Unsolved mystery
Later, I learned that she wasn’t swollen from the lupus, but from the steroids. Then, a few months, after all the steroids she endured, the doctors changed their minds and decided she didn’t have lupus after all.
That’s the problem with lupus — it still remains one of the more mysterious autoimmune diseases, with the least desirable treatment options.
But Ill tell you what little we know about this condition, and a few things you can do if you have lupus that might keep you off the steroids.
As an autoimmune disease, lupus occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues and organs in the body. Some of the symptoms include mouth ulcers, hair loss, rashes, joint pain, fatigue, high blood pressure, and neurological problems such as seizures. More advanced or acute cases can also involve the kidneys, lungs, and blood vessels, and can cause life-threatening complications.
Lupus occurs primarily in women between the ages of 15 to 44 and in African Americans and Latinos at three times the rate than for Caucasians. Although it is less well known in this country, worldwide it is seen as more common than leukemia, multiple sclerosis, and muscular dystrophy. Official estimates are that about 250,000 to 500,000 people have lupus in this country, although that number was recently contradicted by a poll done by the Lupus Foundation of America that puts it closer to between 1 and 2 million. The Foundation also believes there are thousands more cases going undiagnosed because there is less awareness of lupus, many of the symptoms mimic other common ailments, and the symptoms often come and go, making a definitive diagnosis difficult.
They say there is no cure for lupus, but there is a natural option you can try that may help you avoid steroids and minimize flare-ups.
A new study confirmed what Dr. Wright has advised his patients with lupus all along — fish oil supplements. Fish oil is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, and of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EFA (eicosapentaenoic acid), all of which are powerful anti-inflammatories. The study also found that fish oil was most helpful with skin and neurological problems associated with lupus.
Of course, it takes a combined approach to manage lupus, and no one thing — even fish oil — is the magic bullet. But the point is that there are natural things to try, even for incurable diseases.
Hormone help
Q: I am very interested in bioidentical hormones. My doctor is not at all happy or supportive of my interest, however. It is time for my annual visit, and I would love to find a doctor who would prescribe this type of hormone. Can you help?
JVW: If your doctor is against using natural hormone therapy, its definitely a good idea to look elsewhere, especially since going the natural route takes a little more than writing out a one-size-fits-all prescription. But in case it is only a lack of knowledge that holds your doctor back, you might share some information and see if he or she would be willing to learn how to help you. I have a fairly comprehensive article on natural alternatives to HRT in the September 2002 issue of Nutrition & Healing.
You may also want to read the book I co-authored with John Morgenthaler titled Natural Hormone Replacement for Women Over 45, which is available in many bookstores, natural food stores, and even some libraries. The more information you have, the better prepared you’ll be to decide whats right for you.
If your doctor isn’t interested in helping you, you may want to consider finding one near you who might already be familiar with and supportive of using natural hormone therapy. Contact the American College for Advancement in Medicine (800-532-3688, 949-583-7666, www.acam.org).
What are antinuclear antibodies?
Antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) are antibodies in the blood that are capable of attacking the inner part, or the nucleus, of patients cells. Doctors screen for ANAs in the body in order to help diagnose lupus. However, there are other factors that can cause this test to be positive, such as rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren’s syndrome, and scleroderma, as well as infectious diseases such as mononucleosis, subacute bacterial endocarditis, and autoimmune thyroid and liver disease. Certain medications can also cause a positive ANA test, and about 5 percent of the general population will have a positive ANA and have no associated illness or condition.
So this test is just the first step to what is a much more complicated process for diagnosing lupus, which includes 11 more factors before a diagnosis can be made. To see the other factors, you can visit the Lupus Foundation of America website at www.lupus.org.
Yours in good health,
Amanda Ross
Managing Editor
Nutrition & Healing
Sources:
Duffy EM, et al. The clinical effect of dietary supplementation with omega-3 fish oils and/or copper in systemic lupus erythematosus. J Rheumatol 2004; 31(8): 1,551-1,556.
Tan EM, et al. The 1982 Revised Criteria for the Classification of SLE. Arth Rheum 1982; 25(11): 1,271-1,277.
