How To Travel With LupusSince 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...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Preparation For Blood Work and Testing (And The Wait That Follows)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...Reactions0reactionsComments13 comments
The Power of Taming Your Inner CriticA 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...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Getting Your Nails Done with LupusHaving 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...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
A Day in the Life of a Lupus Warrior: Comedy at Its BestThe 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...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
The Best Pets for Lupus PatientsAs 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...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Don't Call Me a WarriorHear 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...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Is It Worse To Have An Invisible Disability or a Visible One?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...Reactions0reactionsComments8 comments
A Personal Triumph for Sun SafetyIt 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...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Grin and Bear It - The Fangs and Flares of the Dentist’s LairOh 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...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
The Summer and PhotosensitivityWhen 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...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Catching the Flu When ImmunocompromisedIn 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...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
My Newest Symptom: CostochondritisAt 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...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
The Story of My First Lupus FlareIt 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...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
New Symptoms on A Long Overdue TripAs 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...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
A Man's Journey Through a Woman's DiseaseOne 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...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
My Lupus Fatigue Is Worse in the MorningsAsk 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...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Lupus and Getting A Yearly Skin CheckEver 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...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Work AccommodationsI 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...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
I Didn't Know I Had a Story, Until I Told My StoryLife 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...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments