Living

Since becoming sick with lupus, I travel far less than I used to because the act of traveling is difficult due to the fatigue I live with everyday. Thirteen years...

It seems like every time I go into the doctor anymore they want to order more testing. Blood work, X-rays, CT scans, etc. Half of which I haven’t heard of, and...

A lupus diagnosis is a life-altering event. It's common to experience a rollercoaster of emotions. Emotions like fear, anxiety, grief, and guilt can all come flooding in. These emotions, while...

Having an autoimmune disease like lupus can be overbearing. Sometimes being a mother, wife, and working as well, you tend to not treat yourself when it comes to placing yourself...

The alarm clock screams. I hit snooze, because, well, lupus. Five minutes later, it screams again. This is a daily gamble. Will today be a "leap out of bed, ready to...

As soon as I graduated from college and moved into my own place, I knew I wanted a furry friend to share it with. I’d grown up with dogs and...

Hear me out…don't call me a warrior! Because I'm not always a soldier at war. These unseen battles, hold me tight in their shackles. Nothing can calm the fight I...

Like most lupus patients, I always wonder if I’d be treated differently by my family, friends, and doctors if my illness was visible. If I used a wheelchair, would people...

It didn’t take long after my lupus diagnosis for me to realize I was likely going to have some level of sun sensitivity, either from the disease or the medications...

Oh boy, the dentist's office. A place where I don't exactly RSVP with enthusiasm. It's like I’m in a dental safari, complete with probing tools, buzzing drills, and the ever-so-intimidating...

When you think of summer, what  do you think of first!?! For many people they think of vacations, time at the pool, outdoor barbecues, baseball games, and just being outdoors...

In my work as a violin teacher, I come into contact with dozens of students each day. Unfortunately, this also means that I’m exposed to dozens of students’ germs each...

At the beginning of last year I noticed a new symptom that I’ve never experienced before. I remember I was driving at the time when I noticed a sharp pain...

It was a beautiful day in Munich. My husband and I were both 25 years young and excited for our first real holiday since moving abroad to Germany for his...

As a lupus warrior who got diagnosed with Sjogren's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, I have been very hesitant to travel. I didn't know how my body was going to react. With...

One of the most pervasive myths is that lupus is solely a woman’s disease. As a man living with lupus, I navigate a landscape riddled with challenges and misunderstandings that...

Ask most lupus patients and they’ll tell you that their symptoms are worse at a particular time of day. Many patients feel increased fatigue or joint pain at the end...

Ever since my lupus diagnosis in 2017, my relationship with the sun has drastically changed. Growing up, I never was into skincare or thought about the lifelong effects of the...

I wake up in the morning with work, work, work, by Rihanna playing in my head, because that is all I do. I go to work, and am a mom...

Life has a way of surprising us. Sometimes, the most profound stories emerge from the most unexpected places. My journey with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) taught me that resilience and...