Editor, The Times
Lupus, Systemic Lupus Erythermatosus (SLE), is one of the over 100 kinds of arthritis.
Lupus is known as the disease of 1,000 faces because of the vast number of body parts that it can affect. SLE is the most serious kind of Lupus as it can attack any of our organs, lungs, eyes, blood vessels, muscles, and the brain. Lupus is an autoimmune disease where the body attacks itself. The healthy cells in our body get confused and attack the harmful free radicals and our healthy protective cells. This is like a war going on inside the body 24/7.
Many who have Lupus also have Fibromyalgia and Raynaud’s syndrome. Photosensitivity can bring on a Lupus flare. The involvement of the central nervous system can cause impairment of cognitive thinking, fatigue, depression, loss of memory, confusion, thought process, seizures and more. Lupus also mimics other diseases such a MS.
As you can see this disease is the very complex I am writing this article to spread awareness and let people know that we desperately need funding for more research to be done.
We need specific treatment for Lupus. My best friend, my sister Gloria died 34 years ago of Lupus at the young age of 42 and she was on the same medications we have today and the same ones that were used 50 years ago.
The good news is that we have Lupus research being done in B.C. at UBC.
I have had SLE for over 22 years and the symptoms keep coming. I am grateful that I can operate a small business from my home and I have met many friends running this little business that I love.
Number one on my bucket list is to let as many people as I can know about Lupus; therefore, I am working with Lupus B.C. to be an advocate for education about this disease.
For more information on Lupus please contact the Lupus B.C. Society at www.bclupus.org or Shirley Bell 250-447-6298 (shirleybell1@shaw.ca).
Shirley Bell, Christina Lake