Living

Since becoming unwell on my lupus journey, I have struggled with stress. It seems that my body can't seem to handle it, and my nervous system goes into overdrive. This...

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...

When a family member or a friend gets diagnosed with lupus it may be hard to know how to react or what to do. I know when I got diagnosed...

I dread that time of the month. Lupus has made it even worse – both the dread and the experience. Some menstrual cycles are more painful or inconvenient than others...

I only have a short time left before I deliver my second child. The doctor's visits have been easier, but I was finally able to meet my rheumatologist after not...

People living with lupus usually describe their neuropathy as numbness and tingling, starting in the extremities like the hands and feet. Symptoms can progress over time and travel up the...

I have reached 7 months in my pregnancy, and my flare is still consistent. I have taken a break from social media platforms and only post when needed. I am...

Sometimes I feel like a fraud. Putting on these masks while battling lupus can be exhausting. In a world where you're expected to be perfect, it's easy to feel like...

If you have been on blood thinners or have lupus, you are prone to bruises and scratches. I have experienced that a lot lately. People asked me how I got...

This is my 10th anniversary of being diagnosed with lupus, and I am so happy I made it this far. Being diagnosed with lupus at age 17 was a lot...

Sometimes, taking responsibility for your health kind of sucks. Have you been there – where you just want to do the right thing for your health but the process feels...

After almost 3 years, Covid finally got me. Unfortunately, my husband fell ill first. The day after Thanksgiving, I saw that he was wearing a mask. I asked him what...

I have been in the medical field for over 15 years. I’ve seen it from the inside out. I have seen providers of all kinds, from my "fellow" nurses, to...

When I first became sick with lupus, nearly everything about my life changed. I had once juggled my college classes with work and a social life without too much difficulty...

Getting diagnosed with lupus changed my life forever. I now had a "new normal" that I would have to adapt to. Looking at things retrospectively, there were a lot of...

Oh, the weather outside is getting a bit frightful. Cold has moved in and with it less daylight for many. The winter months are here. Days of feeling super tired...

Having a recent flare has shown me how unethical the medical system really is. I just had a recent flare while pregnant that lasted almost a month. This flare started...

I have noticed a pattern over the last several winters that I seem to pick up an onslaught of viruses. The exception for this was during the Covid-19 lockdown where...

I’ve never had any issues with my eyes, so I never needed to see an ophthalmologist (eye doctor) until my lupus diagnosis when I was prescribed Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine). My rheumatologist...

Getting back into a routine after the holidays can be challenging, especially for people in the chronic illness community. Increased fatigue and flares can happen, whether you took things slow...