Influence of stress on lupus?

[jenniann]

I was doing really well with my pain for at least two weeks. Then I have an out of state visit with my family, which was horribly stressful. The next evening, pain is back. What effect does stress have on symptoms?

[nanleighh]

I’m sorry about your stressful family visit. Family visits can be the worst even though families should be the most supportive. What I do know is stress can send you into a flare and make symptoms worse or make symptoms that had subsided come back. Take care of yourself. Be kind to yourself. And rest rest rest. I hope you feel much better soon. It helps me to remember we can’t control or change others we can only change our reaction to them. Xo Nan

[PMRpro]

Stress has a major effect on the immune system - and so on any autoimmune illness we may have.

[EOLHPC in reply to PMRpro]

So true: eg stress tirggers flares in all the crohns & diabetes & thyroid patients i know...and even my PID (immundeficiency disease) flares when i’m stressed

[Wendy39]

Hello. Sorry to hear you’ve been suffering a flare up of these symptoms. Stress is a recognised trigger for lupus. I was diagnosed in October 2013 and when I look back now I think I was flaring most of that year. I lost my grandfather in the January, I had a problem with my hip that got progressively worse and required surgery in April, the general anaesthetic hit me for 6 as well, then my stepfather died in the July just 3 weeks after a cancer diagnosis and then my Dad got diagnosed with esophageal cancer in the November and died in January 2014. The stress of it all really took its toll on me. I know now that stress is a trigger for me. So I don’t work and I try to pace myself - well as much as I can with 3 children. I hope your symptoms ease off very soon. Take care. Wendy

[Melbourne-Girl]

Some great replies from members who have been there with their own huge stresses & the effect that it has had on their Lupus conditions.

Clearly there is nothing I can add to their wonderful answers re that aspect, although when you are feeling much better if I were you I would gradually work out a failproof plan (as much as possible), of what caused the different stresses and how you may handle such things if they happened again. You may need to work out a few scenarios & if the worst comes to the worst say “My Dr has instructed me to ..............

If this happens again as it is has a very bad effect on my Lupus disease & my body & you are not allowed to let that happen again.

I am guessing that your family does not have a good understanding of Lupus so that if they see you & you look good on the outside they make the assumption that you must be feeling like you did before you ever had Lupus on the inside which of course is not the case.

Sometimes I think we all have to do this type of thing to handle people who are close (& not so close) so we don’t let the stress go too far and affect our bodies too badly & the way that we feel mentally which is so important. Feeling the best that you can feel is so important that even if you have to either stay somewhere else a night before you return home, your family has to be made to respect the way that Lupus can makes you feel which intensifies greatly with stress. Even if you go as far as saying that your blood & other tests were really bad after your last visit & your Dr he\she said you are never to put yourself in that position again & if you even have 1 stress that effects you it’s 1 too many & is causing more problems in your body & that of your Lupus Disease.

Hopefully you may be able to work out some strategies for yourself that will work for you & keep you feeling as well as you possibly can for as long as you can,

Lots of luck

Melbourne-Girl xxx

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4 leaf Irish Shamrocks for love & good luck

[Thereisalight in reply to Melbourne-Girl]

Such a great point about family and friends not really getting it which then increases stress! Although i guess we need to work on trying to change our reaction to them rather that getting upset at how they are as said above. Easier said than done. My family can be challenging and theyare due in 2 days for 2 wks. I find it hard to let go sometimes but i am slowly getting better at caring less because i already have enough on my plate as it is. I ävery intolerant of dramas and BS nowadays! And i don't even have lupus as such anyway! I find it harder with partners who you share your daily life with etc. My partner is very supportive but still finds it hard to respond in a way i'd find helpful when i'm really down at never feeling well (since my diagnosis there is always something causing me problems and when they resolve, a new more dramatic thing appears!). Hard to keep upbeat about life isn't it?

[Melbourne-Girl in reply to Thereisalight]

Even if you don’t have Lupus as such I am sure the disease or diseases you do have are stressful and compareable. I wish you well with your family visit for 2 weeks and it is good that you don’t put up with drama & B.S. they are stressful in themselves & not something that I have ever been keen or supportive of! It sounds like you already have some good strategies in stopping the stress. It will be good when your partner who is so supportive learns to understand a little when you are really down and you feel like you are hanging by a thread. Let us know how you fare with the 2 week visit,

The best of Aussie luck

Suzee xx

(M-G)

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[Cann]

Yes, stress is one of the worst things for causing a flare. I know as our heating failed and had to have plumber in to do lots to the system. I found it stressful to be without it and getting it fixed, although the symptoms come after with painful red sores on my fingers. We do try to do our best, but life is stressful and rest is the only way and good food to recover - taking care of ourselves in other words, with time out. All the best.

[Paul_Howard Partner LUPUS UK]

Hi jenniann ,

There is some information about how stress affects lupus symptoms in our article here - lupusuk.org.uk/stress-manag...

The article also has some helpful tips for stress management and relaxation.