Re: Elena (AIH)

[Guest guest]

Dear Elena:

It sounds like your shakiness could be caused by blood sugar. It wouldn't

hurt to get it checked out.

Kathy (AIH)

Seattle area

[Guest guest]

Thanks for your help. Is blood sugar problems associated with mild AIH?

Elena

--- KATBERCOO@... wrote:

> From: KATBERCOO@...

>

> Dear Elena:

>

> It sounds like your shakiness could be caused by

> blood sugar. It wouldn't

> hurt to get it checked out.

>

> Kathy (AIH)

> Seattle area

>

>

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Elena Pheasant

_____________________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Elena,

Blood sugar problems seem to relate in some way to AIH, but not for

everyone. I was looking for my files and found this, which is interesting

and raises some questions in my mind, but don't let it alarm you. It's

about Lupus, a different autoimmune disease that sometimes crosses over.

It's easy to become hyper aware of everything going on in our bodies when

we're already feeling lousy and worried about what to expect next. Right

now I'm deciding not to " buy trouble " and I'm not assuming anything is

wrong until I have documentation that there's a problem!

Take care,

Geri

Lupus - Improved prognosis, but still difficult to diagnose

In the 1950s, if you were diagnosed with the most common form of lupus, the

odds were 50-50 you'd die within five years. Diagnosed today, you'd have an

80 percent to 90 percent chance of living a normal life span. Greater

awareness among physicians, development of more sensitive diagnostic tests

and improvements in treatment are responsible for this improved prognosis.

But lupus' variable and sometimes vague manifestations can still make this

chronic inflammatory disease difficult to diagnose.

An attack against yourself

Lupus is an autoimmune disease. It results when an unknown trigger causes

your immune system to respond as if parts of your body are a foreign

substance. Your body directs antibodies and white cells against itself,

causing inflammation and injury to certain tissues and organs. Lupus, which

is also considered a rheumatic (arthritic) disease, can affect the joints,

muscles, skin, kidneys, nervous system, lungs and heart.

Lupus affects women eight to ten times more frequently than men and often

first appears in women of child-bearing years (ages 18 to 45). Women of

color (African-American, Native American, Asian and Hispanic) are affected

more often than Caucasian women.

Lupus also can affect children, the elderly and men. Lupus can affect more

than one member of a family, but there are no studies that show that lupus

is an inherited disease.

Variations in signs and symptoms

Lupus appears in one of two forms: Discoid lupus erythematosus, which can

be chronic and may cause a red, scaly rash, usually on the face, and

systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus). SLE is the most common and

severe form of lupus (and the focus of this article). It can affect many

organs in your body. Usually, though, it affects only a few organ systems.

Lupus is often difficult to diagnose because manifestations vary from

person to person and can fluctuate with time. Nearly all people with lupus

experience changes in disease activity. At times, the disease may flare; at

other times, there may be no evidence of lupus at all (remission).

Fever, weight loss and fatigue may be among the first signs of the illness.

A skin rash may develop on the face, neck or arms, especially after

exposure to the sun. This rash may involve the nose and cheeks and appear

as a butterfly-shaped rash

A typical sign of lupus

Ulcers, usually painless, can occur in the mouth or nose. Painful swelling

of the joints and prolonged stiffness in the morning can occur.

Inflammation of the surface of some organs (serositis) such as the heart

and lungs can cause painful breathing or shortness of breath. The kidneys

can be affected without producing symptoms, although swelling (edema) of

the legs can occur. Lupus affecting the kidneys may cause protein and blood

in the urine and high blood pressure. People with lupus may experience

depression or difficulty in concentrating, either due to the disease itself

or as a reaction to living with a chronic disease. Rarely, seizures can occur.

Diagnosis

A combination of tests is used to determine if you have systemic lupus.

The diagnosis of SLE is made from the clinical history, physical

examination and test results. Tests that are commonly done include a blood

count, assessment of kidney and liver function, urinalysis, antinuclear

antibody (ANA) test, chest X-ray and electrocardiogram. Additional tests

may be recommended by your physician.

Relieving symptoms

Treatment of SLE depends on which organs are affected and the severity of

involvement. Because lupus may assume many forms, finding the most

effective treatment may take time. Sunscreens with an SPF of at least 15

and protection from ultraviolet rays from the sun or tanning beds are

recommended even if the skin is not involved, since ultraviolet light can

trigger a flare. Aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications

(NSAIDs) may be recommended for joint manifestations. Anti-malarial

medications may be useful for treating skin and joint problems and

serositis and may prevent flares of the disease. (There is no known

relationship between lupus and malaria; no one knows why anti-malarial

drugs work on lupus.) Corticosteroids are frequently used; the dosage is

dependent on the organs involved and the severity of involvement. Side

effects of steroid use include weight gain, puffiness in your face, easy

bruising, thinning of bones, high blood pressure, diabetes and increased

risk of infection. Immunosuppressive medications such as azathioprine

(Imuran) and cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) may be used to treat SLE,

especially if the kidneys are involved. Other such medications are

methotrexate, chlorambucil and cyclosporine. These medications suppress the

immune system even more than corticosteroids. Your doctor will generally

prescribe them if corticosteroids aren't effective or in conjunction with a

lower dose of corticosteroids (to reduce side effects). But if you use

these drugs, they may cause anemia and a low blood cell count. They may

also increase your risk for infection and cancer. Sometimes, even with the

use of corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs, the kidneys fail.

Kidney dialysis may be necessary; if failure is permanent, a transplant may

be considered.

For many people with lupus, the disease isn't a major illness. But for

some, it's a serious condition. Recognizing when your symptoms are getting

worse and knowing how to treat them can reduce your chance of permanent

tissue or organ damage. Early treatment can also reduce the time you spend

on higher doses of medications. Following your doctor's instructions and

taking medications only as prescribed is important. In addition, successful

treatment of lupus depends on taking good general care of yourself. Lead a

healthy lifestyle; pace yourself, get adequate rest and appropriate

exercise, don't smoke, limit alcohol consumption and eat a balanced diet.

You, your family and your physician should work together to help you lead

as normal a life as possible, even with lupus.