have you ever been isolated because of your medical problems, or something else, just talk to me i will help you just email me anytime.

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what can happen in december nothing much besides presents, family, friends, christmas, and new year. it is the same with me but with less presents and more family fighting. This has been a brand new year for me. this is my second year of high school, people are actually talking to me, I am the recipient for wish week where they raise money for somone who needs it for the make a wish foundation.I met some people who have some of the same syptoms as me.I am doing a full day of school this year which is a big thing for me since last year i did only half and before i did homeschool.

when i was ten i was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosis (sle) which basicly means your body attacks itself at the joints and organs. here is a description on what it is

Overview

Systemic lupus erythematosus, abbreviated as SLE, is an autoimmune disorder that affects many parts of the body. An autoimmune disorder is a condition in which the body, for reasons that medical science usually does not understand, creates antibodies against its own tissues.

What is going on in the body?

A person with SLE produces antibodies against many of his or her own tissues. This autoimmune reaction can damage many parts of the body. These include:

• brain and nervous system

• digestive system

• eyes

• heart

• joints and muscles

• kidney

• lung

• skin

What are the signs and symptoms of the disease?

Because SLE affects so many different parts of the body, the disease has many signs and symptoms. These are best listed by organ system. It should be emphasized that an individual patients with SLE will exhibit some combination, not all, of these symptoms, and some have involvement of only one organ system. The symptoms come and go in an irregular time pattern. Some persons with lupus can identify “triggers” that usually bring on the symptoms. Signs and symptoms that affect the whole body:

• fatigue

• fever

• loss of appetite

• nausea

• weight loss

Signs and symptoms that affect the skin:

• hives

• loss of scalp hair

• red “butterfly rash” on the face, which extends over the cheeks and bridge of the nose in the shape of a butterfly

• red, raised rashes in areas exposed to the sun

• sensitivity to the sun

• ulcers of the mouth, nose, or vagina

Symptoms and signs that affect the muscles, bones, and joints:

• arthritis

• hand deformities

• joint pain, especially in the hands, wrists, and knees

• loss of the blood supply to bone, especially hips and shoulders

• muscle pains and weakness

• serious infection within a joint

Signs and symptoms of kidney involvement:

• blood in the urine

• decrease in kidney function or kidney failure

• protein in the urine

• white blood cells in the urine

Signs and symptoms affecting the nervous system:

• bleeding in the brain, known as intracerebral hemorrhage

• headaches, including migraines

• loss of coordination

• memory loss, problems with concentration

• numbness, pain, or a feeling of “pins and needles” in the hands and feet

• problems with the major nerves in the head and face

• seizures

• strokes

Signs and symptoms involving the blood:

• anemia, which is a low red blood cell count

• low blood platelet count

• low white blood cell count

• problems with both blood clotting and bleeding

Signs and symptoms involving the heart:

• fluid collection in the sac around the heart, known as pericardial effusion

• heart attack

• heart valve problems

• inflammation and infection in the heart

• inflammation of the lining of the heart

Signs and symptoms involving the lungs:

• cough, including coughing up blood

• fluid in the lung

• inflammation in the lung

• inflammation of the lining of the lungs

• shortness of breath

Signs and symptoms affecting the digestive system:

• abdominal distress

• diarrhea

• enlargement of the liver

• intestinal perforation due to inflammation of blood vessels

• loss of appetite

• nausea and vomiting

• rectal bleeding caused by ulcerations

Symptoms and signs affecting the eye:

• blindness

• conjunctivitis, which is inflammation of the outer lining of the eye

• damage to the retina, which may cause visual impairments

What are the causes and risks of the disease?

The exact cause of systemic lupus erythematosus is unknown. It is believed to be an autoimmune disorder. SLE tends to run in families. Certain medications have been known to cause systemic lupus erythematosus. These include procainamide, hydralazine, isoniazid, and chlorpromazine. Events that may trigger the disease include infection, stress, exposure to toxins, and sunlight. Women account for 80% to 90% of cases of SLE. It is more common in black women than in white women. SLE is also more common in Asian, Hispanic, and Native American women.

What can be done to prevent the disease?

Most cases of systemic lupus erythematosus cannot be prevented. It may be helpful to avoid medications that cause SLE, but not everyone who takes these medications will develop the disease.

How is the disease diagnosed?

A complete medical history and physical examination are important tools for diagnosing SLE. Blood tests also play an important role. A blood test called an ANA looks for antibodies that the person has produced against his or her own tissues. Other tests used to diagnose SLE include the following:

• CT scan

• chest X-ray

•  electrocardiogram

• kidney biopsy

• MRI scan

• spinal tap