Lupus represents a real menace for the life of the affected persons. It has chronic and autoimmune character. The body's healthy cells and the very genetic material are under attack because of the malfunction of the immune system. The consequences are severe and so are the damages produced on the internal organs. Systemic lupus erythematosus is only one disease from the large variety produced by this organic chaos. This type of lupus is very frequent and it affects 2 millions Americans; most of them are dealing with serious forms.
Despite the remarkable progress registered in modern medicine, a treatment to cure lupus completely was not found. But there are medicines able to prevent the evolution of the disorder and to keep symptoms controlled. SLE is a very unpredictable disease with multiple remissions and relapses. Even if there are times in which the symptoms back off, these are usually followed by violent and varied return of the symptoms. These fluctuations are determined by the chronic character of the disease. The alternations of remission and recurrences require permanent treatment and modifications of the doses.
This disease has a different, almost individual character for every case. Both the symptoms and the degree of severity vary widely from one patient to another. In the early phase, lupus presents flu - like symptoms: weakness of the body, muscular and articular pain, loss of appetite, low fever, fatigue or headache. These symptoms, that do not particularly belong to lupus evolve after a few months into oral and nasal lesions, sunlight - amplified skin rashes, inflammation of the articulations, permanent muscular pain, significant weight fluctuation, painful breathing and loss of hair. Additional symptoms are detected by analysis performed in laboratory: the presence of malign anti - DNA antibodies, antinuclear antibodies inside the blood and abnormalities in the number of the blood cells.
In case the nervous system is affected, the following symptoms appear: incapacity to focus, faints, mental confusion, seizures and possible development of mania, paranoia or depression.
In case the cardiovascular system is affected new symptoms indicating lupus show up: high pulse rate, hypertension, hyperactivity of the heart. This can lead to severe heart problems.
Due to the large variety of symptoms and to their unpredictable intensity, which gives the disease an individual character, individualized treatment has also been developed. Each person with lupus receives the medications that suite his/her case's symptoms. A great influence on the treatment is that of the stage in which it was discovered; the best treatment results are obtained in the cases that are identified in early stages. Untreated and uncontrolled lupus has extremely damaging effects on the patient's health.
Tags: lupus, lupus erythematosus symptoms, lupus erythematosus symptoms in children
Michigan Automated Prescription Program?
I recently lost my youngest child (daughter) through suicide. She was just a beautiful, kind-heartted but depressed young lady. She not only left her family but she also left 3 young children ages 9, 10 & 11.
Approximately 1-month ago, she received a Physician termination letter from her primary (who is a Certified Nurse Practitioner) stating that she was being released (in 30-days). It also stated that she would continue to be treated for things that were deemed only “medically necessary”. Once I received the call (from her) in Texas, I immediately came to Michigan because she was so distraught. She began thinking that she was about to be arrested and go off to prison. My husband and I just could not calm her down. At any rate, after taking the letter to several of my physician and pharmacist friends here in the Michigan area, we were told that basically she could in fact go to another doctor and still obtain her prescriptions. We were also told that this system is not a mandate and everyone doesn’t use it. They also informed us that for the physicians, pharmacists and other health professionals that use it, because of HIPPA Laws not just anyone can go in and look up a patients information.
At any rate, my daughter had Lupus Erythematosus, Fibromyalgia and had more recently been treated for a Cancerous Tumor in her lower Intestines. She way on a myriad of medications including the narcotic Tylenol #4. Because she was so depressed, a lot of the medications she would not take because she didn’t like feeling “loopy or down”. She had a Rheumatologist and most recently had been trying out a new physician because she was going to leave the Certified Nurse Practitioner and transfer over to the new physician. Now, to sum it all up, I know that physicians have a right to dismiss patients because of whatever suspicions and/or reasons. I am just so furious because my daughter had been telling her primary that her pain was so severe and it was just not word of mouth. Her blood pressure was always high, swelling all over her body, hand and feet disfiguration, severe, severe depression and other medical symptoms. She had also been given something called Neurontin to which I am told is a muscle relaxer. I cannot tell you how many trips we have made to the Michigan area to assist my daughter in her time of need. Additionally, she was not the type of person who felt-sorry for herself. She had been working her entire life and was 6 classes from obtaining her Masters Degree. She was also raising her children on her own (widowed) and had only began not working in 2004 and thats only because she had become so ill that her dad and I encouraged her to apply for the Michigan State Disability Program.
I know that any answers I receive will not bring my child back, but I also have a right to my opinions and one of them is that I think that this MAPS Sytem is flawed. Does the patient not have a right to explain their side of the story, whatever it is, addiction or otherwise? If there is a suspected problem what responsibility does the Health Practitioner have moral or otherwise? Do you just turn the person in to the Gestapo (not trying to offend anyone-please forgive if I did) (MAPS System)? If a patient is turned in then what, what happens after that, what is the patients rights?
Obviously, my daughter had began obtaining too many (narcotic) prescriptions in a month and I do agree that it was too many. But, how many narcotics is one allowed in a month? In Texas, my neighbor receives 120 Vicodin from one physician and 90 Tylenol #3 from another. I realize that this is not Texas but, I am just saying. Furthermore, since all pharmacy computers are not linked and because she did received them, I am pretty sure if was very easy for her to do so if it had not been for this MAPS System. Yahoo Memebers, please note that I am not condoning the act or otherwise. I have been blessed to live my 61 years in a fairly healthy state. I have not had to walk in her shoes. One thing I do know for sure is that, she was not a drug abuser, drug addict or drug seller. And yes, maybe I am being a little defensive, but I have lost my child, FOREVER!
The MAPS System as we were told, is only for the use of health care providers. A “patient” is not allowed to receive or request their own information from this system. I would like to know once your name comes up in this system, is the patient red or blacked-flagged of sorts? Michigan, like a lot of states has problems with drug abuse, drug addicts, dope dealers, etc. You will always have someone who abuses and finds a way around the system. In my opinion, the system is a double edged sword. Good for seeking out drug abusers and flawed because it will turn in everyone who may or may not be an abuser. The physicians are somewhat turning into police. Are their Michigan Laws against “Doctor-Shopping”?.
I would like to thank anyone who can assist me
ADDITIONAL DETAILS:
If I didn’t state, I