Question:
I need some information. I hope someone out there can help me. I have a friend who made a mistake. He had sexual intercourse with a women who has lupus. He does not know if he has been exposed to it or not. I know there are no known causes for the information I found on the net. I DON’T think it is transmitted sexually, but I really don’t know. I am really worried about my friend. He did use protection for intercourse, but not for oral sex. Any information will be greatly appreciated. Thank you PG.
Response:
The cause(s) of SLE are not known. It is a malfunction of the immune system. It is almost certainly not infectious as such. —
Response:
Paul, Lupus is not a contagious disease. You can no more catch Lupus from close contact than you could catch arthritis (a close cousin of Lupus). Don On Wed, 6 Jan 1999 00:35:44 -0600, "paul guidry" – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -<paulgui…@mobiletel.com> wrote: >I need some information. I hope someone out there can help me. I have a >friend who made a mistake. He had sexual intercourse with a women who has >lupus. He does not know if he has been exposed to it or not. I know there >are no known causes for the information I found on the net. I DON’T think >it is transmitted sexually, but I really don’t know. I am really worried >about my friend. He did use protection for intercourse, but not for oral >sex. Any information will be greatly appreciated. >Thank you >PG.
Response:
On Wed, 6 Jan 1999 00:35:44 -0600, "paul guidry" <paulgui…@mobiletel.com> wrote: >I need some information. I hope someone out there can help me. I have a >friend who made a mistake. He had sexual intercourse with a women who has >lupus. He does not know if he has been exposed to it or not. I know there >are no known causes for the information I found on the net. I DON’T think >it is transmitted sexually, but I really don’t know. I am really worried >about my friend. He did use protection for intercourse, but not for oral >sex. Any information will be greatly appreciated. >Thank you >PG.
Hi paul… You’ve already been succintly answered. I want to use your post as an example of *why* it is so important for *us* (The Lupus Community) to educate others about this disease. Please don’t think I am pointing the finger at *you* – it is the responsibility of doctors, patients and supporters to teach about this disease. Misunderstanding causes unnecesary fear in some and in others it causes dangerous ambivalence (i.e., those that may have the disease but have never been told what it is). I have had mothers draw their young children away from me with a look of great concern on their faces because they think I might "infect" them. Can’t happen. I have had more than my share of very rude looks and confused stares. I *look* sickly sometimes ("tired" my daughters says, pale and weak). I am not contagious. I sometimes feel like wearing a shirt that says just that. I heard of one of my friends on the hamline list whose daughter made her a t-shirt that says "It’s Lupus Stupid!" While I understand the daughter’s feelings and why she expressed them this way and how caring that is toward her mom. It really isn’t the public’s fault that they don’t understand this disease (for the most part). And even people that have the disease often don’t really understand it because their doctors just treat them without giving them literature or referring them to the LFA or similar organizations. I have preached about this recently on the hamline pages – I will probably do so more here. But I really think there are many things we as patients or as the SO’s of patients can do to educate the public. I intend to write a presentation to my daughter’s HS Health Classes. My hope is that the school will see fit to allow me to talk to people that are nearing college that will make decisions that will range from "Can I help someone with Lupus?" to "should I sleep with someone with Lupus?" to "Should I become a Rheumatologist or Immunologist?". I know that my daughter and one of her friends in school do not talk about their autoimmune disease because their friends do not understand. One child even argued with my daughter that she can’t possibly have hypothyroidism because she is skinny. BULLSH**. My daughter said "just call my doctor and ask". My mom weighed 105 lbs when her hypothyroidism was discovered and she’d probably been sick with it for 5+ years. AGain, it is autoimmune and these disease in general are so misunderstood. So… the kittycat is climbing off her soapbox *AGAIN* :) Thank you to Paul for asking this simple question that I have seen here at least 3 other times in the past 6 months. It has strengthened my resolve to keep pushing for education.. but first… all this typing has put a catch in my upper back… taking a break now. Love, strength and hope to all, kc cat kcdoc…@ghg.net http://www.ghg.net/schwerpt/mypage.htm
Response:
PG – I am an old fashioned one man only woman and I have lupus. We have been married 25 years this year. Just because we are faithful to each other does not mean we have a dull sexual relationship. So in answer to your question my husband is one of the healthiest men according to our family doc in the whole state where we live. He does not have lupus yet and has never exhibited any symptoms of lupus to date. Vasectomies require no protection and so he has really been "exposed". My opinion is to stop worrying about it but for God’s sake encourage your friend to live a more moral lifestyle for crying out loud. Worry about getting a sexually transmitted disease can really affect your love life. Yeah Yeah old fashioned maybe but I sleep in peace every night. Judith – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -paul guidry wrote in message <76v0a4$36…@fox.comm.net>… >I need some information. I hope someone out there can help me. I have a >friend who made a mistake. He had sexual intercourse with a women who has >lupus. He does not know if he has been exposed to it or not. I know there >are no known causes for the information I found on the net. I DON’T think >it is transmitted sexually, but I really don’t know. I am really worried >about my friend. He did use protection for intercourse, but not for oral >sex. Any information will be greatly appreciated. >Thank you >PG.
Response:
My wife was digno. with connective Tissue Disorder and Lupus, has anyone heard of new treatments, she is now going to University oif Iowa, has some good Docs, but sometimes us Mates are left our from news about the illness and then when it is to late we are holding the worst, please send me any help or info. geo
Response:
Paul, Lupus is not a transmittable disease period. You and your friend have nothing to worry about. Randa
Response:
Okay KCKitten, gimme back my soapbox! One of the biggest problems we are dealing with is semantics and the general MISunderstanding of the English (American edition) language. For the past 15 years most of the media and research attention has been given to our opposite immune disorder, HIV. As such, people are very aware of it, hear auto-immune, and readily class all such diseases in the same little niche. That lupus is nearly the opposite of HIV doesn’t sink in to the public. The immune system is damaged, defunct, affected, etc., and to them that translates as CONTAGIOUS. If we are to make any progress in the education of the public, it will be at the behest of the patients and family members to push for it. The health establishment, being overburdened by paperpushers and insurers are trying to keep out of malpractice suits, handle the patient load effectively, and keep abreast of changes. It can’t all be done, and educating the public seems to be last on the list. AARDA, American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, LFA, and even NIH have been trying to get more funding for public awareness and research. Their efforts are worthwhile and they are making progress, albeit slowly. Whenever a Lupie or their SO or family members or friends comes into contact with an unLUPUSeducated person, don’t hesitate to tell them it’s not contagious. Remember, the first reaction to "auto-immunity" is going to be panic and shock, owing to the massive education campaign by the HIV community. Don’t see it as a slight. We’re dealing with ignorance here, not stupidity. If folks don’t know, and aren’t told, they don’t know any better. Take the time to explain whenever you can. Try NOT to go on the defensive. This type of attitude and the accompanying body language will be read instantly by someone who is afraid as a signal indicator they should be afraid. Nature of the beast, folks. Do the best you can to alleviate that fear and teach, not threaten by overwhelming them. ::getting off soapbox and giving it back to the kitten:: Kat – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -KCDockal wrote: > On Wed, 6 Jan 1999 00:35:44 -0600, "paul guidry" > <paulgui…@mobiletel.com> wrote: > >I need some information. I hope someone out there can help me. I have a > >friend who made a mistake. He had sexual intercourse with a women who has > >lupus. He does not know if he has been exposed to it or not. I know there > >are no known causes for the information I found on the net. I DON’T think > >it is transmitted sexually, but I really don’t know. I am really worried > >about my friend. He did use protection for intercourse, but not for oral > >sex. Any information will be greatly appreciated. > >Thank you > >PG. > Hi paul… > You’ve already been succintly answered. I want to use your post as an > example of *why* it is so important for *us* (The Lupus Community) to > educate others about this disease. Please don’t think I am pointing > the finger at *you* – it is the responsibility of doctors, patients > and supporters to teach about this disease. > Misunderstanding causes unnecesary fear in some and in others it > causes dangerous ambivalence (i.e., those that may have the disease > but have never been told what it is). > I have had mothers draw their young children away from me with a look > of great concern on their faces because they think I might "infect" > them. Can’t happen. I have had more than my share of very rude looks > and confused stares. I *look* sickly sometimes ("tired" my daughters > says, pale and weak). I am not contagious. > I sometimes feel like wearing a shirt that says just that. I heard of > one of my friends on the hamline list whose daughter made her a > t-shirt that says "It’s Lupus Stupid!" > While I understand the daughter’s feelings and why she expressed them > this way and how caring that is toward her mom. It really isn’t the > public’s fault that they don’t understand this disease (for the most > part). And even people that have the disease often don’t really > understand it because their doctors just treat them without giving > them literature or referring them to the LFA or similar organizations. > I have preached about this recently on the hamline pages – I will > probably do so more here. But I really think there are many things we > as patients or as the SO’s of patients can do to educate the public. > I intend to write a presentation to my daughter’s HS Health Classes. > My hope is that the school will see fit to allow me to talk to people > that are nearing college that will make decisions that will range from > "Can I help someone with Lupus?" to "should I sleep with someone with > Lupus?" to "Should I become a Rheumatologist or Immunologist?". > I know that my daughter and one of her friends in school do not talk > about their autoimmune disease because their friends do not > understand. One child even argued with my daughter that she can’t > possibly have hypothyroidism because she is skinny. BULLSH**. My > daughter said "just call my doctor and ask". My mom weighed 105 lbs > when her hypothyroidism was discovered and she’d probably been sick > with it for 5+ years. AGain, it is autoimmune and these disease in > general are so misunderstood. > So… the kittycat is climbing off her soapbox *AGAIN* :) > Thank you to Paul for asking this simple question that I have seen > here at least 3 other times in the past 6 months. It has strengthened > my resolve to keep pushing for education.. > but first… all this typing has put a catch in my upper back… > taking a break now. > Love, strength and hope to all, > kc cat > kcdoc…@ghg.net > http://www.ghg.net/schwerpt/mypage.htm
– >^..^< Da Kat Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. – Arthur C. Clarke
If you like this post and would like to receive updates from this blog, please subscribe our feed.