Living

Living with lupus is a constant challenge, but it's one I've learned to navigate with a combination of careful planning and practical tools. Over the years, I've put together a...

Anyone who has ever taken steroids knows about their side effects all too well. Irritability, weird food cravings, and heartburn are just a few. However, the side effect that many...

I’ve been living with a condition that has challenged my kidneys for so many years. I was diagnosed with lupus nephritis in 1995 and went through rigorous treatments just to...

The holiday season can be a mix of joy, chaos, and peopling… lots of peopling! We often talk about preparing for the holiday season or finding ways to relax when...

I don't know where I would be since my lupus diagnosis, without my husband. We met a few months before I got my diagnosis, so we had a brief period...

I heard someone say that the love of family and friends is the glue that holds your heart together. Sometimes living with lupus goes beyond just the medical journey. It's...

Have you ever heard a lupus patient ask to keep a room as dark as possible? Most likely they are allergic to the sun, or their body is running too...

A while back, I shared as part of my lupus journey how I've also gone through a journey with my weight and body image. My weight is something I have...

It was a Thursday night and I was experiencing the ravages of an ear infection that seemed to go from 0 to 100 in approximately 2 hours. I’ve never had...

Getting a lupus diagnosis was hard enough at the age of 27, and looking back my doctors never prepared me if other diagnoses could follow. I don’t know if they...

Most lupus patients talk about the fatigue, joint pain, and social isolation that comes with a chronic illness. But a topic you hear about less from chronically ill people is...

I thought when I got diagnosed with lupus I would receive a "welcome packet" at the doctor's office, like you do when you get accepted to college. I thought my...

We've all been there. You sit across from the doctor, relief washing over you as they finally give you a diagnosis. But as you leave the office, a nagging voice...

Content Note: This article mentions abuse and addiction. If you or a loved one are struggling, consider reading our Mental Health Resources page. Growing up, we all had dreams of...

I recently had a flashback from the first year after my lupus diagnosis: I was lying on the couch with high pain levels and I had read an extensive list...

As a teacher, the beginning of the school year is usually the most hectic time of the year for me, even though I teach privately (one-on-one violin lessons) rather than...

After my lupus diagnosis, it really opened my eyes to see who really were my friends. When I got diagnosed I was met with an assortment of emotions, ranging from...

People often don’t understand how a person with lupus (or any autoimmune disease) could need different kinds of support from loved ones. A prime example, I needed the medication for my...

For most women, a pedicure is a pampering ritual. A chance to unwind, choose a vibrant new shade. Additionally, to leave with toes and hands that feel as good as...

When I was first diagnosed with lupus in the summer of 2012, the first medication my doctor started me on was hydroxychloroquine. I was on that for about nine months...