Lupus support centre launched in Morningside
Nirupa Jugmohan has started a support centre for Lupus sufferers following 22 years of living with the disease.
MORE than 20 years after being diagnosed with Lupus, Nirupa Jugmohan, chairperson of Lupus Support SA, has lived to tell how she has managed life with this debilitating disease.
Nirupa, who was diagnosed with Lupus at the age of 37 more than 20 years ago, has opened a centre in Morningside where she aims to help others who suffer from the disease. She said International Lupus Day, commemorated on 10 May, forms part of the awareness during the month of May which is internationally known as Lupus month.
“I went to the doctor when I was exhibiting symptoms of the disease, which are joint pains, skin problems, fatigue, headaches, sensitivity to light and kidney problems, and I was given four years to live.”
“I had small children and didn’t know how I was going to manage. I was told I could take the medication, but the side-effects could kill me! I thought I might as well not take medication,” she said.
Nirupa said she was strong for four years, which turned into five, then six, until she had to leave work. “By the ninth year I was bedridden and for two years I couldn’t do anything. In the 10th year, after I was diagnosed, my sister said I should try herbal medicine which was used in India. I weighed 35kg, I couldn’t walk or use my hands, so I had nothing to lose,” she said.
She visited India where she had a full herbal treatment and she returned every two years for a month at a time over the next 10 years.
“When I went back to the doctor, Lupus didn’t show in my blood! The rheumatologist again suggested I take the same medication I had been prescribed 22 years before, which shows there has been no further research,” she said.
Nirupa opened the centre at 9 on Nimmo (Nimmo Road, Morningside) four months ago and offers support, awareness, counselling and herbal treatments from India for pain and stress relief. She also has a small library of books at the centre for people to read up about the disease.
“I am open daily and anyone who suffers from the disease or wants to know more can call in. We are also looking for any corporate sponsors who can help sponsor treatments,” she said.
If you want to know more, contact 031 312 4432, 031 303 2492 or 082 823 6786.
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