Heredity

[Graceanne]

I was diagnosed with possible lupus in 1984, and I have hid the fact that I have this disease from everyone - My family and friends have watched me the past 11 or 12 years struggle with joint pain and effects from the sun, they've watched me not exercise and gain alot of weight. I don't do a whole lot anymore - if I did I'd be sicker - I'm afraid everyone just thinks I'm lazy - but I didn't want to worry anyone.
So now I am worried! - I am worried about my children and grandchildren. My mother suffers from rhuematoid arthritis and her sister, my Aunt has MS. I have learned lately that lupus and other autoimmune diseases are heredity and I'm afraid I passed this awful disease to my children. I've already told my daughter to never take any sulfa drugs--just in case -
So this is why I am going back to the Dr. after 12 years to get a final diagnosis and to find out how I can help my family. I've been selfish I guess, keeping it to myself - I never thought my children would get it.
Does anyone know what other things may trigger the disease - so I can tell my children.

[Lily]

Hi Grace,

I think in families with autoimmune disease its 'possible' to have a slightly higher tendency for someone else to follow suit. No doubt you will hear from some in whom autoimmune is fairly common in their families and others who have quite large extended families like me who have a few cases.

But from what I've read it can be the luck of the draw, many things go into the mix. In the case of Lupus no-one really knows, things that trigger flares have been pinpointed to sunlight exposure changing the immune system,stress (on body or mind) , hormone changes, allergies, certain drugs - (but not everyone with Lupus is prone to that) and possibly some environmental causes. They are just the ones we sort of associate with having the ability to cause flares.

I personally think it takes many many factors building up over some years to bring about autoimmune disease and you have to be susceptible in the mean time. Just what causes that susceptibility the scientists are still trying to sort out.

I do agree that its important your family are aware of our disease and are aware of the triggers,mainly so they can be on the lookout for possible changes with them. But to have them live their lives in fear of getting something they may never get is not ideal either. There's a happy medium somewhere between :) And we must remember our individual circumstances too, I've had a daughter who I know has the ability to develop Lupus but after some pretty convincing clinical signs and even some positive bloods,things have evened out with her with so far no medical intervention needed apart from anti-inflamms very rarely. What she does is be more aware of the sun but not paranoid, she's not allergic to the drugs I am, so no problem there, and she tries to live a healthy lifestyle and eat well.

The rest I'm afraid is up to the powers to be, nothing I or anyone else can do can predict or change the future. If and when it does occur we will deal with it.

love
Lily