Lupus is a disease that occurs when your body's immune system attacks your own tissues and organs, otherwise known as an auto-immune disease. Inflammation caused by lupus can affect many different body systems including your joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart and lungs.

The symptoms of lupus can mimic those of other conditions, which is why on average it takes around five - six years to diagnose. The disease mainly affects women of child bearing age, with Black women being affected more so than others. 1 in 250 Black women suffer from lupus and 1 in 450 Caucasian women. It's thought that around 5 million people suffer with lupus, with 50,000 of those being in the UK.

World Lupus Day is to raise awareness for the condition and urge people to get tested. Maryann Coker, an author and poet based in London, suffers from lupus and says it took nine years for her to get a diagnosis: "I had a really high tempreture, a fever and on the day [of going to a&e] suffered temporary paralysis so my legs had stopped working for 20 minutes. All of these things were happening and I just didnt know why. Initially they said I had a 24 hour bug but I said no, you cant send me home without giving me a followup. When I told another consultant he looked at me and my scalp and asked whether Id be having migraines and had trouble getting up in the morning, which I did and he said I think youve got lupusIt took 9 years to get a diagnosis.

Hear Maryann's story including symptoms and effects of lupus here: 

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Maryann shared what she think you should do if you suspect you have lupus: "write down a list of all your symptoms even if you think its trivial, for example not being able to sleep ay night is an indication. All of that will help the doctor be able to formulate what youre going through. The problem with lupus is it's not just one test. it's a series of tests, so youd have biopsy, blood testsits extremely difficult to diagnose so what I'd do is write down the symptoms, approach your doctor and say first things first can I have a blood test"

During her times of difficulty Maryann composed a collection of poems that explore life with a chronic illness as a believer, drawing on scripture to bring hope to those in need. The book is called 'The Wolf and the Butterfly' and is available now in all good book stores. All profits from the book go to charities that help find cures and better medications for lupus

To follow Maryann and find out more about her book click here 

If you or someone you know suspects they may have lupus do not hesitate to seek medical advice.

May 10th is World Lupus Day and with it taking on average five to six years to diagnose hundreds of thousands of people could be walking around with the potentially life threatening condition and have no idea.