by Mariel Aglipay
Vasculitis is a general term for a group of diseases that involve inflammation in blood vessels according to the John Hopkins Vasculitis Center. It may indicate problems with the liver, kidney, lungs or heart. It manifests itself as ulcers in internal organs but more often the skin. The cure for it is trial and error which differs from person to person. One commonality with this disease is that oral steroids are used to treat it.
Taking steroids is unlike regular medicines which you can take whenever you need to, it has to be taken in moderation and has to be tapered down in order to stop. This can take from weeks, months and even years to finish.
One problem most vasculitis patients have is often attributed to the side effects of steroids. Some of the side effects of steroids are being moon-faced, increased appetite, mood swings, styrae (red stretch marks), increased body hair, falling hair (scalp), and not to mention the extra care a vasculitis patients has to have when dressing wounds. These side effects also differ from person to person.
Although little is known about vasculitis it is considered as a generic disease, almost comparable to fever which can be a symptom to more serious illness. John Hopkins center in America is a dedicated medical center who is studying this disease. The study of this disease in the country is limited and can be brain-wrecking to find a cure. Here are some tips if you are vasculitis patient:
- Have a support group - Compared to the earlier years when vasculitis was relatively new there were not any support groups available. Now these support groups are growing in numbers, usually found online. These groups share their experiences with vasculitis with each other. Sharing your experiences with vasculitis not only helps you get through it but also add to the pool of knowledge about vasculitis for researchers.
- Keep a journal - This can help both you and your doctor to monitor your condition.
- Research - Keep yourself informed with the latest discoveries about the disease. Ask your doctor if there are any new treatments available for your illness. Knowing more means your doing your part in the healing process.
- Get a second opinion - Vasculitis is complicated disease that cannot be diagnosed at one go. Consult a rheumatologist. This disease is often linked to arthritis and other similar rheumatologic disease. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
- Be Optimistic - Nothing beats a positive outlook to speed up the healing process. Believe that there is a cure for the disease and most of all
- Pray - God will be with you throughout the whole ordeal. This is a test God gave you because he knows you can handle it.
Related articles:
http://www.arthritisresearchuk.org/arthritis_information/arthritis_types__symptoms/vasculitis.aspx
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