Posts by: Darla Gay

Darla Gay

September 26, 2019September 24, 2019

Three Little Words That Will Change My Life

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

On a recent morning, I was lying in bed checking my emails. There was one from the hospital with test results from my last visit. A few days earlier, ... Read more

September 12, 2019September 10, 2019

With Lupus, You Always Need to Think About Sun Protection

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

My lower legs currently are covered with red spots. It has been so hot that I’ve been wearing capri pants every day. The result is that my legs have ... Read more

August 29, 2019August 27, 2019

An Instant Pot Means an (Almost) Instant Supper

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

I’ve been collecting kitchen gadgets for the past few years: The largest food processor available. A heavy-duty stand mixer. Pampered Chef’s Rockcrok slow cooker. So you know I jumped ... Read more

August 22, 2019August 20, 2019

Some Days, Exhaustion Overtakes the To-do List

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

I woke up this morning with a lot of things that needed to be done. By 2 p.m., only one thing had been checked off the list and I ... Read more

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