Lupus is an autoimmune condition where the body can no longer identify the difference between good cells and bad cells. Lupus can attack any organ or system in the body. No single patient will have the same symptoms as another.

Living with Lupus is for life, as there is no cure. There will be times when the Lupus will become less active and you will feel well and there will then be times when you become ill, this is referred to as a Lupus flare.

New drugs are becoming available to treat Lupus and scientists are still investigating the development of more all the time.

Even though new treatments are available for Lupus sufferers they are not a cure and a lupus sufferer will still need to learn how to balance their life, so that they feel as well as possible.

Looking after your body and mind is really important, doing too much and not listening to your body can trigger a Lupus flare or make you feel unwell for a few days.

Lupus pacing is very important part of looking after you self. Accepting that you must pace yourself can be very difficult especially when you have a family to look after, as you may not always have the choice to sit down and rest.

Developing Lupus pacing takes a lot of self-control and having a good knowledge on how to put the pacing into practice is very important. Its not just about resting when you start to feel tired, it is also about pacing when you are feeling well and full of energy.

Breaking up chores into tea breaks are a good start, if the hovering needs doing downstairs do one room and then have a break before you start on the next room. Dusting can be done in the same way.

If you are planning a day out, try putting in tea breaks and rests threw out the day. It’s also a good idea to plan a quiet day before and after, giving your body time to recover.

Many Lupus sufferers have to learn how to pace your self and learn to say no to your self when you become aware that you are doing too much.

Once you have managed to develop your Lupus pacing and it becomes second nature to plan ahead and listen to your body you will begin to feel much better. The Lupus flares will come less often and you may also find that your general well being will be for much longer.