lupus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that can affect virtually any system in the body. Think of it as a 'self-allergy' where the body attacks its own cells and tissues, causing inflammation, pain, and possible organ damage.\n\nMany studies have shown that women are about 10 times more likely to have or to develop lupus than men. In Birmingham, the figures showed that lupus occurred in almost exactly one in 2,500 adult women; which shows that lupus is not a rare disease in women. It is however rare in men, occurring in approximately 1 in 25,000 adult men. Although the disease can start at any age, the first signs of the disease in women usually appear during the reproductive years (after the onset of menstrual periods and before the menopause). The disease is most commonly diagnosed in women between the ages of 20 and 40, and it appears to be milder in those in whom the disease starts after the menopause (when the monthly periods stop). There is no particular age pattern in men with lupus. \n\nIt is also well recognised that people from different ethnic and racial backgrounds are at different risks of developing lupus. People of West Indian origin are particularly likely to develop the disease, even when they are born and live in North America or the UK. Surprisingly, people of West African origin (from which the West Indian populations were descended) are at low risk of developing lupus. Studies have suggested that up to 1 in 250 women in Jamaica develop lupus. In Birmingham, 1 in 500 women of Afro-Caribbean background have lupus, compared with about 1 in 1000 women from India and Pakistan, and about 1 in 2,500 white European Caucasians. Other studies have shown that people of Chinese and Polynesian backgrounds are also at increased risk of developing lupus, compared with white Caucasians. \n\n\nAlthough there is no cure for lupus, for the vast majority of people with the disease effective treatment can minimize symptoms, reduce inflammation, and maintain normal bodily functions. Medications often are prescribed for people with lupus, depending on which organ(s) are involved, and the severity of involvement. Commonly prescribed medications include: \n\nNonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) – These drugs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, are usually recommended for muscle and joint pain, and arthritis. \n\nAcetaminophen – A mild analgesic used for pain, such as Tylenol. \n\nCorticosteroids – Synthetically produced corticosteroids, such as Prednisone, are used to reduce inflammation and suppress activity of the immune system. \n\nAntimalarials – These drugs, such as Plaquenil, are prescribed for skin and joint symptoms of lupus. It may take months before these drugs demonstrate a beneficial effect. \n\nImmunomodulating Drugs – These drugs, such as Imuran and Cytoxan, act in a similar manner to the corticosteroid drugs in that they suppress inflammation and tend to suppress the immune system. \n\nBiologic Drugs – These drugs include agents that block the production of specific antibodies, like those against DNA, or agents that act to suppress the manufacture of antibodies through other mechanisms.
1120958
Not only can Lupus cause the more common symptoms mentioned, but it also causes the body to turn on itself. When my wife was diagnosed with Lupus at 23 yrs old, it attacked her kidneys and turned 70% of them to scar tissue. Prednisone was used to treat it and that caused AVN, osteoperosis, osteoarthritis and a whole bunch of other stuff.\n\nNow, at the age of 34, my wife has recently spent 2 weeks in ICU after the Lupus attacked her brain and sent her entire body chemistry out of whack. This condition is referred to as Lupus Cerebritis, or CNS Vasculitis. In her case, due to all of the complications connected to it, is was nearly fatal for her.\n\nAs doctors know little about it, when compared to other more common conditions, it makes Lupus more difficult to diagnose and treat. There is still much research and experimentation ongoing relating to Lupus. \n\nJust my 2 cents for you...
650056
I have Lupus. I have taken Imuran & I am currently taking Methotrexate for it as well as my lung disease. Check out the following website. It has alot of information about Lupus and other illness. I think you will find it very beneficial for you. You can ask questions and get several responses like you do here. They also have a Lupus chat room.  www.healingwell.com
804749
its possible that mono is just the first thing that people notice...since mono and lupus are both immune system disorders then it is quite possible that ppl who get mono already have undiagnosed lupus.
779174
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002542.htm\n\nRead the symptoms.
445263
I suffer from the effects of lupus also. Your energy level is a hard thing to deal with, believe me I know. I personally do what I can when I am able. Have you talked with your doctor about it? My doctor gave me this same advice. "Do what you can when your level is up and rest when you need to". You have to allow your body to catch up. Sometimes when I over do it I end up in bed for days. Each person is different. I hope you have a good relationship with your doctor or doctors like in my case. So, when things change with your body's' health you can get the best advice for you. I would love to talk sometime, since we have the same disease. I know from my own experience that talking helps.
970415
A good family friend of our also has systemic lupus.  She has not really found a way to "combat" the fatigue that she experienced.  She tries to make sure that she does not "over do it" and that she makes sure that she gives herself plenty of time to rest.  She finds that she does feel better after mild/moderate exercise...but she has learned what her limits are and that when she needs to rest, she knows that she has to.  \nYou might want to try something along the lines of Yoga.  It might help your endurance a bit and it will help relax you.  You should check out your local YMCA or YWCA and see what they offer.  I think that you could benefit from any type of mild exercise.  My friend sure does!
183082
I know nothing about dropping hair, lymphatic cancer, or ptimal epilipsy but I do have Lupus.\nLupus is basically an overactive immune system that attacks health parts of the body. It is a serious disease but not always a deadly disease.  People with Lupus can live a decent life that is not necessarily shortened due to the disease. Hope this helps :-)
925076
its a antibody also used in Rheumatoid and some malignancies, should hopefully help you with SLE too, there are lots of hits on yahoo if you want to learn about this drug, good luck
756329
Systemic lupus erythematosus predominantly affects women and is more common in blacks. Although survival rates have improved, over one half of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus have permanent damage in one or more organ systems. Arthritis and cutaneous manifestations are most common, but renal, hematologic and neurologic manifestations contribute largely to morbidity and mortality. Treatment approaches emphasize using a combination of drugs to minimize chronic exposure to corticosteroids