Life, Love and Lupus

One day about 15 years ago I woke up with what I thought was the flu. Body aches, muscle joint pain, and fatigue. Oh, the fatigue! It was horrible. After a week I started thinking that this was not the flu.

Daily fatigue

A few months go by and I feel worse every day. The fatigue was so bad I couldn’t get out of bed most days. I was lucky and had a husband that believed me and he took great care of me. Finally after 2 years and many, many doctors I was diagnosed with lupus.

Change from an active life

Before lupus, I was a gymnast, skied, played competitive soccer, hiked, went boating, ran, and exercised every day. Lupus has robbed me of all the sports I loved doing. My kids were young but they were so loving and caring, like my husband.

Friendships change

I lost a lot of friends because of lupus. Some thought it was all in my head or I was exaggerating the pain and fatigue.

I wasn’t able to go out as much and I canceled plans all the time because I was in a flare or just didn’t have the energy.

A sudden loss

In the last two years, my kidneys have started to fail. My husband passed away suddenly from a massive heart attack 6 years ago. I was devastated. He was everything to me and my kids. He was my best friend, lover, caretaker, etc. I thought that I would just be alone for the rest of my life because I didn’t want to be a burden to someone. My husband and I had been married for 25 years.

Sharing my lupus diagnosis

One day a year after my husband passed away I was in Home Depot trying to decide if I would have the energy and strength to paint my bedroom when a manager came up to help me. We started talking and he asked me out. I hesitated and told him I would love to go to dinner with him but that I have Lupus. We decided to talk about it at dinner.

Turns out his sister has lupus so he knew what it was and how her flares were. I honestly think my husband sent him to me.

My support network

We have been together ever since that day and when I’m in a flare he is so loving and understanding.

Lupus has robbed me of so much in my life, but my kids, boyfriend, and the few friends that stuck around have made my life bearable.

Lupus warriors fight every day

I fight this illness every day and I will fight until I die. I am a Lupus Warrior!

Interested in sharing your own diagnosis story, treatment experience, or another aspect of living with lupus?