Posts by: Darla Gay

Darla Gay

August 15, 2019August 13, 2019

I Don’t Believe Your Product Will ‘Cure’ My Lupus

Columns, Learning to Live with Lupus - a Column by Darla Gay

Sometimes when people learn that I have lupus, they tell me about someone they know who was cured by taking a “magic potion.” Multilevel marketing companies are the worst ... Read more

August 8, 2019August 6, 2019

Could the Medicine I Take for Lupus Affect My Eyes?

Columns, Learning to Live with Lupus - a Column by Darla Gay

I’m going to see a new doctor in a few days. This time, it’s for my eyes. I wasn’t born with good eyes, and it’s just gotten worse over ... Read more

August 1, 2019July 30, 2019

Dealing with Questions from a New Specialty Pharmacy

Columns, Learning to Live with Lupus - a Column by Darla Gay

My insurance company changed my Benlysta (belimumab) prescription to a new pharmacy this week. So, I had to answer all of their new patient questions. First, we worked through ... Read more

July 25, 2019July 23, 2019

Could Swimming Be the Answer to My Exercise Dilemma?

Columns, Learning to Live with Lupus - a Column by Darla Gay

I am not a natural-born exerciser. No one in my family is athletic. There were no evening walks and no one played sports. We didn’t run unless we were ... Read more

July 18, 2019July 16, 2019

Everyday Germs Can Wreak Havoc on People with Autoimmune Diseases

Columns, Learning to Live with Lupus - a Column by Darla Gay

People who have dealt with lupus for any length of time know that it is an autoimmune disease. This means that your immune system can’t tell the difference between ... Read more

July 11, 2019July 9, 2019

Sometimes You Have to Take a Vacation from Stress

Columns, Learning to Live with Lupus - a Column by Darla Gay

When you have lupus, every single day brings on more stress. There are endless doctor visits and blood tests. You have to deal with brain fog. You have to ... Read more

June 27, 2019June 25, 2019

Could Cutting Out Potatoes Reduce Your Lupus Inflammation?

Columns, Learning to Live with Lupus - a Column by Darla Gay

Readers who are familiar with William Shakespeare’s play “Macbeth” will know that belladonna is a poison. So what does that have to do with potatoes? Everything — and nothing. ... Read more

June 20, 2019June 18, 2019

As a Lupus Patient, I Have Learned to Be Prepared

Columns, Learning to Live with Lupus - a Column by Darla Gay

Following your lupus diagnosis, visits to doctor’s offices begin to multiply. Sometimes I’ll have consultations with three different doctors in the same week. If they order tests, it means ... Read more

June 13, 2019June 11, 2019

Just Like Oprah, I Love Bread!

Columns, Learning to Live with Lupus - a Column by Darla Gay

I cannot deny it: I love bread. Toast with peanut butter has been my go-to breakfast for a long time. But as I am now learning, both of these ... Read more

June 6, 2019June 4, 2019

Will an Anti-inflammatory Diet Help My Symptoms?

Columns, Learning to Live with Lupus - a Column by Darla Gay

What is an anti-inflammatory diet? An anti-inflammatory diet is designed to reduce the inflammation in your body. Certain foods are known to contribute to inflammation, but it can also ... Read more