How To Win at Black Friday When You Are Chronically IllBlack Friday. When we hear these words, most of us think of frenzied crowds charging through Walmart doors, exhausted sales associates and harangued store managers, and people filling their carts...reactions1comment
My Medication Travel GuideLike many of you, I am on a constant search to organize my medications, auxiliary medications, braces, and many other items that I need to manage my lupus. I travel a...reactions1comment
My Experience Getting Botox InjectionsBotox injections are used for a wide variety of medical conditions. I’ve been getting them for cervical dystonia over the past year. I have severe muscle tension in my neck...reactions2comments
Putting My Best Foot Forward – Walking to Manage FlaresI remember "pre-lupus" when my workouts were plentiful, and fatigue was at a minimum. There was a time when working out and exercising did not cause my body to be...reactionscomments
All About HydroxychloroquineTwelve years ago, I sat in a rheumatologist's office for the first time. "You have lupus," she said. "I'm going to start you on a dose of Plaquenil or hydroxychloroquine."...reactions5comments
I’m Stressed Out: Tackling Stress and LupusI am currently experiencing lupus at a rate of several WTFs per incident. I’m operating in a level of confusion that overrides my desire to just sit quietly in pain...reactions7comments
Lupus and TachycardiaI recently came down with a rather nasty virus. I was concerned it may have been COVID but I was relieved when my PCR test results came back negative. Although...reactions2comments
Overwhelmed by Doctor's AppointmentsI first started dealing with chronic pain and illness in 2015. Each year since then, I’m determined that this will be the season of my life where I don’t have...reactionscomments
3 Strategies to Get a Good Night's SleepLupus patients are often fatigued and need more rest than the general population – which is why it’s so frustrating that many people with lupus experience insomnia as a symptom...reactions5comments
5 Things to Pack in Your Hospital BagWhen we hear the term "hospital bag," we think of a sweet decorative bag full of onesies and maternity clothes. What if we thought about that term to describe those...reactionscomments
Lupus Horror Stories: Wicked Dreams Foretelling FlaresIt was a cold dark night. I could hear the wolves howling at the moon. A cool breeze came through my window and I shuddered. As I closed the window...reactions6comments
What is Medical PTSD?Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is anxiety in the aftermath of a traumatic event. You may think of it happening to a soldier returning from war or a victim of...reactions3comments
Becoming HypersensitiveIt suddenly dawned on me yesterday that I have spent half of my life being sick and it’s a pretty scary thought! I was diagnosed with lupus about 14 years...reactionscomments
Soothing Self-Care Giveaway Terms and ConditionsOfficial Rules, Terms and Conditions for the Soothing Self-Care Basket Giveaway NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE DOES NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED...reactionscomments
Living with Chronic Dry EyeMy problems with chronic dry eye appeared suddenly a few months after I was diagnosed with lupus. While on a road trip with my husband, I suddenly couldn’t make out...reactionscomments
Just For A Moment I’ll ReleaseIt’s been a long time that I have had to wear a mask. Not the mask because of the pandemic but, the mask of making myself look well when I...reactionscomments
Can Someone With Lupus Ever Stop Taking Prednisone?Corticosteroids, also called steroids, are often used to treat lupus. Prednisone is the most commonly prescribed steroid for lupus. While it is effective at reducing inflammation and its symptoms, it...reactions21comments
My Diagnosis Story, Part 2During my second semester of grad school, I continued to search for a diagnosis. I was growing sicker and sicker. The brain fog intensified and the fatigue became unbearable. I...reactions2comments
Coping with Brain FogSince my lupus symptoms began, one of the main issues I have struggled with has been a near-constant foggy-headed feeling that seems to come and go with intensity. In the...reactions1comment
My Experience with Prednisone and OsteoporosisJust recently I was in a car accident, my second car accident. This time my daughter and husband were in the car with me. This emotional experience impacted me deeply...reactionscomments