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HAVING MORE ENGERY WITH LUPUS

I TAKE SUPER B- COMPLEX VITIAM D 50,000 UNITS OF D ND CHEWABLE C PLAQUENIL RITUXAN INFUSION ALSO CYMBALTA...

Posted by dlscottie

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1 Reply | ReplyReport This| Share this:HAVING MORE ENGERY WITH LUPUS I TAKE SUPER B- COMPLEX VITIAM D 50,000 UNITS OF D ND CHEWABLE C PLAQUENIL RITUXAN INFUSION ALSO CYMBALTA...

Stress

There is a big connection between stress and lupus. Although it doesn't actually cause...

Posted by R Swamy Venuturupalli, MD, FACR

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0 Replies | ReplyReport This| Share this:Stress There is a big connection between stress and lupus. Although it doesn't actually cause...

Nutrition, Omega-3 fatty acids and Gluten.

We keep putting stuff into our bodies that we shouldn't be and often we put too much....

Posted by R Swamy Venuturupalli, MD, FACR

We keep putting stuff into our bodies that we shouldn't be and often we put too much. Caloric restriction or fasting actually helped Lupus in rats but I wouldn't recommend it for everyone. Once in a while it may be helpful though. However, prednisone makes you hungry so trying to get on the lowest dose of Prednisone is what you should aim for.

There are good fats and bad fats. Bad fats are the saturated fats such as animal fats, butter, lard etc. Good fats are unsaturated fats of which there are 2 types: Monounsaturated and Polyunsaturated. Monounsaturated fats are not bad in small amounts. They come from foods such as olive oil, avocados, almonds, peanuts and walnuts. Polyunsaturated fat comes from foods such as fish, seeds, flax seeds, soybean, walnuts and leafy greens. Within the polyunsaturated fats, there are Omega-3 fatty acids which are anti-inflammatory fatty acids.

A study published in 2008 showed that in humans, there was a big difference between the placebo group and the omega-3 fish oil group. There was a clear improvement in SLAM and BILAG -- which indicate how active your lupus is. So this was the first good published study that shows that omega 3's can make a difference in lupus. Omega 3's are the only 'good' fat to absorb into the body, and fatty fish are good although a lot of fish these days are tainted with mercury. A guide to which fish are safe can be found at: http://www.nrdc.org/health/effects/mercury/guide.asp

A lot of fish is farmed and farm fish don't have as much omega 3's as wild fish. This may have something to do with the fact that wild fish are more active, while farm fish don't move around as much. Another consideration is that wild fish is more expensive.

There are some good fish oil supplements made from wild fish because they extract the mercury out of the fish oil, however you need a lot of it to make a difference. One fish meal is probably equivalent to 9 or 10 capsules of fish oil.

One must be careful because some people have shellfish allergies and lupus patients especially seem to have more allergies than non-lupus patients because their immune systems are very activated and it's the immune system that causes allergies.

You should have about 4 grams of omega 3 fatty acids and there is also a prescription strength omega 3 called Lovaza (it's 4 grams) which is approved for the treatment of high triglycerides and low HDL.

Other foods that are rich in omega 3's are green leafy vegetables, soy, tofu. Don't consume soy and tofu in excess because they have estrogens in them and in women, breast cancer is a potential issue even though there is no conclusive evidence, it is still theoretically a risk. We are still trying to figure out the correlation between estrogen and lupus, so soy and tofu are ok in small amounts.

Some eggs are enhanced with omega 3's and whilst there's a huge cholesterol scare with eggs, they're not that bad. There are some good qualities in eggs and they are a decent source of protein.

Avoiding gluten rich foods can be beneficial. Gluten is found in wheat, rye barley, and it seems everyone loves bread, croissants, pasta etc, however this may not be good for you because these are insoluble fibers and proteins. They are very hard to digest and therefore are taking away precious energy resources. Since your immune system is already overactive in lupus it's already using up much or your energy and if you add hard to digest foods to that equation -- foods which not only take away energy resources but also aren't good for you -- you will increase fatigue. This is why I strongly recommend avoiding gluten rich foods.View Thread

Posted by R Swamy Venuturupalli, MD, FACR

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0 Replies | ReplyReport This| Share this:Nutrition, Omega-3 fatty acids and Gluten. We keep putting stuff into our bodies that we shouldn't be and often we put too much....

Exercise

One of the most important strategies in managing Lupus is exercise. Leading a sedentary...

Posted by R Swamy Venuturupalli, MD, FACR

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0 Replies | ReplyReport This| Share this:Exercise One of the most important strategies in managing Lupus is exercise. Leading a sedentary...

Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome

All Lupus patients are at risk to get antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. There are few...

Posted by R Swamy Venuturupalli, MD, FACR

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3 Replies | ReplyReport This| Share this:Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome All Lupus patients are at risk to get antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. There are few...

Is it possible to get off steroids?

Steroids are produced in the adrenal gland and you need some amount of steroid hormone...

Posted by R Swamy Venuturupalli, MD, FACR

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0 Replies | ReplyReport This| Share this:Is it possible to get off steroids? Steroids are produced in the adrenal gland and you need some amount of steroid hormone...

Is Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) safe for Lupu...

Yes, HRT is safe since they're not high doses of hormones. There was a clinical trial...

Posted by R Swamy Venuturupalli, MD, FACR

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0 Replies | ReplyReport This| Share this:Is Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) safe for Lupus patients? Yes, HRT is safe since they're not high doses of hormones. There was a clinical trial...

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a big player in Lupus. Across the country there is a prevalence of vitamin...

Posted by R Swamy Venuturupalli, MD, FACR

Vitamin D is a big player in Lupus. Across the country there is a prevalence of vitamin D deficiency of more than 50%. It seems that every autoimmune disease seems to have low vitamin D levels, especially in Lupus patients. The higher your vitamin D, the less inflammation and activation of the immune system. Vitamin D levels should be over 30, which is the normal level. Vitamin D is made in the skin and sun is very important in activating it, however we're very fearful of skin cancers in society and we avoid the sun like the plague which is why we may be beginning to notice an epidemic of vitamin D deficiency. Most dermatologists believe that 15 minutes of sun exposure 3 to 4 times a week is adequate for getting your vitamin D stores up without necessarily causing skin cancer, however these are soft recommendations. If you have a family history of skin cancers or melanomas you have to be careful of the sun. In these cases vitamin D supplementation is widely available in pill form. It doesn't interfere with other medicines because it's a naturally found substance within the body, so if there is any question about sun exposure, you should just take a supplement. Another consideration is that people with dark-colored skin do not absorb vitamin D as much. It is manufactured in the skin and absorbed in the gut where it goes through chemical reactions. Vitamin D1 gets converted to D2 when you get 2 hydroxyl groups. When you get 3 hydroxyl groups it becomes vitamin D3 which is the active version of it. So vitamin D3 is ready to use in oral form. We also know that vitamin D is good for the bones because it helps with calcium metabolism.

There is the possibility of vitamin D toxicity from taking it in excess, so you have to be careful. Levels over 90 can be associated with a toxicity syndrome, leading to symptoms such as headaches and cramping. Since you absorb most of your calcium from your gut and if you are absorbing too much there's some question as to whether they are associated with kidney stones and other issues.

In general it's best to keep your vitamin D levels between 30 and 50.View Thread

Posted by R Swamy Venuturupalli, MD, FACR

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2 Replies | ReplyReport This| Share this:Vitamin D Vitamin D is a big player in Lupus. Across the country there is a prevalence of vitamin...

Methotrexate Side Effects

I found this tip in the community discussions, and it has been most helpful for me. I was having severe...

Posted by MaryConcordNC

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0 Replies | ReplyReport This| Share this:Methotrexate Side Effects I found this tip in the community discussions, and it has been most helpful for me. I was having severe...

Nose sores

I have been using aloe vera gel from a capsul for my nose sores. Makes them feel better.

Posted by An_248196

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Lupus-itchy skin-pls help

I have been diagnosed with skin lupus and I have very bad itchiness all over. Like under the skin itch with...

Posted by Tgirl6868

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1 Reply | ReplyReport This| Share this:Lupus-itchy skin-pls help I have been diagnosed with skin lupus and I have very bad itchiness all over. Like under the skin itch with...

back and neck tension helper

We have a car polisher, from local auto parts store, my hubby uses it on my back and shoulders it is orbital...

Posted by Kathi758

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0 Replies | ReplyReport This| Share this:back and neck tension helper We have a car polisher, from local auto parts store, my hubby uses it on my back and shoulders it is orbital...

Videos about my lupus story if you want to share.....

I made some movies on youtube about lupus symptoms and about my lupus if anyone wants to see them. ...

Posted by jujubeee714

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0 Replies | ReplyReport This| Share this:Videos about my lupus story if you want to share... :) I made some movies on youtube about lupus symptoms and about my lupus if anyone wants to see them. ...

MUSIC VIDEOS ABOUT MADE ABOUT LUPUS

11 criteria to dx lupus: http://youtu.be/iNiXZFmHx-g Lupus pals video: http://youtu.be/nuQW8zMkKN4 ...

Posted by jujubeee714

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0 Replies | ReplyReport This| Share this:MUSIC VIDEOS ABOUT MADE ABOUT LUPUS 11 criteria to dx lupus: http://youtu.be/iNiXZFmHx-g Lupus pals video: http://youtu.be/nuQW8zMkKN4 ...

VIDEO about LUPUS by someone with lupus about the ...

Hi, I have lupus too and met so many great people with lupus I just had to make this video and hopefully...

Posted by jujubeee714

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2 Replies | ReplyReport This| Share this:VIDEO about LUPUS by someone with lupus about the lupus community Hi, I have lupus too and met so many great people with lupus I just had to make this video and hopefully...

Fertility and Lupus

Fertility is usually normal in Lupus patients, however, several circumstances may...

Posted by R Swamy Venuturupalli, MD, FACR

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Neck and Back Tension

In my experience, most people who have desk jobs carry significant amounts of tension...

Posted by R Swamy Venuturupalli, MD, FACR

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2 Replies | ReplyReport This| Share this:Neck and Back Tension In my experience, most people who have desk jobs carry significant amounts of tension...

Considerations for lupus patients who are planning...

Surgery can be a daunting process and patients with lupus need to be aware of special...

Posted by R Swamy Venuturupalli, MD, FACR

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4 Replies | ReplyReport This| Share this:Considerations for lupus patients who are planning to undergo surgery Surgery can be a daunting process and patients with lupus need to be aware of special...

What to do about a "dry mouth"

Dry mouth is a common symptom that afflicts numerous older adults. Additionally,...

Posted by R Swamy Venuturupalli, MD, FACR

Dry mouth is a common symptom that afflicts numerous older adults. Additionally, patients with connective tissue diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis often suffer from severe dryness of the eyes and mouth. Sjogren's syndrome is the prototypical autoimmune disorder that is associated with severe dryness of the eyes and the mouth. Primary Sjogren's syndrome is a progressive systemic autoimmune disease in which there is early and gradually worsening of salivary and lacrimal (tear producing) glandular function. This condition afflicts women more than men in a ratio of approximately 8:1, and it seems to affect women in the perimenopausal age group.
Saliva is produced by the salivary glands. It is an important digestive fluid that initiates digestion of food even before food reaches the stomach. The major salivary glands are the parotid glands and the submandibular glands. However, numerous additional salivary glands are present in the tongue and the soft tissues of the oral cavities. When saliva production is decreased, it leads to several uncomfortable symptoms including, thickened saliva, bad breath, cavities and oral infections, as well as poor digestion due to the absence of adequate saliva.
When someone experiences symptoms of dry mouth, the first step is to investigate and establish the cause for the dry mouth. The most common cause of dry mouth are medications such as antidepressants, antihistamines, anti-seizure medications are associated with dryness of the mouth. Exposure to radiation therapy for head and neck cancer treatment, diabetes, HIV or hepatitis C infection are all associated with dryness of the mouth. Autoimmune diseases such as Sjogren's syndrome, lupus, scleroderma and rheumatoid arthritis are also associated with significant dryness of the mouth.
Usually a dry mouth doesn't result in oral pain. Usually, when there is pain associated with a dry mouth, thrush or candidiasis need to be ruled out. This is a fungal infection by the organism called candida albicans (the same fungus that causes diaper rash). Risk factors for the development of a painful mouth include antibiotic treatment of treatment with glucocorticoids. Treatment of oral candidiasis usually requires prolonged treatment with oral anti-fungal medications.
A related but distinct condition is "burning mouth" syndrome. The causes for this condition include nutritional deficiencies such as B-complex vitamins, diabetes, hormonal changes seen with menopause, some medications, though usually it is difficult to find an exact cause and it is attributed to a localized nerve damage (neuropathy).
I recommend the following measures for management of dry mouth:
1. 1. Identify offending medications and try to change them. In general, more medication = more chance of dry mouth.
2. 2. Drink plenty of water throughout the day and keep water at the bedside at nighttime.
3. 3. Suck on sugar free gum or hard candy- the sucking motion stimulates saliva
4. 4. A drop of lemon juice just prior to a meal on the tongue can stimulate saliva flow.
5. 5. Avoid mouth rinses that contain peroxide or alcohol as these can cause worsening of symptoms
6. 6. Avoid foods that are salty and dry and use foods that are moist, soft and not very hot.
7. 7. Avoid alcohol, sugary beverages and acidic beverages.
8. 8. It is extremely important to prevent tooth decay. This requires compulsive attention to oral hygiene including brushing after every meal, flossing every night, using toothpaste with fluoride and visiting your dentist every 6 months.
9. 9. Use a humidifier at night to improve humidity at home.
10. Use omega-3 supplements to decrease inflammation that may be associated with autoimmune diseases.View Thread

Posted by R Swamy Venuturupalli, MD, FACR

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Help Our Community

Welcome to the WebMD Lupus Community! Please don't respond to this discussion. Instead, please...

Posted by Elizabeth_WebMD_Staff

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1 Reply | ReplyReport This| Share this:Help Our Community Welcome to the WebMD Lupus Community! Please don't respond to this discussion. Instead, please...

Tip for helping with sores in your nose.

I get open sores in my nose sometimes like I do in my mouth. The problem is that there isn't a...

Posted by Lupussufferersince15

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9 Replies | ReplyReport This| Share this:Tip for helping with sores in your nose. I get open sores in my nose sometimes like I do in my mouth. The problem is that there isn't a...

Gluten Intolerance is 5 times more common than cel...

Although until very recently, it was thought that gluten-intolerance without a positive test for celiac...

Posted by kitINstLOUIS

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1 Reply | ReplyReport This| Share this:Gluten Intolerance is 5 times more common than celiac disease. Although until very recently, it was thought that gluten-intolerance without a positive test for celiac...

I am a man with Lupus of the skin and body. Heres ...

I had chronic hives caused by lupus for 8 months. The sun and anything making contact with my skin that day...

Posted by An_206317

I had chronic hives caused by lupus for 8 months. The sun and anything making contact with my skin that day would cause me to flare up. Hives all over my body, swollen feet, hands and throat. I felt suicidal during this time but i love life too much plus thats only for the weak definitely not my character.I went to many doctors before i was diagnosis to help me find out what was wrong. They all told me i had chronic hives but they couldn't figure out the cause. They gave me prednisone and other types of medications that helped a little but i couldn't live on this medication well i refused too. The last doctor gave me stress medication it didn't nothing but gave me pain. The funny thing was he diagnose me without test. I started thinking of how stress i really was i wasn't financially stress i was doing okay. Then i started thinking could it be my relationship her expectations of marriage and our life together driving me to be emotionally stress maybe.
Then i started thinking i am not fat but i am gaining a little weight in the core area of my body. I started remembering when i use to train in the boxing gym the release of endorphins would make me feel so relaxed.So i started walking on the tread mill for 40 minutes at 3.0-4.5 speed to get my heart and stamina up. Then i started running for 20 minutes 5.0-5.5 =speed. Then i started hitting the weights and a training routine that kept me fit . Oh don't think that this was easy i had flare ups during my work out my throat was swollen feet and hands swollen hives all over my body and face but i wanted to beat this thing. Sometimes with tears in my eyes i am working out thinking what i did wrong in life to deserve such pain. My relationship ended i was in better shape and the hives slowly went away maybe 6-8 weeks after my work out and relationship ended .
I am no expert but i think the emotional stress and your physical condition could play a big part in controlling your lupus flare ups.
I 9yrs later still get some joint pain swollen feet and hands but its temporary couple hours and its gone.
I took that medication hydroxychloroquine i had a flare the second week when my 2 and 5 yr old came home sick with coxsackie virus the medication surpressed your immune system allowing me to get effected with blisters on my face couldn't walk feet were like balloons, could leave my bed first day hands swollen. All lasted for 5 days leaving me with facial scars. I stop taking it havent had a episode like that since. But thats me everyone is different!
Hope this is Helpful.View Thread

Posted byAn_206317

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2 Replies | ReplyReport This| Share this:I am a man with Lupus of the skin and body. Heres how i help beat my chronic hives! I had chronic hives caused by lupus for 8 months. The sun and anything making contact with my skin that day...

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