Living

Having lupus means you have multiple appointments throughout the years. Not only with your rheumatologist but with the rest of your care team. Mine consisted of my nephrologist, pulmonologist, oncologist...

Every night, I count out a handful of pills. Six of these pills, which are prescribed by my rheumatologist to keep my lupus under control, are immunosuppressants. As their name...

I’ve been sharing my life with chronic illness openly online since nearly the moment my symptoms started happening. Sometimes it might look easy or seem natural, but it’s surprisingly difficult...

Living with lupus amongst other chronic illnesses is an uncharted journey that demands resilience, adaptation, and a strong spirit. When I got diagnosed with lupus, I was 27 and did...

The winter holidays conjure images of snowmen and candy canes, presents wrapped under a tree or beside a Menorah, and plates piled high with frosted sugar cookies. Unfortunately for us...

Does anyone remember as a child how you would just sit and doodle? We would doodle during class getting out nervous energy. Doodling, often seen as a mindless pastime, silently...

Turning 35 is a milestone for anyone, and as crazy as it sounds it is pretty much middle age for a huge amount of the population. Every day is super...

One of my most painful days with lupus wasn’t a day when my joints were swollen or when my fatigue was overwhelming. It wasn’t even when I was bedridden with...

Have you heard of choosing your hard? It’s usually framed in a way where either direction is hard (such as marriage or divorce) and you have to pick one. Well...

My husband and I recently purchased a car so now I’ve been planning several road trips for the future. But, living with lupus presents unique challenges and we just can’t...

My heart skipped a beat. I took a deep breath and then the anxiety hit. I muttered to myself, “What’s wrong with me? Is my lupus messing with my heart...

Lately at every party (I guess because I’m married and 34 and childless) people ask, "so when are you going to have kids?". I have a long winded explanation in...

In my life with lupus, my brain is keeping a constant tally of energy and how to "budget" my energy throughout the day. When the miniseries Maid began streaming on...

The Cozy Toes Giveaway is now closed. Thank you for your interest! Winter is here and that means dry skin, stiff and painful joints, and flare-ups caused by the shift...

One year ago, I began to struggle with pain and instability in my wrists. I had struggled with the pain of lupus arthritis in my hands since the very beginning...

Complications from lupus can result in neurological problems, that some may not understand if they are not familiar with how lupus. It can lead to headaches, nerve issues, seizures, and...

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...

Ever since I got my lupus diagnosis, my planning skills have excelled to the max - especially when it came to vacations. I would create itineraries on Excel sheets, listing...

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...