Possibility of Mild-symptom Lupus Getting Worse? Posted: 05-09-07 04:36am
Hello people.
I am 44 years old and I have a 38 year-old
girlfriend for almost 2 months now. She
told me that she has been having Lupus
erythymatosus. for at least 9-10 years now
(when it was diagnosed).
I have read many web pages about this
disease and I have realized what serious
& debilitating disease that can be,
since it is an autoimmune disease and can
affect any part of the human organism,
having an unpredictable outcome. This
woman has a 8-year old son (the boy does
not have that disease) but both her
brother and sister have the same disease.
Initially, when she had the disease
diagnosed, she got pregnant to her son and
because of the flares during pregnancy,
she was taking cortisone medication. She
told me that she used to have joint pains
and also reduced musmular tension on her
hands which used to last for some hours
after she woke up in the morning. After 1
or 2 years she stopped taking cortisone
due to its adverse side-effects and
started omoiopathic medicine, which she
continues up to the present day.
From what she told me, since she started
omoiopathic medicine-for the past 8 years-
she hasn't had any heavy symptoms, only
mild ones which are limited to some skin
rashes, red rash on her nose, cheeks and
chin and also on certain occasions, red
pimple-like formations on her arms and
legs. Also she has a low platelet count in
her blood for a long time now and she can
manage sometimes to raise it closer to the
normal count.
Also sometimes she feels low in her energy
because of the disease. She told me that
some years ago she had an intense flare
during which she became red all over her
body and she quickly took some relevant
medication to mitigate it.
After the reading I have done about this
disease I have got very worried about the
possibility of this disease getting much
worse in the future which of course would
affect both of us if we have a long
relationship (I like her and I was
considering the possibility of having a
relationship with her). Besides, I would
like to have a child in the near future,
and I have read that there are some
implications on the pregnancy also,
regarding Lupus.
Ī¤aking into account that she has had mild
symptoms for the past 8 years, I was
wondering how likely it is that the
disease might get worse in the future
(affecting internal organs etc), or is
there a high probability that she will
continue having only mild symptoms given
that she will be areful with her disease?
Is there any medical research which has
similar cases (mild symptoms for some
years and the probability of the disease
getting worse in the future)
I know that this sounds cruel from my part
and I am sorry for that, but should I
consider splitting with her now, when it
is still early in our relationship and
nobody gets hurt since I dont want to end
up with someone who will have chronic
health problems running all the time to
the doctors and getting debilitaded from
this disease...
I appreciate any tips...
|
lupielindee
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 10 Nov 2005 Posts: 10
Posted: 05-11-07 04:49am
Vasilis
I have read your posting. I dont think
that you are cruel in your thinking. It
is reality and its your life! If you
want children in the near future it is
better that you stop the relationship with
this lady. Lupus is still a new diease
to be discovered. It depends on the
individual and how their body reacts...etc
there is nothing concrete with Lupus, it
can flare whenever it wants. I have
lived with Lupus for about 7 years now. I
had 2 major flares in the seven years....
So I count my blessing. When Lupus is
under control its like you dont have it
but when it flares, well you have to deal
with it. But that is the reality of it.
No one knows when its going to flare or
not. Bon Courage.
|
vasilis
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 09 May 2007 Posts: 2 Location: Malta
Posted: 05-13-07 04:57am
I really appreciate your sincere reply,
thanks.
|
Tammycd
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 05 Jun 2007 Posts: 4
Posted: 06-05-07 16:08pm
Please be very careful on the low platelet
count. I had a low P count and ultimatly
had to have my spleen removed. No problems
since then. When it got very low I had
petichia (sp?) which look like red
freckles but it is bleeding under the
skin. My gums bled when I brushed my teeth
and one morning I woke up with a nose
bleed that would not stop. I went from the
doctors office to the emergency room and
straight to ICU w/ a count of 10,000. I
felt fine but I was not. I was not aloud
to brush my teeth, shave or practically
move for a month. If I had bumped myself
or anything it would have started internal
bleeding due the the fact that low
platelets = no clotting factor in the
blood and they would not have been able to
stop it. As long as she takes care of her
self she should be ok but I woulod not
completly get rid of the meds perscribed.
I hated taking Prednisone but have not had
to take it since 1993. Taking the meds are
temporay albeit long term sometimes but
they do work. Maybe she could incorporate
both regimines. Also some "natural" herbs
and home remedies can do more harm than
good in people with lupus.
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