Kim Kardashian and Lupus
Of all the things to finally push me into making this blog, it’s Kim Kardashian.
I don’t like the Kardashians. I don’t even particularly hate them. I live my life in a blissful bubble of not caring. Until the bubble exploded this week.
For those of you who don’t watch Keeping Up With the Kardashians, here’s the gist of what happened last Sunday. Kim has headaches, nausea, tiredness, painful hands, and some swelling in her hands, so she googles it (always a bad idea) and says she probably had Lupus or Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). After a blood test, we learn:
Her antibodies are positive for Lupus and RA
If she does have Lupus, she’ll have swollen joints, fevers, rashes, mouth sores, and be really tired.
Sometimes you get a false positive.
On Friday (ie, next episode), they’ll know everything.
It’s a weird feeling when your normal life suddenly collides with the Kardashians. A disease that I usually have to explain to people is now a top suggestion on Google.
This is horrible, but I’m a little happy? This is KIM FREAKING KARDASHIAN. She got the President of the USA to send a hostage negotiator to Sweeden! If anyone’s going to get notice and funding for Lupus, it’d be her. The community needs advocates badly.
BUT THAT’S IF SHE ACTUALLY HAS IT.
Looking at you, People magazine and all you other sources that are already printing she does.
Reality TV is all about bringing the most drama possible. Really all we know is some symptoms, positive “Lupus antibodies” (real quote from Kim), a possible diagnosis, and a few hints dropped about next week’s episode.
Here’s where I get bitter.
Every case is different, but this is not how Lupus works. There are no “Lupus antibodies.” I’m assuming is she meant positive antinuclear antibodies (ANA), which 90% of people with Lupus have.
You know the false positives that happen sometimes? THEY HAPPEN ALL THE TIME.
You can have positive ANA and be totally fine. Hell, I had positive ANA for fifteen years and nada. What’s more, positive ANA is a symptom of a GIANT list of autoimmune disorders, not just Lupus and RA. Also, Kim Kardashian has psoriasis. Things I learn when I start googling her. Psoriasis is another lovely, incredibly complicated disease. Know what it can develop into? Psoriatic arthritis. Know what 50-60% of psoriasis patients have, according to a study? Positive ANA.
Are you getting the feeling this is complicated? It’s really complicated.
Lupus is an incredibly difficult disease to diagnose. People go through years and many doctors until they finally get a diagnosis. There’s no one test or even set of tests. Blood tests only tell a tiny picture and ultrasounds tell an even smaller one. Diagnosing Lupus is a bit like throwing a bunch of paint at a wall, and eventually, a picture might start to form. Same with RA and other autoimmune disorders.
Kim, if you do have Lupus, my sincerest sympathies. It’s not an easy disease to live with, and it’s scary as hell. Trust me, I know. But having an amazing life with Lupus is possible! You can do it. And please remember, you have a platform that you can use to raise so much awareness.
And if you don’t have it, please don’t spread incorrect information about Lupus. Or maybe, could you use that platform to help my mom get a cure anyway?
