About
Dancing With Butterflies is a blog about my journey as a sufferer of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) a chronic auto-immune disease.
SLE is potentially debilitating and sometimes fatal as the immune system attacks the body’s cells and tissue, resulting in inflammation and tissue damage. SLE can affect any part of the body, but most often harms the heart, joints, skin, lungs, blood vessels, liver, kidneys and nervous system.
The course of the disease is unpredictable, with periods of illness (called flares) alternating with remission. Lupus can occur at any age, and is most common in women. Lupus is treatable symptomatically, mainly with corticosteroids and immunosuppressants, though currently there is no known cure.
“Butterfly” is associated with Lupus because its the only known visible symptom of the disease. The “butterfly rash” is a red, sometimes pinkish flat facial rash over the bridge of the nose. Its takes the shape of the butterfly. It is not painful and it does not itch.
Along with inflammation in other organs, the butterfly rash of lupus can be precipitated or worsened by exposure to sunlight, a condition called photosensitivity. The photosensitivity can be accompanied by a worsening of inflammation throughout the body, causing a “flare” or attack of the disease.
