Click Here To Follow My New Blog About My Life & Lupus
Hello,
My name is Mz. Sixx and I have Lupus {yeah, I said it, and didn’t shed a tear!!!! Baby steps}
Lupus is an autoimmune disease that affects many more women than men. In fact, ninety percent of people who develop Lupus are women. The scary part about Lupus is that it can damage any organ in the body (including the heart, kidneys, lungs, blood, joints, and skin) causing life-threatening complications.
Here are a few facts about Lupus:
The most common symptoms of lupus are: extreme fatigue or exhaustion, headaches, painful or swollen joints, fever, a butterfly-shaped rash across cheeks and nose, sun- or light-sensitivity, and hair loss.
• Approximately two-thirds of people with lupus will develop some type of skin complication. This often is in the form of a rash or sores, most of which will appear on sun-exposed areas, such as face, ears, neck, arms, and legs.
• There is no single laboratory test that can determine whether a person does or does not have lupus. Diagnosing lupus involves analyzing the results of several lab tests that are used to monitor the immune system, along with a review of the person’s entire medical history.
• Systemic lupus is the most common type of lupus. Systemic lupus can affect any organ system of the body, including the heart, kidneys, lungs, blood, joints, and skin.
• In lupus, the immune system loses its ability to tell the difference between foreign substances, such as viruses or bacteria, and the body’s healthy tissue. The result is the production of auto-antibodies that attack healthy tissue.
• Since many symptoms of lupus mimic those of other illnesses, lupus often can take three to five years to diagnose. Symptoms of lupus can come and go over time, which makes a definite diagnosis more difficult.
I was diagnosed with Lupus in July 2011. I came out to my friends and family August 12, 2011 (click here to read post). Knowing that I will forever have Lupus and it will always be a part of my life, I made the decision that I would fight and educate myself on this disease and do my best to educate others. Everyone that knows me, know that I can be feisty, opinionated, and strong willed. I’m very independent and rarely show fear. I’m not one who easily accepts help- and I absolutely hate when people treat me as if I’m sick. I’m NOT sick and I will not be treated like I’m helpless. I have made the decision that I will not hide and I will not suppress my feelings. When I want to cry- I WILL. When I want to laugh- I WILL, when I want to scream- I WILL , and when my face is broken out and I don’t “look” my best- I WILL NOT HIDE!!!!! To all my followers, friends, family- buckle up and put your seat belt on and enjoy the ride on the “Lupie Chick” express.
