Her titles held were numerous — business woman, wife, mother, sister and friend but Deirdre Bain never thought she’d add lupus patient to the long list of titles that defined her. the 47-year-old mother of four remembers how the chronic autoimmune disease just snuck up on her like an unwanted visitor who kept trying to get her attention but she kept ignoring it until she had no choice.

Bain was diagnosed with the disease in May 2010, but it had been more than a year earlier when her symptoms presented themselves. She noticed her face swelling and rashes on her ankles. She went to a dermatologist seeking relief, but the rashes kept returning. Eventually by September, the rashes that were purplish in color had started to pop out on her face as well. and the joint pains compounded the problem. She attributed it all to aging.

“I never thought my problem was anything too serious. I was convinced that something was irritating my skin so I thought maybe it was my little house dog so we put it in the garage but the rashes still came. Then I thought it could be my detergent and we changed from using powder to liquid and I would rinse the clothes twice as an added measure. But I still broke out and the rashes got progressively worse.”

Bain realized something was increasingly wrong when her symptoms upon returning would be worse. Her rashes had gone from purplish to being dark patches on the tips of her ears, on her arms and upper back.

It only occurred to Bain that something may be medically wrong with her when a sibling who had been diagnosed with lupus 11 years prior questioned her strange appearance.

Lupus occurs as a result of white blood cells attacking important organs and cells in the body due to not being able to differentiate between healthy and harmful cells. She was diagnosed as photosensitive which means she has to avoid being outdoors between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun’s rays are at their strongest. She has had to curtail attending her children’s sporting activities.

Upon hearing her diagnosis, Bain’s first thought was that her life was over. She was nervous, afraid, depressed and worried. She felt she had been given a death sentence. the fact that she could get a second opinion she said helped her cope. After doing a battery of tests she was officially diagnosed with lupus.

Since her diagnosis and prescribed medical treatment Bain’s skin eruptions are more controlled and her internal organ inflammations are also being managed. She said her joint pain is minimized, she no longer has shortness of breath and now knows the importance of putting herself first.

Because of her experience with lupus, Bain said one of the biggest lessons she’s learnt is that it is sometimes important as a person to care about yourself more than other things or people.

“I love my family dearly. I have done all I can to put them first and ensure they do well, but it’s doing that and not making time for myself and my health that could’ve cost me my life. I remember before I forced myself to see a doctor I didn’t want to leave them for a moment. But I saw that I had to do it and had I not done so I don’t know what would have happened. I may not have been there for them at all. My health may have deteriorated or worse. so I learnt that I need to put myself on the front burner sometimes. Your health is a gift to you and yours. you are no good to them unhealthy or gone. so you have to take care of yourself. That is what I learnt the hard way.”

She now is on top of her health and ensuring that she is there for her children for years to come.

Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s white blood cells cannot differentiate between healthy and foreign cells and as a result attacks important cells within the body. the most affected parts of the body include the brain, kidneys, joints and skin. But the most defining mark in lupus is usually the butterfly rash that spreads across the patient’s nose.

The illness occurs more commonly in females than in males with a ratio of 11 females to one male, according to Dr. Patrick Whitfield who works out of the Oxford Medical Center. He said the disease affects women in their childbearing years normally in their 20s and 30s. In the United States, statistics show 52 cases per 100,000 are diagnosed with lupus. With this in mind the physician says if the Bahamian population follows a similar trend it is likely that with a population of about 400,000 that over 200 people are diagnosed with the illness.

Like many chronic diseases, lupus sometimes takes a while to be recognized and properly treated according to Dr. Whitfield. He said this is because the symptoms can be mistaken for other illnesses and as a result sometimes people underestimate their problem. He said the constitutional symptoms of lupus include fatigue, fever, joint pain, weight changes, muscular and skeletal pain (joints of the hands, wrists), skin changes, photo sensitivity and hair loss.

“Even though you may have these symptoms, they may very well not be lupus, which is why to be sure you have to get a doctor’s diagnosis,”?he said.

Dr. Whitfield said that although Lupus can seem depressing and is very painful, the mortality rate for this disease is relatively low. there is an 80 percent chance that patients will make it to at least 15 years after diagnosis. also with regular care and treatment, mortality is also greatly reduced. however, there is a 50 percent chance that people with lupus will suffer from kidney disease, which is difficult and if it leads to kidney failure it can decrease their life expectancy. He also said that reports show that about a third of all lupus patients in the U.S. died below the age of 45, but even so chances were still good for people with the disease to live a relatively normal life if they are on the right medication and are vigilant about their health.

If lupus is left unmanaged people run the risk of developing symptoms that affect the kidneys and lead to failure with each new relapse, said the medical practitioner. Neuro-psychiatric features like seizures, psychosis with hallucination, delirium and meningitis can also occur. Sometimes antibodies can attack the spine so patients can develop a weakness in their lower body making it difficult to walk. Strokes can also happen as well as a cognitive disorder similar to Alzheimer’s. Untreated patients or those who are lax in their follow-ups, even with a relapse can eventually get lung and heart diseases like pleurisy or pericarditis respectively which are illnesses where the linings of the organs are inflamed.

Dr. Whitfield said early treatment can decrease the damage that the disease can cause and allow a person diagnosed with lupus to live a normal life. He said it’s a disease that should be taken seriously.

Due to her own life changing experience, Bain has founded a non-profit lupus group called “Lupus ME? Bahamas”. She said the goal is to bring awareness to the public about lupus. the group is not a support group as much as it is about informing the public about the illness and raising funds to help lupus patients said Bain.

Lupus ME? Bahamas (which is not affiliated with Lupus Bahamas 242) will stage a walk-a-thon on Saturday, May 26 starting at 6 a.m. from Grace and Peace Wesleyan Church in Winton themed “Walk the Loop” to encourage lupus patients, supporters and exercise enthusiasts to come out and have a good time while learning about this autoimmune disease.

“My goal is to get people to be proactive about this thing,” said Bain. “I wasn’t aggressive in finding out about this illness when I was diagnosed and this can be a big deal for others whose illness can be worse. I want people to be aware of it and be understanding. I hope to be able to raise funds through different fundraising events to help support lupus patients who are in need of assistance to cover things like medical treatment. It’s a simple thing but it makes a difference and I hope to see this grow in years to come.”

To register for this event email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. you need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 364-5608. for more information on “Lupus ME? Bahamas” fundraising and information group, visit lupusmebahamas.com.

I have been seeing stars the last couple days as well as some upper stomach cramping, it feel like stomach flu cramps but under my rids, like I need to go to the bathroom but it's been a few days and still nothing. I am also pretty swollen(it is 85 degrees today) but more swelling than normal in my feet ankles and hands. Should I call my doctor?

Psoriatic arthritis – Is this bad?I am 43 years old. about this time last year I started to get a sore hip and had an xray and it showed minor osteoarthritis. I started to take anti-imflammatory’s for a while and they seemed to work. Then nearing October last year, the pain reoccurred. after changing to different types of anti-imflammatory’s and trying the high strength paracetamol I realized that the effect of the medication was insignificant. By the time November came around I developed pains elsewhere (neck, back, shoulders, wrists, fingers, ankles, heels, toes). I was forced to give up work, I really could not continue. this has happened so quick and when I started to endure with this sudden influx of pain, it effected my sleep patterns, waking frequently etc… I did become accustomed eventually and now sleep is better. I get fatigue really bad after simple tasks. of course I had to learn a whole new way of doing everything from walking to turning off the tap. I am getting everything else; the morning stiffness and stiffness in general. I have seen specialists and so far I have tried the methotrexate (chemotherapy) and at the moment I am on the sulpher medication. The methotrexate did not agree with my liver and the sulpher does not seem to be having an effect.

Anyway; this has all happened in about a year from first symptoms (although I have always had psoriasis since my early ’20′s).

My question is: I know that there is no consistency with this ailment but, is this a more extreme case?

Gout is a treatable disease, but until you get to drive through drugs and a change in diet and lifestyle, is likely going to experience pain. Often described as an arthritis type pain in the joints, gout attacks most often in the big toe but can also occur in other joints such as knees, ankles and wrists. While narcotic painkillers and OTC-NSAIDs can relieve pain, acupuncture therapy, also known as electronic acupuncture, is a healthier alternative.

gout pain may appear suddenly and often in the middle of the night. Pain in the affected joints can be severe and is accompanied by pain, swelling and redness. The area can sometimes be so sensitive that even light touch can hurt. An acute attack of gout can last for hours and discomfort may persist long after cessation of the pain.

This arthritic condition, and is caused by a buildup of uric acid in the joints. When uric acid accumulates in the fluid around the joint, can form crystals that cause pain and inflammation. your body or may be producing too much uric acid or the kidneys are not able to drive properly. Dietary changes and certain medications can help reduce the appearance of the drop, but you need a remedy, in addition to drugs or OTC analgesics to relieve pain. Acupoint therapy is an effective complementary treatment.

How therapy helps with pain Acupoint drop

Acupoint therapy is the electronic form of acupuncture. The ancient Chinese practice of acupuncture generally involves inserting stainless steel needles at specific points along the body to control the flow of your vital energy called Qi. with electronic, electromagnetic waves are transmitted through a handheld device and delivered strategic acupuncture points along the hand and palm of the hand with a small wand.

When you experience pain or other illness, this means that the qi is blocked somewhere in the body. to experience relief, you should find a way to remove the obstacles so that you can stimulate your brain into releasing endorphins, natural chemicals in the brain produces pain relief. Once the blockages are removed and releases endorphins, your body can find a more natural balance of qi, because the pain is relieved.

The good news about electronic acupuncture is that you can enjoy a device for acupuncture therapy. for a small investment equivalent of just a few sessions with an acupuncturist or a round of traditional medicines, can get great health benefits. Not only be able to relieve the pain of gout electronic acupuncture device, but can be used for a variety of other health conditions and diseases. this alternative, complementary treatment option is very versatile and fits many lifestyles.

Are there any early tests to detect kidney failure?

Signs and symptoms of acute kidney failure may include:

Decreased urine output, although occasionally urine output remains normal
Fluid retention, causing swelling in your legs, ankles or feet
Drowsiness
Shortness of breath
Fatigue
Confusion
Seizures or coma in severe cases
Chest pain related to pericarditis, an inflammation of the sac-like membrane that envelops your heart
Some people don't notice any early signs or symptoms, or are more bothered by the underlying problem causing the sudden kidney failure.

Bulging of eyes .Bulging of lower part the legs.

Decreased urine output, although occasionally urine output remains normal
Fluid retention, causing swelling in your legs, ankles or feet
Drowsiness
Shortness of breath
Fatigue
Confusion
Seizures or coma in severe cases
Chest pain related to pericarditis, an inflammation of the sac-like membrane that envelops your heart
Some people don't notice any early signs or symptoms, or are more bothered by the underlying problem causing the sudden kidney failure.