Preparing to Start Infusion Treatment for LupusFor over 50 years, there were only 3 FDA approved drugs for lupus: hydroxychloroquine, corticosteroids, and aspirin.1 Other medications, such as immunosuppressants and chemotherapy, have been used off-label to successfully... By Ava Meena3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Lupus: Immunity and InsectsSummer. The time I year I bask in the sun. I am one of the lucky ones, even with all the medications I take, I do not have sun sensitivity... By Maggie LoBue3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments8 comments
When Lupus Limits Physical AffectionDo you know what my husband needs? A hug. A reassuring hand on his arm. A gentle back rub. All simple physical gestures, and all too frequently beyond my ability... By Ava Meena2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
Changing My Diet With LupusEveryone living with lupus is different. However, I have found that making a few changes to my diet has helped improve my health. In my experience, my lupus improves when... By Jokiva Bellard2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
My LupusMy symptoms started when I was 21yrs old. I had just gotten married and was working one of my dream jobs. I was first diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Then I... By angiebobe1 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments9 comments
The Perfect FriendI left my rheumatologist office one day so empty inside, so alone with my own body, defeated, sad, and mostly abandoned by life. It is hard when your doctor wants... By magicalpatterns2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
What Is Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease?Undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD) is a term given to an autoimmune disease affecting the connective tissue. Autoimmune diseases occur when your body’s defense system, the immune system, is too... By Editorial Team3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
My Ever-Changing NormalWhen you graduate high school there’s this feeling that the whole world is available to you and to all of your dreams. Shortly after I graduated in 2004 at 18... By Francesca Rudman3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
The Unlikely Story of a Lucky Diagnosis, Part 2Editor’s note: This is the second article in a 2-part series. The first is “The Unlikely Story of a Lucky Diagnosis, Part 1” I was diagnosed with stage 4 lupus... By Negin Dadkhah3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
Post-Activity Stiffness and Psoriatic ArthritisPlease do not take this as the standard stiffness all of us with psoriatic arthritis usually experience first thing in the mornings. I want to talk more about being active... By Editorial Team3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Age of Lupus Symptom Onset vs. DiagnosisNot only do symptoms of lupus vary widely, so does the length of time that symptoms stay present. Symptoms such as brain fog, seizures, alopecia, and rashes may show up... By Editorial Team3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Ask The Advocate: How PsA Impacts Daily LifePsoriatic arthritis can change how you live your life every single day. This condition is the center of the wheel that outreaches to all different aspects of life: physical and... By Editorial Team4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Finding a Good RheumatologistPeople who have chronic health conditions like ankylosing spondylitis (AS) or other similar diseases might be advised by their regular doctor or primary care physician to see a specialist known... By Editorial Team2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
4 Ways I Advocate For Myself At The ER or Urgent CareAs someone living with lupus, there are times you have an urgent matter that needs immediate attention. When your doctor is not available to see you, the ER or urgent... By Maggie LoBue2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Steroid Cream for Scalp?Hi Ava, You mentioned steroid cream for scalp. Can you tell me more about that? Thanks JoAnn... By joann1 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
What Does Life With Lupus Look Like In 5 Years?Looking at Facebook on my phone, I see a post that reads, “What would you do if you had a glimpse for one hour of where your life would be... By Marci Kallick2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
The (Virtual) Doctor Is In! Sharing Telehealth ExperiencesAs the COVID-19 pandemic continues, telehealth is being used by more and more people. Telehealth is also sometimes called telemedicine or virtual care. Whether you have been using telehealth for... By Editorial Team1 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Brain Fog: The Impact of RA on Mental FunctioningResults from the 2019 RA In America Survey showed that 61 percent of survey participants living with RA experienced brain fog within the last month of taking the survey. Along... By Editorial Team2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Living With Fibromyalgia And ASWhen you live with ankylosing spondylitis, the pain is constant. Not to mention the brain fog, extreme fatigue, stiffness, trouble sleeping, and more. Many people who live with AS also... By Editorial Team3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
“But You Don’t Look Sick”The thing about living with a sometimes-invisible disease is that it sort of feels like it's you against the world. You're living with this secret, this shadow, this double-life —... By Editorial Team2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
