5 Things to Know About Lupus

“What does it feel like?” is probably the question most asked of people with lupus. To be honest, it’s definitely not easy for a healthy person to understand what lupus patients feel and go through every day. People are often curious about lupus and what it is like to suffer from the disease, but what lupus patients want others to know is that a person with this disease endures a multitude of struggles that cannot be completely put into words.

Not many people are aware of what lupus really is and how greatly it can affect a person. This article thus intends to spread awareness of how to handle the condition, especially if it is the first time someone is meeting a lupus patient.

Many a times, it is not easy to get across what lupus patients have to go through to a healthy individual. Many are often curious what lupus is all about and what it feels like to suffer from this disease. Lupus comes in several forms, the most common of which is known as SLE, or systemic lupus erythematosus. It is an inflammatory medical condition that occurs when the immune system starts attacking itself along with the body’s healthy tissues. Oftentimes, an individual can mistake the symptoms of lupus, such as rashes, pain in the joints, fever, and fatigue, with another medical condition. This disorder can occur in any individual, and there is no predictable time for it to appear. According to doctors and experts, diagnosing lupus is not easy, because most patients who come in for a diagnosis are already at an advanced stage. Currently, there is no accurate method of treatment for this disease; treatment is only available to provide some measure of relief from the symptoms. Below are a few things everyone should know about lupus:

1. When we talk about people with lupus, they won’t necessarily look sick all the time, although they are still ill. There will be days when they look perfectly okay, but this does not mean they are cured or even feeling well on the inside. Many times, these individuals have to restrict their social gatherings due to flare-ups of symptoms. With this in mind, healthy individuals should be considerate with those who have lupus and not say insensitive things to them, such as, “You look perfectly normal. I don’t see anything wrong with you.”
2. There will be days when the patient will feel energized, and days when their symptoms will flare up, making even simple tasks incredibly difficult to carry out. In such cases, one should understand their situation and be patient with them. It is important then to support them at every step and allow them to do things at their own pace, in their own time.
3. Since lupus is a chronic medical condition, it is not contagious or easily transferable. Sometimes, people may become frightened at the sight of the butterfly rash on the individual’s face, but there is nothing to worry about; it is just a symptom of lupus. Lupus does not spread, but it can lead to symptom flare-ups in the affected individual.
4. Lupus patients have to be careful when carrying out any movements since it can impact their overall health. They have many limitations in terms of physical movement and so struggle even with simple tasks. With this in mind, they want others to appreciate their opportunities and freedom, rather than waste them; an unrestricted life should not be taken for granted.
5. Even though it may seem like a struggle, this disease doesn’t have to consume one’s entire life. It is a life-changing occurrence that provides an opportunity for the patient to appreciate how important life is and to try to focus on the positive. At times, it can get depressing, but being sad is not the way to deal with such circumstances.

By listening to lupus patients, you will learn more about them, what happens when they are sick, what they have to say about the disease personally, and how you can better understand the condition.