Living

Traveling is stressful for anyone. Making sure you get everything in your bags. Even though you know you will inevitably leave something at home. Usually something that’s important. Even after making...

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...

Heart problems can be a big situation when it comes to having lupus. I was diagnosed with pericarditis. Pericarditis is the inflammation of the pericardium. It usually feels like sharp...

After I had COVID, I noticed that the right side of my face was a bit swollen. I informed my rheumatologist about it and he said with flares this does...

Are you tired of apologizing for things that are completely out of your control? Well, you're not alone! On this lupus journey, I have spent way too much time saying...

For the past year, I seem to have been plagued by recurrent yeast infections. The main issue for me has been vaginal thrush, although, I have suffered with oral thrush...

I can barely keep track of my doctors anymore. I know the important ones, of course, like my primary care and rheumatologist. I have an eye doctor and a dentist...

A vacation sounds so wonderful, so dreamy, like so much fun. Until you come back to reality. Remembering vacations aren’t so easy and you aren’t as free spirited as they...

Lupus can make you feel like you’re no longer in the driver’s seat. But the speed and landscape along the journey continue to change. You might not be diagnosed yet...

I thought having a lupus diagnosis was hard. But, these last few weeks have really tested my strength. I had recently undergone many tests (an MRI and 2 biopsies) to...

I was diagnosed with systemic lupus and lupus nephritis in 1995. I had no idea what lupus was nor had I ever heard of it. If this happened today, I...

Lupus is an autoimmune disease. This means parts of the immune system attack the body. It is challenging for the body to manage the internal assault. Life with lupus looks...

Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a lupus advocate? When I was first diagnosed, I never thought I would become an advocate for others. Knowing lupus is...

"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...

Let me tell you a story about a person called low self-esteem. They are kind of a downer, always feeling like they aren’t good enough and doubting their abilities. They’ve...

To have an autoimmune disease that comes and goes as it pleases can be very disturbing. I have had this disease for a while now and learned some of the...

Our lives are filled with family obligations, work and school responsibilities, healthcare appointments, and busy schedules. Stress is a normal part of life. But sometimes, stress can get out of...

Do you tend to have the same kind of lupus flare repeatedly? Or does it throw you for a loop, and you never quite know what to expect? I’ve found...

Think back to your childhood. Maybe you were home sick from school, or the weather kept you indoors. What was a surefire activity to keep you busy and entertained? It...

Sometimes it is so difficult to speak up for yourself during doctor visits. I have found it hard to get a word between all the information. It has even been...