Pain and Paranoia Are Part of the Lupus Life

Kellie McRae avatar

by Kellie McRae |

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Picture it: It’s 2016, and life was good. I had hair. And then all of this unexplained pain ascended onto my body. I remember it like it was yesterday.

Once doctors declared what tortured me, I signed up for pretty much every Facebook group with the word lupus in it. Almost immediately, I realized that was a mistake.

What I found in those groups were people who felt hopeless and didn’t have much of anything positive to say. There were posts that listed illnesses as if competing in a competition of who suffers the most.

I didn’t understand it. I didn’t know what was happening with me, and I certainly did not understand what was happening with them. Just as quickly as I joined the groups, I left. But after battling lupus for four years, I now see some of what those people were expressing.

Lupus is sinister. It attacks when I least expect it, and what may seem small sometimes is not. I remember someone asking how a headache I had related to lupus. I thought, “Didn’t you get headaches before you had lupus? Everything is not about lupus.”

But time has shown me that any pain can leave me paranoid. Sometimes not only is it because of lupus, but it turns out to be a big deal.

When I am standing, I cannot for the life of me put my hands on my hips. I can push with all of my strength, but those hands will not touch my body. I can touch my lower body and walk them up, but they will not land directly on my hips. When this started, I thought there was a simple explanation for why I needed both hands to help each other when I showered. My doctor was concerned. A neurologist also was concerned. They thought that another ailment was causing my brain to rebel and shut down my body, keeping it from doing what it deemed nonessential. As the possibilities were discussed, I was freaking out.

We never figured out why I can’t put my hands on my hips, or shower my midsection without one hand holding down the other. But lupus decided it needed to be an issue. And that ordeal led to the sleek, bald hairdo people know me for today.

When I have a new ache or pain, it’s stressful. The idea that a regular headache could be lupus attacking my brain, nerves, or who knows what else is cause for anxiety.

It’s easy to judge people. I still don’t want to be in a space where there is more negative than positive, but I feel differently about some of the things that cause concern. I have more compassion for me and for others when questions arise that seem easy.

I have learned that with lupus not much is easy, and there is often cause for concern. It’s better to have it addressed than to think it will go away.

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Note: Lupus News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Lupus News Today, or its parent company, BioNews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to lupus.

Comments

Brenda Donofrio avatar

Brenda Donofrio

I hear ya, I have trouble with that too. But my issues are mainly trying to get my family or co workers to understand that I can't always be able to do the things they expect me to. Like my step sister couldn't understand why I could only do light work when helping my mom move back in April. It took me 2 weeks to recover. To keep my stress levels in control, I find it best to keep it to myself, unless it's someone who understands me better. I also try to find the humor in it. Like tonight I showed my daughter how hard it was for me to walk foot over foot in a straight line. She jokingly said that I would fail the sobriety test if I was pulled over. So I said to her that at least I would pass the breathalyzer test. I don't drink.

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Kellie McRae avatar

Kellie McRae

It’s funny the things we used to take for granted. I’m sorry your sister doesn’t quite understand but we can only do what we can do.

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Christine M avatar

Christine M

Hello pretty girl;
You look beautiful bald. I'm afraid to try it.LOL
It is hard sometimes to know what symptoms are worth looking into.
At a recent endoscopy, the nurse asked me how Lupus affected me. What could I relay in thirty seconds? Made me laugh.
There are so many symptoms that I just let them go at the end of the day and start fresh each a.m. Plus, you make be shocked but I am getting older too... so age related symptoms. Don't remember or focus on symptoms .....I am trying to live.
Wishing you the very best.

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Kellie McRae avatar

Kellie McRae

Hi Christine, thank you for sharing. I hear you on "I am trying to live". I think as we grow older in age and experience of battling our bodies, we should learn to determine which symptoms require more attention. We have chronic pain illnesses, if we ran to the doctor or lamented over every single symptom, we for sure would not be "living". I'm with you, let's keep pushing to get the highest quality we can while we can.

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tammy courtney avatar

tammy courtney

Scared to die . Dont talk to many need advice . Love spicy foods garlic ect hate meds. where do I turn want to get back to being strong not rely on self no pain is that possible

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Kellie McRae avatar

Kellie McRae

Hi Tammy, I'm not fully understanding what you are saying here so please forgive me. One thing is for sure, one thing we have in common, I too hate the meds but I have learned for as much as I dislike them, they do help.

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