Meghan Bea

I'm not alone in struggling with lupus insomnia. Insomnia can majorly impact patients’ quality of life, especially since so many of us already live with chronic fatigue. In the months...

Since becoming sick with lupus, I've needed to sleep 2 to 3 hours more than my able-bodied peers in order to function. In addition to fatigue and skin rashes, lupus...

When I first became sick with lupus, I had no idea how much my life was about to change. I had to learn to carefully manage my energy, juggle doctors’...

During my first five years living with lupus, I used to wake up an hour early before work. Even though my fatigue was at its most severe in the mornings...

Brain fog: it's one of the most frustrating symptoms lupus patients have to live with. Brain fog sometimes feels just like its name suggests: a thick fog in your brain...

With its pumpkin patches, apple cider, and promise of comfortable weather, autumn is many people's favorite time of the year. The hint of crisp, cool air offers a reprieve from...

I’ve spent most of my life living in between the lines; I’m too sick to work a full-time job, but not sick enough to qualify for SSD (Social Security Disability)...

When I first became sick with lupus, my life changed overnight. Fatigue, pain, and endless doctors’ visits replaced school, my social life, and my plans and dreams for the future...

We celebrate birthdays, weddings, and baby showers with gifts. But why is it less common to give a gift to someone when they're going through a divorce, have lost a...

Traveling always triggers my chronic fatigue. The long wait at the airport, having to stand in line, and carrying a suitcase all zap my energy. At home, I can use...

For most of us with lupus, chronic fatigue is unfortunately here to stay. My own chronic fatigue makes it especially difficult to do household chores. After waking up exhausted and...

A first date with a new romantic interest is enough to make anyone nervous. A dozen questions and insecurities jumble around in your mind. Will they look like their online...

A few weeks ago, I received a scary phone call from someone I cared about. An elderly relative who lived near me was very sick and needed to go to...

"But you don’t look sick." We’ve all heard this, and we all hate it. Every time someone said this to me, especially in the early years of my illness, I...

During the first 4 years I was sick, I didn't tell anyone about my illness out of fear of rejection. Now, I write and speak about my illness openly. Here...

I sat in my doctor’s office as the 1,000 grams of Solu-Medrol dripped down the clear IV tube and into my arm. Solu-Medrol looks like water, but I wasn’t fooled...

Lupus is an invisible illness. I don't walk with a limp, need a wheelchair, or show any of the typical physical signs most people associate with disability. My pain almost...

If you are struggling to get diagnosed, you are not alone. Most people search for answers for 7 years before they are diagnosed with lupus. The pre-diagnosis stage is one...

One of the most discouraging parts of being diagnosed with lupus was that my friends and family had no idea what lupus even was. More well-known diseases, like cancer and...

At one of my lowest points with lupus, I impulsively adopted a shelter dog. I had been feeling isolated from friends and family due to fatigue that seemed endless. Adopting...