Lupus Community

Sometimes, I feel like a detective. Instead of seeking clues to solve a crime, I look for clues to the factors that might trigger my lupus, hoping these signs will help me ward off a potential flare.

I am not always the best "detective," and sometimes flares or lupus symptoms still appear, but I try my best to take a proactive approach to managing my lupus. When I'm feeling bad, I look for possible lupus triggers by taking note of what I think I did or didn't do before the symptoms appeared. Then I try to avoid that possible trigger in the future. It's that simple.

Lupus triggers will be different for everyone, but here are some that I have experienced:

Sunlight
People with lupus know that direct sunlight is one of the most common triggers to avoid. We hear all about photosensitivity and lupus. I do my best to stay out of the sun, use an effective sunscreen, wear big hats, and take other measures to avoid direct sunlight. Now that I have become a mom, it's often hard for me to stay out of the sun. When I am in the sun, I notice I will feel fatigued, or get a migraine headache.

Not Eating
I know that if I miss a meal or a snack, I end up feeling affected by many lupus symptoms. I also find that if feeling nauseous kept me from eating in the first place, I will always feel worse later if I don't have anything in my stomach. Eating regularly helps keep my energy at a consistent level, and also reminds me to take my medicine on a regular schedule.

Weather Changes
My body gets achy, and my joints get swollen whenever it is raining, or whenever there is a drastic weather change. Although I obviously cannot avoid this trigger, I can make note of it and try to arrange my schedule accordingly when a major weather change is expected.

These are just a few examples of lupus triggers for me. I also notice that experiencing stress, a lack of sleep, and even my menstrual cycle can affect how I am feeling.

I know some patients who keep an elaborate medical journal that lists every day, how they were feeling, what they ate, their temperature, and other factors to help them better understand their bodies and their lupus. I did something like that when I was first diagnosed with lupus.

These days, I keep a simple calendar that I occasionally mark the differences in how I feel, changes in medications, and other useful information. I wish I kept better track of what factors presently trigger my lupus symptoms.

You need to find out what works best for you. Lupus is an ever-changing disease. I have had lupus for more than 18 years, and what triggered my lupus at the beginning is somewhat different than what triggers it now. If we don't know our own bodies and how to best take good care of ourselves, how can we expect anyone else to be able to help?

Tell me about the detective work that helped you learn your lupus triggers. What methods have you developed to help avoid triggering your lupus symptoms and flares?