Hi there!

For me, stress is the single biggest factor that will start a flare up. After that, a lot of caffeine and white starches/processed foods will do that too. Stress is and will always be number one. That and a primarily whole grain, poultry, seafood and fruits and veggie diet.

Hi lguil005
Thanks for your reply. My mother sometimes faces with stress. As you siad, it maybe trigger my mother lupus flare. I advise her to reduce her work and join some lupus groups, but she can't. Can you suggest me some ways to deal with stress related lupus?

stress, poor diet and unhealthy lifestyle can trigger a lupus flare. You should talk to your mother to change her lifestyles. My sister was prescribed prednisone for 6 months and plaquenil for 5 months. But after the treatment course with those medicines, the rheumatologist gave her vitamin D and LupuFree. Luckily, both supplements work well for her, flare ups haven't recurred. As I've seen the changes of my sister, I write down something here that hope they're useful for your mother:
- Avoid stress. Reducing work, some stress management techinques, such as taking deep breath and massage are effective in controlling stress
- Get enough sleep. Your mother should get enough sleep to prevent fatigue (sleep about 8-9 hours per night)
- Eat healthy foods. Try to avoid processed, fried fruits. Instead, eat more salmon, broccoli, tuna, flaxseed and fruits.
- Avoid sun exposure.
- Do exercise. Tai Chi, yoga, walking, auqa therapy are some helpful exercise. You can ask her physical therapist to choose the suitable one for your mother
- Seek support. Listen your mother's troubles to reduce her worry
.

Hi imkewa
Thank you so much. Your reply is useful for my mother. I maybe discuss these tips with my mother to help reduce her flare ups. But I've heard that people with lupus should be careful with supplements, while your sister take them and have good results

some people also told that supplements could worsen lupus symptoms as they boost the abnormal immune system of patients. But the rheumatologist of my sister told not all supplement aren't effective for lupus patients, She still gave my sister vitamin D and Lupufree as these helped strengthen muscles and balance the immune system.

thank you again- imkewa. I'll ask my mother's doctor about the matter carefully

When I've been in sun my face is fire red and I get sick. It takes me a week or longer to feel better. I ha e days I'm so tired and short of breath. I don't always have the face rash and it's not notice with makeup until I go outside in sun. It's really hard to enjoy being outside. I feel trapped some days. I also have osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia. Some days I just want to give up. My family don't understand all I go through.

hi cissy2018,
as i know, sun exposure is one of the important triggers of lupus flare. Before going out, you should apply sunscreen and use other protective methods such as wide- brimmed hat, sunglasses, and clothing with long sleeve. Also, the important thing is you need to avoid going out from 11 am to 3 pm as UV rays work strongly during this time