Lupus Nephritis
What is....Lupus Nephritis?
I feel like I need to go back a bit. I don't ever recall specifically explaining the type of lupus I have.
Lupus is an auto-immune disease, as some may have heard of it. t Systemic Lupus Erythmatosis, also know as SLE, can affect pretty much any organ. Most commonly the kidneys, heart, lungs and brain.
In my case, I have had SLE nephritis (refers to the kidneys).
Lupus causes an inflammation to the kidneys, over the long terms, this damages the kidneys.
Chemotherapy is used to help protect kidney function. Other immunosuppressant medications are used to help preserve kidney function.
With this said, I have been taking steroids and other similar medications for 24 years and gradually have been loosing kidney function.
This was always open and a known fact, that in time, I would have to deal with dialysis and kidney transplant.
You know, Lupus is not that uncommon. I am in Facebook groups, several groups of over 20K members, all lupus survivors. We call ourselves warriors because as lupus slowly ravages through your body, destroying your organs, your will is put to the test.
What do we deal with on a constant base....? Blood clots, blood disorders, nerve damage, bone density loss resulting in joint replacements.
Vision loss, teeth falling out, alopecia (hair falling out), heart attacks, seizures, paralysis.
Well, the list goes on.
People die from lupus. Yep.
I feel like I need to go back a bit. I don't ever recall specifically explaining the type of lupus I have.
Lupus is an auto-immune disease, as some may have heard of it. t Systemic Lupus Erythmatosis, also know as SLE, can affect pretty much any organ. Most commonly the kidneys, heart, lungs and brain.
In my case, I have had SLE nephritis (refers to the kidneys).
Lupus causes an inflammation to the kidneys, over the long terms, this damages the kidneys.
Chemotherapy is used to help protect kidney function. Other immunosuppressant medications are used to help preserve kidney function.
With this said, I have been taking steroids and other similar medications for 24 years and gradually have been loosing kidney function.
This was always open and a known fact, that in time, I would have to deal with dialysis and kidney transplant.
You know, Lupus is not that uncommon. I am in Facebook groups, several groups of over 20K members, all lupus survivors. We call ourselves warriors because as lupus slowly ravages through your body, destroying your organs, your will is put to the test.
What do we deal with on a constant base....? Blood clots, blood disorders, nerve damage, bone density loss resulting in joint replacements.
Vision loss, teeth falling out, alopecia (hair falling out), heart attacks, seizures, paralysis.
Well, the list goes on.
People die from lupus. Yep.
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