Cutaneous Lupus (CLE), Quality of Life, & Fatigue

Quality of Life with CLE In healthcare, quality of life is an attempt to measure how a condition and treatment plan are impacting a person on an individual level. Because of this, two people with similar treatment plans can have dramatically different quality of life scores based on preferences, expectations, and needs. For people with lupus, reporting a high quality of life often means that a person is able to partake in the activities that they enjoy. It may mean being able to go to work, go out with friends, pursue a hobby, or even a simple pleasure like cooking a meal for yourself. Fatigue makes every activity difficult — even stress management techniques that keep symptom flares at bay — and can affect your emotional state. Fatigue can make the management of other lupus symptoms more difficult. Also, because cutaneous lupus lesions may be visible to other people, they can be a source of additional stress. While it’s easier said than done, try to ignore rude comments — both intentional and accidental. Managing stress is an important part of life with cutaneous lupus. It may be helpful to speak with a mental health professional to learn strategies for managing stress, anger, or other powerful feelings.

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