[halfpintfl]

Hi there, I hope that you all are feeling fine.
I only have one question, but it is very important to me.
Does Lupus have "stages", like cancer has stages1-4?
I hope someone can tell me, and thank you very much.

 

[Lily]

Hi halfpint

No......... Lupus does not have stages. Unless someone is referring to Lupus Nephritis kidney problems. They have stages as recognised by the World Health Organisation.

love
Lily

 

[helloos]

May I ask why you ask that question? Is your doctor putting you into a category?

My only thought was mild or severe. Catagories as such.

But yes, Lily made a valid point regarding the kidneys.

Hope you are well.

 

[Katharine]

Hello there,

No, lupus does not have stages as it is not classically a progressive disease. It may get worse for some people over time especially with no treatment but for others it will stay much the same with ups and downs and even sometimes remission periods.

Katharine

 

[Jesse88]

That was a great question and I was glad to read the answer. Also, I didn't know lupus is not considered "progressive." That's encouraging. I know my niece has been in remission with her lupus for the past several years. She swears noni juice helps her, but I'm skeptical. I'm still loaded up on drugs but hoping to someday cut back on them.

Anyway, thanks for that informative question and answer. This board rocks!

 

[sushi]

Jesse88 noni juice? what is it.

 

[Jesse88]

I don't know too much about it. Just that it's some sort of tropical juice you can buy at a health food store. I think it tates pretty bad, and is pretty expensive. My niece swears by it but my RD just thinks it was a coincidence that she happened to go into a natural remission while drinking noni juice. Lupus does wax and wane, so he could very well be right.

 

[sushi]

thank Jesse

 

[Raglet]

oh there are many stages of lupus.

There's the 'I really need a name for theese awful symptoms stage'.

There's the 'omg I need meds, and more meds please - this really hurts' stage.

Followed shortly after by the 'do I really need all these meds, and do they really work?' stage.

There is also the 'all my doctors are telling me different things and I don't know who to believe' stage.

A particular favourite of mine is the 'Pick your own treatment stage' (you know that if you ask Dr A they will recomend that you do XYZ, while you know that if consulted Dr B will recomend ABC treatment - Dr C however will insist on 123 - so it's virtually dial your own treatment depending on who you ask ....

Of course we all know the 'omg I am too tired to get out of bed for the forseeable future' stage - and of course 5 minutes later we are out of bed anyway getting ready for work because someone has to pay the mortgage ......


I am writing this at 3am - I have a sleep deprived EEG tomorrow so I am only allowed a couple of hours sleep tonight (whhhaaa !!!!!!)

 

[Maia]

Raglet - thanks for the chuckle. Have to laugh sometimes about all this stuff! I am familiar with most of those stages

 

[Douglas]

Dear Raglet,
Thanks for the lift. You did leave out the well-known just after diagnosis:
"I told you I was sick" stage. And the later,
"I really would like to kill myself but I just ain't got the energy" stage.
Hang in there everyone. This to will pass - whatever it is.
Pax,
Douglas+

 

[Katharine]

Excellent Raglet, obvioulsy 3 AM is a very creative time!!

Katharine

 

[marymackay]

on stage

Hi Raglet

thanks for your post re lupus stages. Seeing you have been posting for 5 years and over 3000 of them, I appreciate your patience.

I think I've had it all my life, but with so many symptoms over 5 years, and getting doctors onto it start of last year, and still doing so, you are so right. One says-no alopecia, another says no sicca, another says no nothing, the best so far Sep last year said lupus like symptoms- no time for physical exam, family history, pages of my medical history, go back to GP, onto Plaquenil.

GP knows nothing about lupus, no time to look at family/medical history. Diagnosed sjogrens by optometrist, ignored for 30 years by eye specialist. Now having further investigation for vascular, kidney, skin, sinus, colonoscopy, big gum problems etc, etc.

So each problem that emerges seems to lead to a new stage -like a new journey of self discovery. Thanks for your posts, I like them as you tell us what is going on with you, and your doctors, helping us to find out through your experience what is happening, teaching us patience as:wink2: patients.