Diagnosis and Treatment

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#9999FF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="06776ba3.gif"> <bR> <div> <B>YOU ARE NOT ALONE!</B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="21081e60.gif" border=0 width="129" height="230" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#99CCFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="06876ba3.gif"> <div> <IMG SRC="615d43c0.jpg" border=0 width="468" height="60" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Diagnosis and Treatment</B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="3cf413e0.gif" border=0 width="65" height="62" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </div> <div> You have read my story and how long it took for me to finally be diagnosed.  That unfortunately is the way this works.  It is difficult for a doctor to give a final diagnosis of lupus because the disease is complex and the symptoms may not show up all at once.  Also, there is no single test that can determine lupus.  It takes several laboratory tests and sometimes a biopsy may be needed.  A doctor may ask you to take a syphilis test.  This is not because he thinks you may have syphilis but because some lupus people test positive.  This is called "False-positive".  Again, even if this is the result of the test, it does not mean you have lupus.  The doctor must look at the whole picture.  He will take all the necessary tests, review your medical history and evaluate your symptoms before he will give you a diagnosis.</div> <bR> <div> Once a person has been diagnosed with lupus his/her doctor will set up a treatment based on age, gender, symptoms and even lifestyle.  The doctor will want to give treatments that will include taking medications to prevent flare-ups, reduce inflammation and treat the specific ailment if necessary (e.g., kidney, heart, lungs).  There are many forms of medications involved and I am not qualified to explain them to you.  I am sure your doctor would be more than happy to do this.  It is very important that a lupus patient keep regular appointments with the doctor, learn to work with the doctor by promptly reporting any new symptoms and/or reactions to medications.  It is equally important that a patient does not stop taking medications without first talking it over with the doctor.  </div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="3d30e0e0.gif" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </B><A HREF="id47.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Symptoms"><U><B>Previous Page</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="3d40e0e0.gif" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Next Page: 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