Posted by Phillipa on June 9, 2005, at 23:06:13
In reply to Lou's reply to All Done » All Done, posted by Lou Pilder on June 9, 2005, at 22:16:42
This article was printed in 200l. Since that time new and more effective drugs have been released for tx. Lupus doesn't always have to involve multiple organs [systemic lupus], it can also be discoid lupus involving the skin. An elevated ANA is one indicator of lupus. There are also more conclusive tests. The only sure way to diagnose systemic lupus is through a kidney biopsy. Since I also have an elevated ANA, I've been tested for lupus. I do not have lupus. My sister does have lupus and has for years. It is so mild that she doesn't require any medications at all, even if her ANA gets really high. You can have a false positive ANA from medications such as inderal which when discontinued allow the ANA to go back to within normal ranges. I attended pre-nursing classes with a woman in her early 40's who had been wheelchair bound with a lupus flair. She was in total remission and was becoming a dental technician. The only time she had an exacerbation of the illness was when she was in the sun. Then she would experience arthritic symptoms. She had two children. She was never sick the whole two years I was in school with her. I recently returned to my plastic surgeon's office where about l0 yrs ago I had received facial tx's from a woman with lupus. She had had a child after her lupus was diagnosed. [planned]. She takes medication and hasn't missed work in the l0 years since I saw her last. She is still working. The only thing she can't have is any of the facial fillers. She leads a perfectly normal life thanks to the newer medications. She has been told she can expect a normal life expentency. More Afro-American women are effected than Anglo Saxon American women. [same in other countries].It is not known why. Sometimes if the systemic lupus is very severe types of chemo drugs are successfully used. The insurance companies are looking for any way not to insure individuals. That is why it is so important to Cobra insurance if you leave your job and not allow any lapse in coverage. This way the new insurance company has to cover any preexisting condition. If it lapses you have to wait one year for the coverage to begin. If I was told tomorrow that my elevated ANA was from lupus it wouldn't frighten me. I would know that there are medications, and life style changes that would give me a probable normal life span. The insurance companies charge exorbitant fees for Cobra to discourage people from keeping their insurance in an attempt to not have to pay for any illness and allow the number of Americans that are uninsured to rise. This means the cost of insurance for others rises to help pay for those who can't afford medical insurance. Which leads to the hospitals having more and more indigent patients. Which leads to hospitals losing money, which leads to cutting costs by cutting the amount of nursing care to all. This in turn creates nonquality care for all patients. Insured and uninsured are both treated equally. I could go on and on. But my point is that lupus is not always fatal. And not all lupus is severe or even effects the internal organs. Fondly, Phillipa
poster:Phillipa
thread:510150
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20050530/msgs/510330.html