Lupus

For this unit of this course was called body my class and I were assigned to choose a disease that someone has or know that you can interview. I chose to interview my sister because she was recently diagnosed with Lupus. As I did some research I kind of figured what were some symptoms and affects to this disease so it made it more easier for me to introduce this disease. What I learned from this Action Project was that it's actually not a great feeling to go through any disease. Which I knew, but,  this interview made me really realize how much change a disease can do to a persons life. A disease that will never go away, if it doesn't have a cure. It's just hard to think about, hard to think about the struggles in your life, hard to know that your not going to be able to do things like before. What I am really proud of is doing the interview with the right person which was my sister that I love dearly. I learn so much more and now I understand so much more than just what is pain. I wish I could walk in her shoes to feel what she feels when she is in pain.

Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease that happens when your body immune system attacks your own tissue and organs. The inflammation that occurs in the body can affect lots of the body's organs and systems like the kidneys, brain, lungs, brain vessels, blood cells, joints and heart. These organs and systems play a big part of Lupus that increase the risk of getting cancer. Lupus is really hard to diagnose, but some signs of Lupus are fevers, butterfly facial rash, chest pain, shorten of breath, dry eyes, joint pain stiffness and swelling, headaches, confusion and memory loss. Lupus is not contagious, some people are just born with the tendency of developing Lupus. It can be triggered by certain drugs, infections and sunlight. When my sister was diagnosed with Lupus, my family and I were confused because no one had Lupus in the family. We didn't even know what was Lupus, until we were present on days that lupus activated in my sister's daily life. Her body over night will swell up making her unable to get up from bed because of the swelling and pain on her joints all over her body. She, sometimes had to stay still to breath, because she was short of breath all the time. My sister's fingers, were always a problem because in different occasions her fingers won't go up or down because of the stiffness on her fingers. While sleeping during the day or at night, she will get chest pain that would tighten up her chest that would make her out of breath also. When the family will go out to the beach sunlight was also a problem for her because she had to shower herself in sun block before going all the time. From night to day her parts of her face will get very red and slightly itchy. Her feet will swell really bad too, like if she was pregnant. This disease really changed my sisters lifestyle and the family because now we have to be precocious of everything and always be with her on her bad times. Some treatments that she is taking are insulin and pills for her diabetes and more pills that control the high blood pressure. She has taken chemotherapy only once for the first time in her life. During chemo it effected her eye, which busted one of her eye vain which was very painful.

Key Vocabulary

Kidneys: Lupus can cause serious kidney damage, having kidney failure is one of the leading causes of death, people with lupus. Having kidney failure, they’re also symptoms.

Lungs: Lupus can affect the lungs which will result as, chest pain and shorten of breath but very painful. Having Lupus can also increase chances of inflammation in the lungs

Heart: Lupus can also increase the chances of inflammation in your heart muscles, heart membrane and arteries. Also, you can increase serious heart attacks as well. Sharp chest pain which slows down your heart beats and blood

Interview Questions & Response


Q1: How has this disease changed your life?

R: Lupus has changed my life drastically, emotionally and physically.


Q2: Have you had any follow up disease, after being diagnosed? If yes, which ones?

R: Yes, high blood pressure and diabetes because lupus effects the internal organs little by little.


Q3: What went through your mind when being told you were diagnosed with the disease?

R: The first thing in mind was that I was going to die, I thought that there was not going to be a cure for it and that it was going to consume me very slowly.


Q4: What were your first symptoms that made you get immediate help?

R: I noticed that my finger tip were getting swollen, warm and painful.


Q5: What treatments or medication have you taken?

R: I have taken 1 dose of Chemotherapy. The medication that I am taking now are Prenazone, Vitamin c & d, Plaquenil, and Micro Phenolate.

JR.  Human Body Of  Lupus. Photography. 2014