Lupus support for members

Lupus can affect any part of your body. Symptoms usually come and go, and they might develop slowly. You may have periods of time when you experience no symptoms or only mild symptoms. At other times, symptoms may be more severe.

Common initial lupus symptoms include:

Lupus can also cause other health problems, like sunlight sensitivity, seizures, heart or kidney diseases, dry eyes, or lung or blood diseases.

There’s no definitive test for lupus. But if it’s suspected, your doctor will likely order several tests to rule out other conditions. These tests may include blood and antibody tests, urine tests, cell biopsies, imaging tests, echocardiograms (EKGs or ECGs) to measure heart activity, or others.

Proactive treatment can help manage your symptoms, minimize impacts on your body and control how lupus affects you. Many people with lupus can continue doing their daily routines and activities.

Primary treatment for lupus usually involves medicines. Some medicines that may be part of your care plan include:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) – These drugs help with pain and irritation. They include ibuprofen, naproxen and other over-the-counter or prescription anti-inflammatory medicines.
• Antimalarial drugs – These drugs can reduce pain and inflammation, prevent flares, help with lupus-related skin problems and complement other lupus medicines. They may also prevent organ damage and blood clots.
• Immunosuppressive medicines – Because lupus is caused by an overactive immune system, immunosuppressants can help regulate and soften its activity.
• Corticosteroids – These can help reduce pain and swelling caused by inflammation. They’re usually prescribed when other medicines aren’t working well enough.

Dealing with lupus can be hard. Putting your health first and learning as much as you can about lupus can help you better manage it and improve your quality of life. And reaching out for support from friends, family and community groups can help you feel like you’re not doing it alone.

Ways you can minimize the impacts of lupus on your well-being include:

• Seeing your doctor regularly – Visiting your doctor for preventive care instead of only when your symptoms flare up can help prevent complications.
• Learning your symptom triggers – Bodily stress, injury, certain drugs, exposure to UV light, smoking, emotional stress and illness can all trigger lupus symptoms. Learning what your specific symptom triggers are can help you minimize flare ups.
• Eating well – Lupus raises your risk of certain health conditions like heart disease and osteoporosis. So it’s important to limit your fat, salt and sugar intake, and eat foods that are part of a nutrient-rich, heart-healthy and bone-healthy diet.
• Exercising regularly – Exercise can help with managing pain. And it can improve your strength, flexibility, balance and overall physical health. It’s also beneficial to your mental health: It can boost your energy levels, help with sleep, improve your mood and provide stress relief. (Make sure you check with your doctor before beginning any exercise routine.)