How to manage your Lupus flares

Lupus is an autoimmune disease where the body attacks normal tissues. This happens when the body produces antibodies against itself. There are two types of lupus: systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE). SLE just as name implies is a systemic disease affecting many different parts of the body.

 

DLE type of lupus is a less serious disease that primarily affects the skin. While DLE is not necessarily dangerous to overall health, it is a chronic skin disease. Both types of lupus follow a pattern of periodic flare-ups alternating with remission. Symptoms of lupus flares include fatigue, joint pain, stiffness and swelling, butterfly rash, lesions on the skin, mouth sores, chest pain, memory impairment and shortness of breath. Learning how to deal with these symptoms can help to make you more comfortable during a lupus flare.

Get enough sleep. One of the known symptoms of a lupus flare is fatigue. A person suffering from a lupus flare needs adequate rest to overcome their symptoms and go about their daily activities.

·        Try to get at least eight hours of sleep at night. Get yourself into a routine    by going to bed and waking up at the same time each day.

·        Naps during the day can also help to reduce fatigue.

Reduce sunlight exposure. Many lupus flares are triggered by sunlight exposure. Therefore, it's important that you protect yourself from sunlight by wearing sunglasses and using an umbrella to shield your skin from direct sunlight.

·      Avoiding direct sunlight and reducing sunlight exposure, as simple as it may seem, can make a big difference in the frequency and severity of lupus flares.

·       Also remember to wear sunscreen with a sun protection factor of at least 55 before going outside, even on cloudy days (harmful UV rays can penetrate the clouds).

·        Use sun protection and go out in the sun only when absolutely necessary.

Prioritize your activities. During a flare, prioritize your activities, and scale back on anything that doesn’t make the top of the list. Remember – this isn’t permanent! This is just until your disease activity lessens and you are flare free. Focus on today, and delegate what you can. You’d be surprised how many people are willing to help, if you task them with something specific.

Try meditation. Stress can lead to a lupus flare. Meditation can be used as a technique to calm the body and mind. It is often used by people suffering from illness to attain physical relaxation, mental calmness, and psychological balance. Some evidence suggests that meditation can help improve the quality of life for lupus patients in particular. Mindfulness meditation is a simple and effective way to begin a practice of daily meditation.

·        Sit in a comfortable position, whether in a chair, cross-legged, or kneeling.

·        Begin to pay attention to your breathing. Your mind will eventually wander. When you catch your mind wandering, bring your attention back to your own breathing.

·        Don’t stop to dwell on or judge your thoughts.

·        Continue this process for a short time, such as five minutes if you are trying it for the first time. Repeat this practice frequently, at least once a day. As you begin to practice mindfulness meditation regularly, you can gradually increase the length of the sessions, if you desire.

Get regular moderate exercise. Exercise is good for your physical health and it can also help to control stress, which often causes flare-ups. Try to get 30 minutes of moderate exercise every day.

• ·        Some good exercises to try include walking, biking, swimming, or taking an        aerobics class.
• ·        Choose something that you like doing and that is appropriate for your                   current fitness level.

Engage in activities that provide comfort. Lupus may become a very painful disease. However, there are a few ways to handle the pain and make your day more comfortable. These techniques can also help reduce stress, lessening the risk of a flare.

             ·         One of these comfort measures is a good massage. A good massage           can be very relaxing and soothing, as it can help to relieve both joint                 pain and systemic pain.

·        See a massage therapist, perform self-massage or ask a family member or friend to massage the painful area for you.

·         Use heat therapy. Another way to ease pain and promote comfort is by using heat. For example, a hot shower or a hot bath can ease systemic pain. For localized pain, a hot towel or a hot compress can be placed over the affected joint or area.

·         Make sure the hot compress or hot towel does not burn the skin. Place a dry towel around the hot compress if it is too hot.

·         Heat helps to relieve pain by increasing the blood circulation at the site of the pain.

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Lupus: What we can learn from Selena Gomez's illness

The 24-year-old singer has been struggling with depression and panic attacks, which have been linked with the condition. She underwent chemotherapy a year earlier in a bid to fight symptoms of the auto-immune disease, which has no cure.

Lupus causes the immune system to be unable to distinguish between foreign invaders and healthy tissue. The disease can damage any part of the body, including joints, skin and internal organs.

Gomez’s celebrity status helped create awareness about the disease which is often poorly understood. The young pop music sensation when talk about her disease many people learn about this poorly understood autoimmune disease.

Lupus affects different people in different ways

No two people with lupus may experience similar symptoms. An estimated 1.5 million people in the US have the condition and majority of its victims are women. Lupus is among poorly known conditions, Gomez ailment was when several people first time learn about lupus. Her statements about her condition created awareness about this autoimmune disease.

"As many of you know, around a year ago I revealed that I have lupus, an illness that can affect people in different ways," the 24-year-old Gomez said. "I want to be proactive and focus on maintaining my health and happiness and have decided that the best way forward is to take some time off.”

Hardest part of lupus is to deal with other people

She underwent chemotherapy in 2014 at The Meadows recovery center in Arizona for two weeks. At the time, her rep did not disclose any specific reason for her rehab stint, but did say it had nothing to do with substance abuse.

Her rep’s categorical statement didn’t stop gossip mongers from reporting otherwise. It was very disturbing for young artist to face such rumors along with her battle with the disease.

“I wanted so badly to say, ‘You guys have no idea. I’m in chemotherapy. You’re a**holes,'” Gomez expressed her frustration. “I locked myself away until I was confident and comfortable again.”

Lupus has side effects

Anxiety, panic attacks and depression are side-effects that lupus causes and it further adds to the misery of its sufferers. Kenneth Farber, co-CEO and copresident of the Lupus Research Alliance, told People that the disease is "sometimes very misunderstood." "It is not commonly known that depression, anxiety, and panic attacks can be side effects of lupus," Farber said.

Majority of Gomez’s fans know this fact when she cancelled her world tour and announced to take time off to deal with side-effects of her disease. Gomez, issued the statement in the midst of her Revival world tour back in August 2016, “I’ve discovered that anxiety, panic attacks and depression can be side effects of lupus, which can present their own challenges.”

“I want to be proactive and focus on maintaining my health and happiness and have decided that the best way forward is to take some time off ... I need to face this head on to ensure I am doing everything possible to be my best,” said the former Disney Channel star.

It’s debilitating

The disease can also bring about a ton of other symptoms, including swollen joints, fever, fatigue, rashes, chest pain, hair loss, anemia, and more. It literally cripples one’s ability to carry out normal life activities. We know Selena Gomez has decided to cancel her world tour last year and before this, she cancelled half of her Stars Dance tour in 2014 when she was initially diagnosed with lupus.

It breaks the victims from inside

Lupus does not only affect people by crippling their ability to perform physical tasks, it also takes its toll on emotional strength and one’s inner self.  Gomez mentioned how the disease broken her internally in her American Music Award for the favorite female artist in pop/rock category acceptance speech.

"I think it's safe to say that most of you know a lot of life whether I like it or not," she said in her speech. "I had to stop because I had everything, and I was absolutely broken inside. I kept it all together enough to where I would never let you down, but I kept it too much together to where I let myself down."

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Most common triggers of Lupus Flare-ups

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease which may affect the skins, joint and even the internal organs. It is commonly known as disease of flares and remissions. Though the remissions period provide relief but flare-ups can turn misery on you at any time.

Though lupus flares are unpredictable, medical experts have identified few factors that trigger flare-ups. Common factors that influence lupus triggers include;

Continuous stress

Stress often comes to you. It could be your work, family matters, relationships, financial circumstances … The list goes on.

Best thing you can do is to separate yourself emotionally from your stressors. You need a break to cut the web of events bringing you stress. It will energize you and make you happier. It will not only improve you a better person but also reduces significantly the likelihood of a lupus flare-up.

Another essential part of your stress management involves not over-extending yourself. Being productive is different from trying to do too many things which may result in a break down…. Possibly leads to flare-up.

Overdoing cannot be defined precisely it varies from person to person. One helpful tip is, avoid trying too many things in a short span of time. Learn to say no and don’t worry about disappointing others. Your body is most important to you, therefore it is vital to listen it.

Doing too much things is a common lupus trigger. Don’t put yourself under undue pressure to do tens of things. Stress is not good for any one, especially someone who is diagnosed with lupus.

Colds and Flus

Colds and flus can trouble anyone but they are especially bad for people with lupus because they can trigger a flare-up. Chances of getting the disease vary with your workplace, day-to-day life, and how many people you live with. Offices where too many people are working under a large roof increase risks of catching it.

Avoid having physical contact with sick workers. In case you shake hand or borrow something from them, don’t forget wash your hands as early as possible.

Poor diet

There is no magic food that can help you cure lupus. Still eating better can help you with lupus symptoms. Eating badly is among common reasons of lupus flares. Consuming excessive amounts of sugar or fat may make you starting feel sick. This might in turn cause your symptoms to flare up.

Be aware of characteristics of certain foods such as alfalfa sprouts and nightshade vegetables that can trigger flare ups even though they are considered healthy foods. Nightshade vegetables include eggplant, tomato and peppers. If any such foods are your favorites no need to quit them entirely. What you need to do is to monitor how you feel after and whether they are trigger for you personally.

Exposure to sun

Sunlight is the most common frustration for people with lupus. Your skin is prone to burning above this sunlight can trigger flare up as well. Fortunately, the sun’s potential damage can be curtailed and its threat as a lupus flare is possible to minimize. Therefore, it is important to use lots of sunscreen and don’t forget to reapply it throughout the day. Long sleeves and wide brimmed hats provide excellent way to shade yourself from the damaging rays.

Other related factors

Apart from sunlight there are few associated things that can be mentioned in conjunction with it. First among them are ultraviolet rays that can be quite damaging. They can come from florescent bulbs and tanning beds.

It is also important to mention certain medications that can enhance the sun’s potential damage and risk to trigger a lupus flare. Some examples of these include:

·        Bactrim®

·        Septra®

·        Gantrisin®

·        Orinase®

·        Azulfidine®

·        Minocin®

·        Amoxil®

·        Ampicillin Sodium ADD-Vantage®

·        Cloxapen®

Inadequate sleep

Sleeping well is great for our immune system. If your stress level, lupus or family issues preventing you having an adequate sleep you need. You are not alone. There are many people who experience similar situation but it does not mean you should give up.

Before hitting the bed take some time to listen to nature or guided mediation.

Take eight to nine hours sleep daily. Set a time for you to go to bed and be intentional about it.

Switch of all your devices before heading to bed. Your gadgets may prevent your mind from getting relaxed.

Quality of sleep really matters when it comes to lupus flares. It strengthens your immune system to avoid illnesses that can make your condition act up.

Over drinking

Though it is not a very common lupus trigger, however it is important to bear in mind people with lupus tend to get worse hangovers than those who don’t. Hangovers may prove rather troublesome for lupus patients. They can leave you feeling bad for days on end.

Every time you drink, make sure to limit yourself to an adequate quantity. Drink lots of water in between beverages.

The five things mentioned above are key points to bear in mind. However, lupus flares can come from other things as well. Some of these include:

·        Injuries

·        Surgeries

·        Giving birth

·        Other physical traumas

Many of them are situations one has little control over. Feeling angry or helpless would only aggravate things. Be easy on yourself. Take pride in everything you do despite this terrible disease.  In case of any ambiguity don’t hesitate to reach out your doctor. Make taking care of yourself a top priority.

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What causes lupus pain? and how it can be alleviated?

Lupus is one of the least recognized diseases in US. It’s symptoms' range from mild to life threatening. The most challenging part of the disease is pain that it causes to its victims. Different people experience lupus symptoms differently; similarly everyone experience pain differently and in different amounts. The most common sites of pain are:

·        Joint pain

·        Headaches

·        Itchiness and irritation from rashes

·        Lung pain

·        Abdominal pain

What causes lupus pain?

Usually symptoms associated with lupus aggravate to cause pain. Such as rashes that come from flares turn itchy and irritating; severe stomach cramps may result from digestive issues associated with certain types of lupus; sun sensitivity may bring eye pain, headaches or sun burn; your joints swell to cause pain even when you are not moving around.

How to alleviate lupus pain?

Identifying the symptoms that are causing you pain allows you to address the root cause instead of the pain just. Following would help you address these root causes of the pain;

·        Use sunglasses, hats, or long sleeves in the sun

·        Mind what you eat and select your diet to help your stomach issues.

·        Ice and rest any swollen joints or muscles

·        Consult your physician and get right medication early.

Doctor would help you to develop effective strategies targeting the cause of pain, not just the pain itself.

What makes lupus warriors struggle rather challenging?

Lupus warriors are not battling just lupus; often they face other conditions that cause pain like fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis. If other conditions debilitate your life as well then it is important to address them appropriately. It is vital to consult your physician to find right medications and track your pain. Pain medicines provide relief in many instances but they are not without side-effects. It is important to try other approaches that help reduce the pain.

·        Mediation / Breathing Techniques

·        Yoga

·        Warm Baths

·        Moist Heated Towels

How to manage lupus stress and staying positive?

Frustration that comes along lupus is perhaps most challenging part of the lupus pain management. Daily aching, headaches, and rashes can build mental stress and make your normal life exhausting; and the stress that results can actually worsen your physical pain. Therefore the fight against lupus requires you to keep your mood and mind healthy.

How can you help yourself?

·        Exercise

·        Do meditation or light yoga

·        Keep your brain distracted with hobbies and activities

·        Stick to a healthy diet from your doctor

·        Share with friends and family