Lupus and gardening

[sippy33]

I could really use your expert opinion.  I live in a shared space community where almost everyone loves gardening and landscaping.  However, there is a woman with lupus who claims that mold in everything from soil to mulch gives her trouble.  She's asked for some accommodations that reduce the amount of landscaping projects near her home - especially those that are in the path of the main wind patterns.  She claims she cannot be on steroids because of her intolerance to synthetic pharmaceuticals and the long-term dangers and risks.  Some people here really want to consider her health whereas others don't think that the gardening, etc. harms her as much as she claims.  Could you answer a few questions?

Can a person with lupus/MCS get headaches, tissue pain, rashes, congestion, facial pain, swelling, insomnia, respiratory problems and bleeding in the lungs from the mold in exposed soil?  Could these symptoms continue beyond the day of exposure?  Can wind affect these reactions?  Can straw,  mulch, compost and composted manure cause these reactions?  Isn't spring already so moldy that adding these sources wouldn't do much to her?

She claims to have so much pain and we're wondering if she's exaggerating.  Can you clarify this mystery?

[Ishtanii]

Please do your research on Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and then kindly consider revising your answer.  SLE  can have MULTIPLE triggers. Allergies are an immune response.  SLE is an autoimmune disease.  Anything that sets the immune system into action will most likely trigger an autoimmune flare.  Even stress, whether eustress (good stress - like winning the lottery) or negative stress (the kids are running amok and difficult to reign in) is a well documented trigger.  

Silica dust (think sand, clay, pottery dust etc.) is one of the top triggers for autoimmune flares.  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1808650/  "...inhalation of silica has been associated with increased incidence of systemic autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and scleroderma ..."

SLE is...SYSTEMIC...this means whole body and internal organs are susceptible to the rigors of a flare.  Heart and lungs can and sadly often are involved in the inflammatory process.  Bleeding lungs are not out of the question, however, pluerisy (an extremely painful condition that makes simply breathing feel like knives stabbing you in the lungs) is a more likely complication.

Recovering from a flare can take days, weeks, months, or years.  The symptoms do not simply disappear the moment the trigger is removed.  It takes a good while for inflammation to recede...even with steroids.

I myself have been on steroids for 6 months now and my inflammation levels (as per my blood work, ESR and CRP levels) have only JUST returned to normal a normal range so that my doctor can start weaning me off the 20mg prednisone I have been taking.  The weaning process will take another 6 months or longer as the weaning itself can trigger a flare.

I have not yet been diagnosed with SLE, but my rheumatologists strongly suspects it.  I have many the same issues, signs and symptoms as people with SLE as it is all autoimmunity.  The autoimmune diseases I have been formally diagnosed with are: Grave's Disease, Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, Meniere's Syndrome, Thyroid Eye Disease, and Polycystic Ovary (PCOS).  I was in a wheelchair in excruciating pain to the point life seemed a burden.  

Simply getting out of bed was something I dreaded beyond belief as it felt like stepping onto broken glass for my feet to touch the floor.  Every joint in my body was inflamed and I was holding onto 50 pounds of water due to swelling and inflammation.  The swelling was even in my brain making it so I could not think clearly.  I could not even accurately do abstract mathematics (think Algebra)...and I used to be a scientist before becoming disabled by autoimmunity.

I was in this state for the last 7 years.  I am in my first, nearly complete, remission in 15 years.  This is the hell someone with autoimmunity endures.  If you can do something, make accommodations to prevent or reduce this level of suffering...please make every effort.  You don't have to of course, but if you do,  may it be counted to you as a tenfold blessing. And may G-d afford you tenfold the mercy you show to this poor woman.

P.S.  Yes. There are people who cannot take steroids.  My mother-in-law is one such person.  She recently was given it to reduce swelling in her lungs due to emphysema.  She became delusional and paranoid, not even recognizing her own husband, thinking her was there to try to kill her.  I had never heard of such a side effect, but sure enough, I read up on it and...it happens!

Other side effects that I am personally dealing with are bruising easily, thinning of the bones, heart arrhythmia and palpitation amongst a host of others.  Some--like thinning bones, diabetes and heart failure--are quite serious.  
http://www.drugs.com/sfx/prednisone-side-effects.html

For more information about Lupus and other autoimmune diseases --
http://www.mollysfund.org/
http://www.aarda.org/

Great video series 'Lupus? What's that?' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdAFElp00ko

[PlateletGal]

The answer to your questions is yes and it isn't just someone with lupus --- anyone could have a severe allergy to mold.

[Deeds]

it sounds like she has more of a mold allergy then anything contributing thre the lupus.  I know once people are sensitized to molds that do make them sick and react - that will not go away without allergy treatment (shots, meds etc...) sounds like your neighbor is confusing allergies with lupus.  lupus to me is more of akin to rhuematoid arthritis where arid desert air is better on the joints, tissue and mucles... perhaps your neighbor should shut her windows and invest in a HEPA room airfilter?  that would cut down her airborne contaiminates and let you all garden. The world outside cannot stop because she won't take preventative measures too... It sounds like your community has been considerate to her needs ((wind patterns and all!)) ---- (((mold, dust and pollen particulates will find their way to her nasal cavity regardless of your trying to divert them away)))  Steriods only reduce the inflamation that would trigger her allergic reaction... she really needs to get the room filter...I bought a honeywell one and have it on all the time - really reduced the unseen offenders in our house...that was $135.00 - I still have to take Astelin and Benedryl for when I go outside ((nothing keeps me inside!!)) so, I'd suggest she see an allergist...