How Lupus Saved My Life
September 15, 2008 by Rebbekah
Filed under Lupus, Personal Growth, Personal Inspirations, Physical Healing, Self Care, Shows, Woman's Health Issues
Diane Tegarden wasn’t a full time writer until she was stricken down with lupus and had to close her company and stop working full time. What could have been a crippling end to a productive life was at first a blow Diane didn’t think she’d overcome. Then, after struggling several years with lupus, she found that an organic diet and lifestyle helped to partially restore her energy level and health, so that she could start to think about working again.
That’s when Diane decided to do what she’d always wanted to do. At first, she felt she couldn’t justify letting someone else support her while she launched her new career at the ripe young age of 48!! Then Diane just allowed it to happen, and it’s wonderful beyond words.
Join us for a touching hour of Talk Radio!
Rebbekah will share her daily struggles with Lupus as well, while she doesn’t talk very often about her struggle with Lupus on today’s show she will discuss the many aspects of dealing with an auto immune disease.
“Lupus is a hard disease to diagnose, through so many tests coming back with either a yes or no so many times the doctors finally said this is what you have, although we are not sure. The only thing I have come to rely on is how I feel day to day. There are many days I need to lay down for a couple naps to get my energy back. I have begun to take better care of myself, by starting to eat more organic foods, listening to my body when I need rest and basically scheduling my day around how I feel.
Many of my clients are not aware that I am “ill” and to me that is a good thing. I am a strong woman and while I have many daily ups and downs what keeps me going is my family, my friends and my clients. So while I do discuss having LUPUS on HYTR, please do not change your opinion of me or how I am able to handle clients etc ….I have learned that if there is a will there is a way. Hence why some days you will see me online late at night those were the days I needed to lay down in the afternoons. Being able to run a business from home has been a blessing. I am better able to schedule my hours around my body, rest and still give 100% to my clients and my radio show.” -Rebbekah White
What is Lupus?
Lupus is an autoimmune disease, which means that the body’s natural defense system (immune system) attacks its own tissues instead of attacking foreign substances like bacteria and viruses. This causes inflammation. Inflammation causes swelling, pain, and tissue damage throughout the body. If you develop severe lupus, you may have problems with your kidneys, heart, lungs, nervous system, or blood cells. Lupus is the common name for systemic lupus erythematosus, also called SLE.
Although some people with lupus have only mild symptoms, the disease is lifelong and can become severe. But most people can control their symptoms and prevent severe damage to their organs. They do this by seeing their doctors often for checkups, getting enough rest and exercise, and taking medicines.
This topic focuses on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the most common and most serious type of lupus. But there are four other types of lupus: discoid or cutaneous lupus, drug-induced systemic lupus, neonatal lupus, and subacute cutaneous lupus.
What causes lupus?
The exact cause of lupus is not known. Experts believe that some people are born with certain genes that affect how the immune system works and that they are more likely to get lupus. Then a number of other factors can trigger lupus attacks. These include viral infections, including the virus that causes mononucleosis, and sunlight.
Although these things can trigger lupus, they may affect one person but not another person.
What are the symptoms?
Lupus symptoms vary widely, and they come and go. The times when symptoms get worse are called relapses, or flares. The times when symptoms are not so bad are called remissions.
Common symptoms include feeling very tired and having joint pain or swelling (arthritis), a fever, and a skin rash
. The rash often happens after you have been in the sun. Mouth sores and hair loss may occur. Over time, some people with lupus have problems with the heart, lungs, kidneys, blood cells, or nervous system.
How is lupus diagnosed?
There is no single test for lupus. Because lupus affects different people in different ways, it can be hard to diagnose.
Your doctor will check for lupus by asking you questions, looking for common symptoms, and doing some blood tests. It is easier for your doctor to diagnose lupus if you have the most common symptoms and your blood has certain proteins. These proteins are called antinuclear antibodies, or ANAs. But other problems can cause your body to make ANAs, so doctors will use blood tests and other tests to find out if you have lupus.
How is it treated?
Lupus is treated by:
- Applying corticosteroid cream for rashes.
- Taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for mild joint or muscle pain and fever.
- Taking antimalarial medicines to treat fatigue, joint pain, skin rashes, and lung inflammation.
- Taking low-dose corticosteroids if other medicines are not controlling your symptoms.
Because corticosteroids are powerful medicines and can cause serious side effects, the doctor will recommend the lowest dose that will give the most benefit.
The doctor may also recommend other medicines that slow down the immune system.
How can you manage lupus?
One of the goals of controlling mild to moderate lupus symptoms is to prevent flares, the times when your symptoms are worse. Some of the other things you can do include:
- Rest to reduce stress.
- Avoid the sun. Wear sunscreen and protective clothing when you are outside.
- Exercise regularly to prevent fatigue and joint stiffness.
- Stop smoking.
- Learn the warning signs of a symptoms flare, such as fatigue, pain, and rash, and take steps to control them.
With good self-care, most people with lupus can keep doing their regular daily activities.
It is important to learn about lupus so that you can understand how it might affect your life and how you can best cope with it. Also, help your family and friends understand your limitations and needs when your symptoms flare. Develop a support system of family, friends, and health professionals. For more information on LUPUS go to
