`Sophquest

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Journal Entry: Wed Oct 1, 2008, 9:11 AM

Mood: Exhilarated

LUPUS AWARENESS: Fighting the Wolf

Hello Everyone

As many of you have become aware, October is Lupus Awareness Month.
In the past I have run a couple of contests to bring light to this difficult
disease. And I am doing that again this year. Here is what I wrote on
the subject of SLE in the past.

"The word Lupus is latin for wolf, which is said to both, attack like the wolf...
and give a person with the disease, skin rashes that resemble the bite of a wolf.

The thing about Lupus, is that people in general, don't have any idea what it is
or how debilitating, devastating and possibly life-threatening it can be.

As, most of you know...I have been fighting the disease for
many years, and have beaten it back.... many times!
I am THRILLED to report that my latest round of blood tests show that
I am in REMISSION!! ~ HALLELUJAH!! Thank you, sweet Lord!

I was told when first diagnosed, that I would be
lucky to stay out of a wheelchair for another year.

BUT....I'M STILLING WALKING!

I was told "Systemic Lupus Erythematoses"
could kill me within 5 years.

BUT....I'M STILL HERE!

I was told that there is no cure and that
I could only fight symptoms with medication.

SO,....I ONLY fought with Meds at first, then when that wasn't enough...
with vitamins, food supplements, music, laughter, fasting, and most
importantly INFORMATION! I became educated on the subject... I studied:
Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, Natural Healing...you name it!"

*HERE ARE THE FACTS:

(Please Watch this quick video if you don't have time to read everything!)
[link]
(Video found at X-Plain.com)

*Introduction to Lupus
(Information found at www.lupus.org)

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.

[Antigen is short for "antibody generating" and is any material
(usually proteins, but sometimes other molecules) that is
identified by the body as foreign or not "self".]
*Explanation by *Shadoweddancer (a biology teacher).

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 meaning 'self' )
cause inflammation, pain and damage to 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.

In the United States, lupus is more common in African Americans,
Latinos, Asians, and Native Americans than in Caucasians.

Symptoms

Although lupus can affect any part of the body, most people
experience symptoms in only a few organs. The most common of
symptoms with SLE are listed below. Occurrences of particular
symptoms happening are listed as percentages.

* Achy joints / arthralgia (95 percent)
* Fever of more than 100 degrees (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 with deep breathing / pleurisy (45 percent)
* Butterfly-shaped rash on 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 (17 percent)
* Seizures (15 percent)
* Mouth or nose ulcers (12 percent)

* I have personally experienced all but one of these symptoms.
*If you have several of them, please see your doctor right away.

HOW CAN I HELP?

*Donations can be made to 'The Lupus Foundation of America' here: [link]

*You can also take part in my Lupus Awareness Contest by simply
submitting an entry! ~ I will donate 50 cents to the foundation for
every single entry. So, please consider entering.

"The Season of the Wolf" Contest II"

Sophquest

Fractal Gallery Director

Kindness,

Reverence,

Gratitude...
Live with these every day and you'll be happy.

34 Comments

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=ersi

Oct 1, 2008, 9:22:41 AM

It's so wonderful to hear you are in remission, Sophie! I'm very happy for you, you deserve all the best!

First comes the feeling. The idea follows.

=Inqy

Oct 1, 2008, 9:28:02 AM

Lupus is so unpredictable and different for every person who suffers it... My mom was diagnosed with lupus when I was a kid, and after a year it went into remission. She hasn't had a symptom for over eight years now.

--
The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it.

`Sophquest

Oct 1, 2008, 9:31:30 AM

Thank you ~ I live to count my blessings every single day!

--
*Fighting the Wolf: Lupus Info ~ *Interview: My Lupus/My Art

`Sophquest

Oct 1, 2008, 9:31:54 AM

I'm so happy to hear that she is doing well!

--
*Fighting the Wolf: Lupus Info ~ *Interview: My Lupus/My Art

=Inqy

Oct 1, 2008, 9:32:25 AM

I'm glad you are doing so well, too!

--
The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it.

=angelitonegro

Oct 1, 2008, 10:14:15 AM

Wow so nice to hear you are getting better!

Hope you will be fully ok soon!

Best wishes for you!

--
Donde voy van detrás de mí pasos amargos.. donde canto la envidia maldice, ríe y roe.

No te olvides de pasar por nuestro chat HISPANO!! [link] y darle watch a =HISPAchat!

=C-Williams

Oct 1, 2008, 10:17:42 AM

If we could

journals I would yours. I don't have lupus, but I have a handful of other diseases, one of which is autoimmune in origin. I think it's great to spread awareness about any disease, but esp. those that tend to be over looked, or not as widely known.

--
~Christina~
"Love me. But don't tell me so."~Lilly Bart from House of Mirth

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