Tuesday, February 26, 2013

The Sun Did It: Flares and Autoimmune Disease

Solar Flare Courtesy of NASA


It might seem like the wrong time of year to be writing about the pitfalls of sun and autoimmune disease, but not for me. I will explain. January and early February were a tough time for me.  I was in a flare.  It started with my eyes going from very dry to completely parched and always painful.  Putting drops in actually hurt my eyes they were so bad.  Then the symptoms cascaded from there…neurological symptoms, fatigue, joint pain, you name it. For those readers with autoimmune disease, you unfortunately know what I'm talking about.

I had assumed it was the cold weather that had kicked off my change in symptoms. The background: My husband and I had taken a trip around New Years to Florida.  He was lucky to be able to get off from work and we decided to take advantage of it.  I tend to feel better in warmer climates so it seemed like a good deal. While we were away I felt really good.  I had energy. My joints barely ached. We walked every morning.  My eyes generally felt good and I was able to read.  I started thinking about the future, as "a normal" healthy person.  Then, the day after we returned from sunny Florida to the cold Northeast, my flare began.  So it must have been the return to the cold I assumed. Right?

Well, it turns out that it was likely the opposite! When I saw my rheumatologist last week, I recounted what had happened over the previous weeks.  I was cursing the cold, dry, Northeast weather. Then I mentioned that I had been away somewhere warm before this all started.  He immediately started asking questions about where I had been and how much sun exposure I had gotten.  It so happens that he was willing to bet that it was most likely the sun that kicked off my flare.  I knew that patients with Sjogrens, Lupus, and other autoimmune diseases had to be especially careful in the sun, but I always regarded the cold as more dangerous since it caused me more immediate pain.

But no. The same sun that made me feel happy to be outside?  Well, it was getting my body ready to attack me at the same time.  The link between flares and the sun is not entirely surprising.  It turns out the sun and its UV rays can cause damage to our cell's DNA that starts a process by which inflammatory protein molecules called cytokines can activate causing a chain reaction leading to autoimmune exacerbation.  Making matters worse, like me many people with autoimmune disease take medications that can make them even more reactive to the sun.

This happened despite the fact that I am already very careful in the sun.  I wear a UPF 50 wide brim sun hat, beach cover up, high protection sun screen, and always sit under an umbrella if I go on the beach.  With all the precautions I took, I still managed to get red one day.  When I thought back, it was the one day that I strayed from just one part of my usual routine of making sure to be inside between the hottest hours of the day.  A big oops! But that's what I get for not being totally controlled and planned every minute.  I was having fun with my husband.  I wasn't thinking about having autoimmune disease and health challenges.  It is unfortunate with an illness like autoimmune disease, you can never completely let go -- whether its medications, sun protection, or just simply not overdoing it.   But the truth is that I would rather miss a few hours of fun and sun than have a flare any day.

7 comments:

  1. Wow, this is a great reminder about adverse effects of being in the sun. So sorry you have been feeling so bad, hope you have relief soon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. i am ERIC BRUNT by name. Greetings to every one that is reading this testimony. I have been rejected by my wife after three(3) years of marriage just because another Man had a spell on her and she left me and the kid to suffer. one day when i was reading through the web, i saw a post on how this spell caster on this address AKHERETEMPLE@gmail.com have help a woman to get back her husband and i gave him a reply to his address and he told me that a man had a spell on my wife and he told me that he will help me and after 3 days that i will have my wife back. i believed him and today i am glad to let you all know that this spell caster have the power to bring lovers back. because i am now happy with my wife. Thanks for helping me Dr Akhere contact him on email: AKHERETEMPLE@gmail.com
      or
      call/whatsapp:+2349057261346




      i am ERIC BRUNT by name. Greetings to every one that is reading this testimony. I have been rejected by my wife after three(3) years of marriage just because another Man had a spell on her and she left me and the kid to suffer. one day when i was reading through the web, i saw a post on how this spell caster on this address AKHERETEMPLE@gmail.com have help a woman to get back her husband and i gave him a reply to his address and he told me that a man had a spell on my wife and he told me that he will help me and after 3 days that i will have my wife back. i believed him and today i am glad to let you all know that this spell caster have the power to bring lovers back. because i am now happy with my wife. Thanks for helping me Dr Akhere contact him on email: AKHERETEMPLE@gmail.com
      or
      call/whatsapp:+2349057261346

      Delete
  2. Thanks Anita! I will always double remember now to be extra careful in the sun. I think and hope that I am turning the corner from this flare. The last few days have been a bit better, but taking it slow. Hope you are feeling good.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I usually go to an indoor pool during the hottest part of the day..I wonder if I should go in the evening on the three days it is available instead, and stay home during the day on those days?

    ReplyDelete
  4. I have Lupus, so I know of the pain you speak of. It can be frustrating when you have an invisible disease, and having to explain why you can't do this or that. There are a few times I will do what I probably shouldn't and there is a price to pay. For me most of the time it's worth the joy I get out of that event. Lots of time planning. I can hardly wait for the day the Lord materializes my healing. I can hardly wait...

    ReplyDelete
  5. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  6. i am ERIC BRUNT by name. Greetings to every one that is reading this testimony. I have been rejected by my wife after three(3) years of marriage just because another Man had a spell on her and she left me and the kid to suffer. one day when i was reading through the web, i saw a post on how this spell caster on this address AKHERETEMPLE@gmail.com have help a woman to get back her husband and i gave him a reply to his address and he told me that a man had a spell on my wife and he told me that he will help me and after 3 days that i will have my wife back. i believed him and today i am glad to let you all know that this spell caster have the power to bring lovers back. because i am now happy with my wife. Thanks for helping me Dr Akhere contact him on email: AKHERETEMPLE@gmail.com
    or
    call/whatsapp:+2349057261346




    i am ERIC BRUNT by name. Greetings to every one that is reading this testimony. I have been rejected by my wife after three(3) years of marriage just because another Man had a spell on her and she left me and the kid to suffer. one day when i was reading through the web, i saw a post on how this spell caster on this address AKHERETEMPLE@gmail.com have help a woman to get back her husband and i gave him a reply to his address and he told me that a man had a spell on my wife and he told me that he will help me and after 3 days that i will have my wife back. i believed him and today i am glad to let you all know that this spell caster have the power to bring lovers back. because i am now happy with my wife. Thanks for helping me Dr Akhere contact him on email: AKHERETEMPLE@gmail.com
    or
    call/whatsapp:+2349057261346

    ReplyDelete