How to Live a Normal Life with Lupus

As a lupus patient for over ten years, I have found some ways that make living with this disease a little easier. I am allergic to the medicine Plaquenil which is used for treatment with lupus, but I have still managed to cope with the daily symptoms by finding what works best for me. The following tips are methods that I have found relieve my problems with lupus and I hope they can be beneficial to you. Do not replace this information with advice from your doctor. Always follow your doctor's orders.

Living with the disease lupus is not always easy, but following a few tried and true tips can relieve some of the symptoms and make life better. Lupus is an auto-immune disease, which means it weakens your immune system and causes the white blood cells to not work properly. This makes fighting infections and sickness harder for the white blood cells.

People with lupus usually suffer from chronic fatigue, colds, joint pain, and sensitivity to sunlight. This can make life miserable for some, but with the proper care and a positive outlook, you can have a normal life.

When you have lupus, you have to decide that you're not going to let the disease run your life. You are in control of your life, not lupus. Don't let it be on your mind all the time. If you wallow in your disease, you're going to only depress yourself and bring yourself down. You have to know that you're stronger than the disease and that you can bring well-being to your body.

Making the decision to be in control is mind-over-matter. You can change the way you feel by changing the way you think about your disease, therefore you can choose to feel better or not. For example, if you sit around and think about how bad you feel then guess what? You're going to feel bad all the time. However, if you focus on being happy and enjoying the life you have then you're not going to feel bad.

When you use mind-over-matter techniques, don't ignore your body. When you're dealing with lupus, you need to know your limits. Know how much you can physically do in one day and don't push it. When you're tired, rest. When you're sleepy, go to sleep.

Sleep and rest is a major requirement for people with lupus. It's very important to get at least eight hours of sleep a night when you have lupus. You'll feel better in a week if you get a regular sleep schedule and a full night's rest. Doctors agree that lupus patients need more sleep than a non-lupus patient. Consider this if you want to feel better.

Healthy foods such as greens, meats, and lots of vegetables can help build your immune system and help you feel you better. There are lots of vitamins and minerals you can also supplement in order to get your nutrients if you don't like eating healthy. Try and cut down on the overly greasy and deep fried foods and eat more whole foods. It truly makes a huge difference. With lupus, every little bit counts.

Research how to build your immune system with certain foods and vitamins. Building your immune system can help fight off those head colds that just won't go away and can fight off illnesses from others around you. Always keep good health habits such as clean hands, not drinking after others, and keeping your hands away from your mouth.

Chronic fatigue syndrome and lupus go hand in hand. You just feel tired all the time. It's kind of like having mono everyday for the rest of your life. Just because you feel this way doesn't mean you have to lie in the bed every day feeling miserable. You have to make yourself do your daily tasks.

Some days you'll feel really bad. Other days you'll feel really good. You never know which way you're going to feel until you wake up. On the days you feel bad it's very important to take the day easy and don't push yourself. Drink a caffeinated drink or coffee if you need the extra boost to get yourself going. Go to bed earlier if you need extra sleep.

On the days you feel good, don't over exert yourself just because you feel good. Take it at an easy pace or you'll feel really bad the next day. Basically you need to find an even balance for every day that doesn't push your body physically, yet allows you to do the things like go to work, take care of your children, and most importantly, take care of yourself.

It is very true that sunlight affects lupus patients in a very bad way. With natural sunlight or tanning beds you can feel drained, tired, and overall bad. Sunlight can cause lupus to "flare up" which means that you feel even more tired than usual. Stay away from tanning beds and protect yourself when you're in direct sunlight. It seems horrible to say "Stay out of the sun," but when you feel the effects that the sun can cause, you won't need to be told twice.

Another cause of lupus flare ups is stress. If you are going through a high stress period in your life, you can count on your lupus to flare up. Try to find time in the day to unwind and de-stress. Just fifteen minutes a day of doing something you enjoy can really help you to relieve stress. It's well worth it if you can fend off a flare up.

There is currently no cure for lupus, just medications to keep it repressed. If you are suffering from lupus, know that you are not alone. There are millions of people who live with the disease and live very happy and healthy lives. You too, can live a normal life even though you have this disease. Just remember the tips and implement them into your life for a well-balanced and healthier mind and body.