flu and lupus

[2X'sNana]

Hello everyone,

I am still trying to learn everything there is to learn and I am aware I will never learn all there is to know about lupus. It is all so confusing!

My question is this-What causes one person with lupus to get into organ damage and not others? Is there an answer out there for that or is it just another mystery that lupus seems to leave us with? I have the flu right now and can't seem to get my strength back. I feel so exhausted! This flu started with our two grandchildren and we have passed it throughout the family. I don't seem to be rebounding as quickly as everyone else but that doesn't surprise me because I think that is the norm. with lupus.

Can the flu or another illness cause your body to weaken and get into organ damage? I am not sure how this all works. Any information would be helpful.

Thank you,
Janice

[Maia]

It's pretty much unknown. However, there are observed correlations (note--- this is NOT causation!) between certain antibodies (especially DsDNA) as well as lowered complements which indicate organ involvement is more likely, but certainly not everybody with low complements or those antibodies gets organ damage.

It is thought that enviromental things can bring about a lupus flare, and some of those include bacterial and viral infections. It is quite common for someone with lupus to take longer to recover from these things than others. From my personal experience having gone through many infections recently due to having a young germ magnet in the house these days in the form of my 2 year old daughter... it takes me twice as long to recover as my daughter or my husband.

[peonyprincess]

I find it completely aggravating that my family can get a cold, flu or whatever and they are over it in short time and when I get sick, I am down for a week or better. I know it is because of my Lupus, and the fact that my immune system is rather screwed up.

I am tired of being my own worst enemy. I am tired of having to avoid my childrens school programs during the winter months so I can avoid being exposed to all the little bugs.

I am tired of not being able to go out and "tie one on" like I used to. No, I am not a lush, but I do or rather did like to go out and have a few drinks with my friends and if I got a little tipsy so what. I can no longer do that because of my medication and because Lupus has attacked my flipping liver.

I am tired of weighing as much as I do. What I weigh now, is what I weighed when I delivered twins. I do not always have the energy to exercise like I used to. I am not on Pred, but I am on Neurontin which can cause some to gain weight. I am embarassed at my physical appearance. I can deal with the butterfly rash across my face, it is just the spare tires that hang around my waist and hips that I am ashamed of.

I am tired of not always being able to sleep night and then end up sleeping thru the day and therefore I miss hanging out with my kids when they are home thru the day.

I am tired of worrying about the possiblity of lying young and leaving my children without a mother.

Sorry to vent but I like Maia and Janice am just tired.


Nancy


Please so not get me wrong..... for those people who have Lupus and have minimal problems, I feel you are so blessed and I am thrilled that not everyone has to suffer with organ damage, etc.

[acard]

Hello,
My family is the same.
As a matter of fact Hubby sick earlier this but recovered well.
I don't get it-in my case w/ any infection I take 2-3times as long as a normal person.
I thank God that my family only gets sick for a day or two.
Yes- I wish it was it was me.


I am also finding my body is becoming resistant to antibiotics. I am currently fighting a baaaad uti that was resistant to the 1st set and so I am on 2nd set and I don't know yet. This happened last time also.
It is baaad because I don't go right in thinking it is my interstitial cystitis then when I do I am really hurting and does not leave a lot of room for resistant anti-biotics.:eek:

Who knows????



I do hope you all feel better and are able to keep the germs at bay.

Have a good weekend,
Becca

[guinivere67]

this winter i had the flu jab because the winter before, well really from autumn right through to spring, every month the week before my period i would get some kind of cold or flu bug and took ages to get over it. I knew then that something was wrong with me - it cannot be normal to be so ill all the time and take so long recovering. From boxing day two weeks into the new year i was really ill - thought i would never get better.

I'm still undiagnosed with lupus at the moment but have my second appt with rheumy 8th may...i hope he can diagnose me so i can get on with some treatment.

I empathise with all of you feeling sick and tired of it all. I want to enjoy my children growing up, but i feel that because i can do so little there is barely any point getting up in the mornings.

love to you all.