running for life & lupus

In a fitting way to end Lupus Awareness month, I woke up bright and early yesterday to run in the Lupus Foundation of Northern California's Annual Run and Walk for Lupus. The weather was gorgeous with clear blue skies and sunshine, though it was a little on the hot side for nine o'clock in the morning. I'm not a fast runner by any means, but I think I did quite decently for myself, finishing in 37 minutes and 32 seconds (still far better than my time last year).

Every year it overwhelmes me to see how many people support LFNC and their mission. I benefited from the services of LFNC (then known as the Bay Area Lupus Foundation) when I was first diagnosed with lupus in the form of books and information. At the time, I could not easily find current information on lupus. That book (which I still have) changed my outlook on the rest of my life. I thought that lupus was a death sentence and the book showed me that it absolutely was not.

I've been living with lupus for 15 years and I'm a prime example that a diagnosis is not the end of the world. I count my blessings everyday that my lupus is, for the most part, under control and that I can live a semi-normal life. I do have days when I am fatigued or my joints are swollen, but they are few and far between. And over the years I have learned what works and what doesn't work for me. I wish everyday that I didn't have to live with lupus, that I didn't have this extra challenge. But I am grateful for everyday that I have.

get in the loop

May is lupus awareness month. Educate yourself. Some you know has lupus.

randomness

1. I am re-organizing my scraproom and closet. . .again! It drives Jay nutty when I get in this mode, but it needs to be done. Most of my supplies are in the closet and I tend forget what I have so don't use it. One day I'll get it just right!

2. Loving the running and weights workouts. Almost five months and counting. My runs finally feels somewhat enjoyable. I am slowly working my way up to 10k mileage, then hopefully 10 miles. Jay hopes to run the Army 10-mile Run next fall in Washington, D.C., perhaps I will join him too!

3. Getting ready for another try at IVF though from a different angle. And we're starting to research adoption. If you can spare a prayer for us I would appreciate it.

4. I haven't scrapped in months and terribly miss the creative process however slow mine is. I have moments when an idea comes to me, but no time create or no pictures.

5. Not looking forward to cleaning our rental condo. I am hoping that because our tenant was a family with a toddler that they kept the condo exceptionally clean.

6. Excited about the Fall TV season which starts in earnest this week. As you already know I'm lovin' Glee, but there are several new shows premiering that I'm looking forward to: NCIS: Los Angeles; Flashforward, and The Good Wife. And of course there are the returning shows: Heroes, Smallville, Supernatural and Criminal Minds. Need to watch all my Drop Dead Diva episodes soon to make space on the DVR because I can't possibly watch all of these shows during the week!

7. Happy that today is the first day of Fall. Just wish the weather actually reflected it.

8. Still wanting, needing to re-connect with my faith. Felt such a deep connection when I was leading a student choir in college (so long ago). Have not felt that same connectedness since.

9. I've been on a reading tear since coming home from vacation the last week of August. Finished Belong to Me, The Time Traveler's Wife, and Twilight of a Dark Queen. Right now I'm set to read Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri. I need some fiction suggestions since my book basket currently only contains non-fiction which I'm not up to reading right now.

10. And lastly, grateful that my lupus is relatively in check, no aches or pains out of the ordinary.

Please join me in wearing an LFA purple wristband until there is an FDA-approved medication specifically for lupus. It's been 50 years since the FDA approved a medication to treat lupus -- when Dwight D. Eisenhower was President!

Back to Basics

After writing then reading my last entry I realized that I haven't been taking care of myself as I should. When I was first diagnosed with lupus fourteen years ago I started working out to stay healthy. All that changed after I moved back to California. I started experiencing joint swelling and pain that lasted for almost three years. Thankfully, today I now only occassionally have joint swelling and pain, but not to the same extent. While I've tried over the years to get back into a routine I haven't quite managed to do so. Until now.

I've decided to go "back to basics". I am making a conscious effect to take better care of my self. I've started working out again which is nothing short of miraculous and I've been doing it now for three weeks!

Someone You Know May Have Lupus

Most Americans are aware of the signs and health risks of breast cancer or heart disease, but few are aware of another significant health problem that disproportionately affects young women between the ages of 15 and 45. The disease is lupus. Lupus is caused by an unbalanced immune system that can be destructive to any major organ or tissue in the body. Lupus can be very unpredictable and is potentially fatal.

An estimated 1.5 million Americans have lupus, but many people are unaware of the potentially disabling and life-threatening health effects of lupus. The disease is two to three times more common among African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Asians, and Native Americans than among Caucasians – but no one is safe from lupus.

Lupus is more than joint pain, fatigue, fevers, and skin rashes – common symptoms of the disease. Inflammation caused by lupus can damage the heart, lungs, kidneys, and brain, resulting in significant disability or death. Women with lupus have a five- to ten-fold increased risk of coronary heart disease. Approximately 40 percent of people with lupus will develop nephritis, or kidney disease. People with lupus are at high risk for blood clots, stroke, and seizures. Without intervention and treatment, the outlook for people with lupus can be poor.

Early recognition, diagnosis and proper medical care of lupus often can prevent or reduce serious health complications, such as heart disease, strokes, seizures, and kidney failure.

May is National Lupus Awareness Month in order to disseminate medically sound information about lupus, increase public understanding of the physical, emotional, and economic impact of the disease, and provide support, services, and hope to all people affected by lupus.

Lupus is difficult to detect and diagnose because many initial symptoms of the disease often are dismissed as nothing serious. It is not uncommon for people with lupus to suffer several years before doctors can make an accurate diagnosis. On average, people with lupus experience symptoms for four or more years and visit three or more doctors before they are able to obtain a correct diagnosis. Currently, there is no single laboratory test that can determine whether a person has lupus. Diagnosis is usually made by a careful review of a person's entire medical history, coupled with an analysis of the results obtained from routine laboratory tests and some specialized tests related to immune status.

For more information go to http://www.lupus.org.