A DREADFUL DISEASE
My heart isn't in blogging tonight.
Regular Pink Flamingo readers may be familiar with the exploits of my 9 year old "niece" Sydney. Her mother, my other "sister" has lupus. Alicia has been under a tremendous amount of stress lately. When she went for her regular check-up and blood-tests, she discovered that her blood platelets are very very low, which is not good. Before where the disease was attacking her limbs the way arthritis would, it is now attacking her internal organs.
Like so many other diseases, Lupus research suffers from a terrible want in funding. No one famous has Lupus so people don't know much about it. Because of this, Lupus isn't easy to diagnose. Alicia suffered for several years, almost coming to believe her symptoms were all in her head due to the way she was being treated by various physicians. By they time they were able to diagnose her disease, it wasn't "good".
Fortunately she responds well to the "chemo" treatment which has held the disease at bay for several years. She's back on "treatment" today, and we truly need your prayers. If you have some spare $$$ to donate in this day and age, you might want to consider the Lupus Foundation. The last new Lupus drug was authorized 50 years ago this week.
Regular Pink Flamingo readers may be familiar with the exploits of my 9 year old "niece" Sydney. Her mother, my other "sister" has lupus. Alicia has been under a tremendous amount of stress lately. When she went for her regular check-up and blood-tests, she discovered that her blood platelets are very very low, which is not good. Before where the disease was attacking her limbs the way arthritis would, it is now attacking her internal organs.
Like so many other diseases, Lupus research suffers from a terrible want in funding. No one famous has Lupus so people don't know much about it. Because of this, Lupus isn't easy to diagnose. Alicia suffered for several years, almost coming to believe her symptoms were all in her head due to the way she was being treated by various physicians. By they time they were able to diagnose her disease, it wasn't "good".
"...Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus, pronounced /sɪˈstɛmɪk ˈluːpəs ˌɛrəˌθiməˈtoʊsəs/) is a chronic autoimmune disease that can be fatal; however, with recent medical advances, fatalities are becoming increasingly rare. As with other autoimmune diseases, the immune system attacks the body’s cells and tissue, resulting in inflammation and tissue damage. SLE can affect any part of the body, but most often harms the heart, joints, skin, lungs, blood vessels, liver, kidneys, and nervous system. The course of the disease is unpredictable, with periods of illness (called flares) alternating with remissions. Lupus can occur at any age, and is most common in women, particularly of non-European descent. Lupus is treatable through addressing its symptoms, mainly with corticosteroids and immunosuppressants; however there is currently no cure. Survival in patients with SLE in the United States, Canada, and Europe is approximately 95% at 5 years, 90% at 10 years, and 78% at 20 years..."
Fortunately she responds well to the "chemo" treatment which has held the disease at bay for several years. She's back on "treatment" today, and we truly need your prayers. If you have some spare $$$ to donate in this day and age, you might want to consider the Lupus Foundation. The last new Lupus drug was authorized 50 years ago this week.
"...Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can affect various parts of the body, including the skin, joints, heart, lungs, blood, kidneys and brain. Normally the body's immune system makes proteins called antibodies, to protect the body against viruses, bacteria, and other foreign materials. These foreign materials are called antigens.
In an autoimmune disorder like lupus, the immune system cannot tell the difference between foreign substances and its own cells and tissues. The immune system then makes antibodies directed against itself. These antibodies -- called "auto-antibodies" (auto means 'self') -- cause inflammation, pain and damage in various parts of the body.
Inflammation is considered the primary feature of lupus. Inflammation, which in Latin means "set on fire," is characterized by pain, heat, redness, swelling and loss of function, either on the inside or on the outside of the body (or both).
For most people, lupus is a mild disease affecting only a few organs. For others, it may cause serious and even life-threatening problems. Although epidemiological data on lupus is limited, studies suggest that more than 16,000 Americans develop lupus each year.
The Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) estimates between 1.5 - 2 million Americans have a form of lupus, but the actual number may be higher. More than 90 percent of people with lupus are women. Symptoms and diagnosis occur most often when women are in their child-bearing years, between the ages of 15 and 45..."
SYMPTOMS:In an autoimmune disorder like lupus, the immune system cannot tell the difference between foreign substances and its own cells and tissues. The immune system then makes antibodies directed against itself. These antibodies -- called "auto-antibodies" (auto means 'self') -- cause inflammation, pain and damage in various parts of the body.
Inflammation is considered the primary feature of lupus. Inflammation, which in Latin means "set on fire," is characterized by pain, heat, redness, swelling and loss of function, either on the inside or on the outside of the body (or both).
For most people, lupus is a mild disease affecting only a few organs. For others, it may cause serious and even life-threatening problems. Although epidemiological data on lupus is limited, studies suggest that more than 16,000 Americans develop lupus each year.
The Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) estimates between 1.5 - 2 million Americans have a form of lupus, but the actual number may be higher. More than 90 percent of people with lupus are women. Symptoms and diagnosis occur most often when women are in their child-bearing years, between the ages of 15 and 45..."
Achy joints / arthralgia (95 percent)
Fever of more than 100 degrees F / 38 degrees C (90 percent)
Arthritis / swollen joints (90 percent)
Prolonged or extreme fatigue (81 percent)
Skin Rashes (74 percent)
Anemia (71 percent)
Kidney Involvement (50 percent)
Pain in the chest on deep breathing / pleurisy (45 percent)
Butterfly-shaped rash across the cheeks and nose (42 percent)
Sun or light sensitivity / photosensitivity (30 percent)
Hair loss (27 percent)
Abnormal blood clotting problems (20 percent)
Raynaud's phenomenon / fingers turning white and/or blue in the cold (17 percent)
Seizures (15 percent)
Mouth or nose ulcers (12 percent)
Fever of more than 100 degrees F / 38 degrees C (90 percent)
Arthritis / swollen joints (90 percent)
Prolonged or extreme fatigue (81 percent)
Skin Rashes (74 percent)
Anemia (71 percent)
Kidney Involvement (50 percent)
Pain in the chest on deep breathing / pleurisy (45 percent)
Butterfly-shaped rash across the cheeks and nose (42 percent)
Sun or light sensitivity / photosensitivity (30 percent)
Hair loss (27 percent)
Abnormal blood clotting problems (20 percent)
Raynaud's phenomenon / fingers turning white and/or blue in the cold (17 percent)
Seizures (15 percent)
Mouth or nose ulcers (12 percent)
"...inflammation of the kidneys (lupus nephritis), which can affect the body’s ability to filter waste from the blood. This can be so damaging that dialysis or kidney transplant may be needed.
an increase in blood pressure in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension)
inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis), which can lead to congestive heart failure
hardening of the arteries (atherosclerotic heart disease), which is a buildup of deposits on coronary artery walls that can lead to a heart attack
involvement of the nervous central system and brain (CNS lupus), which can cause stroke, memory problems, confusion, and headaches.
inflammation of the brain’s blood vessels, which can cause high fevers, seizures, behavioral changes, and psychosis...."
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an increase in blood pressure in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension)
inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis), which can lead to congestive heart failure
hardening of the arteries (atherosclerotic heart disease), which is a buildup of deposits on coronary artery walls that can lead to a heart attack
involvement of the nervous central system and brain (CNS lupus), which can cause stroke, memory problems, confusion, and headaches.
inflammation of the brain’s blood vessels, which can cause high fevers, seizures, behavioral changes, and psychosis...."
Dime con quien andas y te digo quien eres.
08 Bloggers Alliance
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View my page on Political Voices of Women
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