Lupus Never Looked So Good

I just read a really disturbing bit of nonsense during a google search for Lupus news (I refuse to link to retarded bullshit) but basically, the nonsense in question was a girl asking if it was safe to take birth control if you have Lupus.  The answer was that “it doesn’t cause flare-ups, so it’s safe”.  

Ok.  It’s true, the birth control pill does not cause flare-ups.  But that does not just write it off as completely safe.  As Lupus patients, many of us are at a higher risk for blood clots than the average person.  One of the major side effects of most birth control pills is that it increases your chances of developing blood clots.  It’s a case of 1 + 1 = 2.  There is an increased risk when you go on birth control.  

However, this doesn’t mean you can’t take birth control if you have lupus!  Just like with anything else in most of our Lupus-filled lives, talk to a doctor about which one to take, and ask what else you can do to reduce your risk for clotting.  

P.S. In the same token, if you smoke, STOP IT.

P.P.S.  In this post, every time I wrote the word “Birth” in “Birth Control”, I wrote out “Birthday” and then backspaced the “day”.  I also did it twice while writing this post script.  Not on purpose.