Lupus means "wolf". Erythematosus means "redness". In 1851, doctors thought the facial rash that frequently accompanies lupus looked like the bite of a wolf, thus the name. I've had the "butterfly rash" as I prefer to think of it, which is one of the more classic signs of lupus. The wolf name just doesn't sit well with me! I like to be well informed and have found "The Lupus Book: A Guide for Patients and Their Families" by Dr. Daniel J. Wallace to be very helpful. There are many other helpful books available.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is one of the autoimmune diseases that involve your immune system turning against your body. It is a multi-system disease. Lupus varies greatly in severity in individuals from mild cases with minimal intervention to those with significant symptoms and potentially fatal damage occurs to vital organs, such as the lungs, heart, kidney and brain. The disease is also characterized by flares of activity interspersed with periods of improvement or remission. It is a difficult disease to diagnose as many of the symptoms are also found in other diseases

Common Symptoms Include:

1. Malar "butterfly rash over the cheeks of the face
2. anemia ( may be low red or white blood cells or low platelets)
3. low grade fever -over 100 degrees
4. chronic fatigue
5. arthritis - two or more tender, swollen joints of the extremities
6. kidney damage - spilling protein, red blood cells or white blood cell casts into your urine
7. pleurisy - an inflammation in the lining of your lungs which causes pain
8. pericarditis - an inflammation in the lining of your heart, also very uncomfortable
9. photosensitivity
10. alopecia -hair loss
11. Raynaud's phenomenon - an autoimmune disease affecting the circulation of blood in your fingers causing numb, purple fingers
12. Brain irritation -causing seizures
13. Mucous membrane disorders -ulcerations of the mouth or nose
14. Antinuclear antibody -positive ANA blood test</OL>

The more symptoms a person has from the above list, the greater likelihood they have lupus, usually 4-7 confirm a diagnosis. There is no one specific test for lupus. The ANA blood test is usually positive about 97% of the time if you have lupus. A Very Good Rheumatologist is a must. They are specifically trained in autoimmune diseases. They will do a complete physical, a battery of blood and a urine test to help confirm the disease. You need a good working relationship with your rheumatologist, so that you are comfortable talking with them about any problems you are experiencing. Then, you will get on the right medical regimen for you.

Depression is often a problem found in lupus patients, especially when their symptoms develop slowly for years and they have no explanation or if their disease is advanced. If you are in an active disease time, more sleep us required, but it seems poor sleep quality is also a problem when you have lupus and adds to the fatigue problem. It is a "bone weary" tired that nightly sleep does not remedy. I find an afternoon nap helps me tremendously. Obviously this is not an option is you are working and you may need to find a way to have extra down time on the weekends, times outs when possible, take your lunch to work and put your feet up are just a few suggestions.

The America with Disabilities Act does insure you can request proper lighting at work, as florescent lighting is not healthy, a wrist support if you do a lot of computer work is helpful or perhaps a chair that is more comfortable to you. I would certainly suggest you check into what your company might be willing to do to accommodate your disability. Another helpful consideration is carefully prescribed exercise which will help maintain your joints and muscle tone, plus range of motion in your joints.

Another problem the Lupus Organization explains is the term "lupus fog". It is almost universally known to people with lupus. The phrase reflects the difficulty that you may have in completing once-familiar tasks, such as remembering names and dates, keeping appointments, balancing your checkbook, or processing your thoughts. Properly termed "cognitive dysfunction" or "cognitive impairment," this inability to recall information can be extremely frustrating. These symptoms may come and go, but may also be continuous, making school or work difficult or even impossible in extreme cases. People with both lupus and Fibromyalgia are even more likely to experience cognitive problems".

In conclusion, lupus is a complicated disease, which is why a good rheumatologist is so important. It is also important to develop a strong support group within your family and friends. Learn to live within your ability for activity, which means sometimes skipping that shopping trip, or cleaning the house perfectly. The most important thing is to find some stress relief and if you don’t take care of yourself, you sure can’t help anyone else