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Living with Lupus E-mail
Written by Administrator   
Wednesday, 08 August 2007
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Living with Lupus
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Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease that can affect various parts of the body, especially the skin, joints, blood and kidneys. It is an autoimmune disorder and while for most people, lupus is a mild disease affecting only a few organs, for others it can be life threatening. Our Assistant Editor Avril Horan spoke to Lynda Collier from Williamstown County Galway who suffers from the disease. Lynda is the Galway contact for the Irish Lupus Support Group who are holding their conference and AGM on Saturday 1 September from 2pm to 5pm at the Quality Hotel in Oranmore

"I was first diagnosed with systemic lupus in March 1990 having previously been misdiagnosed as having rheumatoid arthritis. My first symptom was an acute severe pain in the bottom of my feet, preventing me from walking. This pain quickly spread to all my joints and muscles with an accompanying high temperature.

I was referred by my GP to a consultant rheumatologist. During the six-week wait for an appointment my condition deteriorated rapidly. Carrying out the simplest of tasks became extremely difficult. Sleep was impossible because of the pain and fever. On seeing the consultant I was admitted to hospital. By this time I was severely anaemic too.

I gradually improved with complete bed rest, intravenous steroids, painkillers and physiotherapy and I was discharged after four weeks. During this period I had the loving support from my family and my then fiancé Steve. This support helped me cope with being diagnosed with a long-term illness. Even medical knowledge doesn't help when it becomes personal.

The symptoms of lupus are varied and no two patients present with exactly the same symptoms. However most people including myself suffer the debilitating fatigue associated with the disease.

Before I became ill I had been working in the Coronary Care Unit at the Leicester Royal Infirmary and then I was in charge of a medical drop in centre for homeless people. When I was discharged from hospital I did attempt to carry out lighter employment as a dental nurse but within weeks I collapsed after a day at work and all my symptoms recurred. The consultant gently advised me that I wouldn't get better if I didn't finish work and give my body a chance to recover.

I had to completely change my lifestyle. I had to take one day at a time and rest when necessary, which was often in those days. I learned to enjoy doing the things I could and learned to live without the things I couldn't.

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