New Year, New Thread, NEW ME!

[james217]

In a very basic sense lupus is sort of like having an allergic reaction that never ends.

Everybody produces autoimmune antibodies. People with Lupus produce way too many. When one has too many autoimmune antibodies the body views them as "foreign" and not helpful and the body actually starts to attack its own tissues, joints and organs. You know how people are very allergic to peanuts? And when they eat a peanut sometimes their throat closes? It is the bodies way of "attacking" the peanut and it ends up attacking itself. The concept is the same.

The pain is sort of hard to describe but it kind of feels like millions of fire ants crawling under your skin and heat going up your spine. I realize this sounds all dramatic but its really the only way I can describe it.

Lupus goes in remission then flares. In my case my kidneys and joints are attacked most often. Lupus severely compromises the immune system.

I have super small veins. My blood is thin due to my meds. I can get a paper cut and bleed like the dickens.

So, that is me!

man how do you deal with that. oh so that's what you meant about almost losing the kidney? how do they treat it? how do they make the autoimmunes stop attacking your joints and organs?