Articles

Traveling always triggers my chronic fatigue. The long wait at the airport, having to stand in line, and carrying a suitcase all zap my energy. At home, I can use...

Before I developed lupus, I used to love being in the sun and getting a tan. It does make me cringe when I look back and remember how I would...

Date nights are a bit different now with my diagnosis. Before we used to just go out all spontaneous, at a spur of the moment and decide "let’s try this...

My personal balance between patient and person has been going in the wrong direction lately. I’ve never felt like the balance was perfect, even though my lupus diagnosis was 6...

For most of us with lupus, chronic fatigue is unfortunately here to stay. My own chronic fatigue makes it especially difficult to do household chores. After waking up exhausted and...

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...

A few weeks ago, I received a scary phone call from someone I cared about. An elderly relative who lived near me was very sick and needed to go to...

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...