Posts by: Darla Gay

Darla Gay

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

May 30, 2019May 28, 2019

Just Breathe: Trying to Calm the Chaos in My Brain

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

I used to be a neat, organized person. Being diagnosed with lupus, however, turned my world upside down. I was bombarded with new words, new medications, and new doctors. ... Read more

May 23, 2019May 21, 2019

Doctors or Insurance: Who Decides the Best Lupus Treatment for Me?

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

My rheumatologist’s office is almost two hours away from my home. He is highly regarded in his field, so I make the trip to see him every three months. ... Read more

May 16, 2019May 14, 2019

How I Found Gratitude in Spite of Multiple Illnesses

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

When your list of chronic illnesses keeps getting longer, it’s hard to find things to be grateful for. It is so easy to sink into a deep depression and ... Read more

May 9, 2019May 7, 2019

Finding Ways to Make Sleep Come More Easily

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

My doctor sent me for a sleep study after my husband told him how loudly I snored. I tried to tell them that it wasn’t that bad, but as ... Read more

May 2, 2019April 30, 2019

On the To-do List: How to Cope When You Have Brain Fog

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

Lupus ‘brain fog’ is aptly named When I am tired or under a lot of stress, my brain gets foggy. The official name for this is cognitive dysfunction, but ... Read more

April 25, 2019April 23, 2019

Learning to Identify My Migraine Triggers

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

If you have never experienced a migraine, you’re a lucky person. A migraine is the mother of all headaches: a throbbing, pounding pain so bad it makes you nauseated. ... Read more

April 18, 2019April 17, 2019

Lupus Plus Steroids Equals Weight Gain

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

I’ve been overweight most of my life. In high school, I thought I was fat! Looking back at pictures from that time, I wish I was that size again. ... Read more

April 11, 2019April 10, 2019

Lupus Has Made It Difficult to Work Full Time

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

Having lupus is hard enough, but when a full-time job is added in, it’s almost unbearable. Sleep is always an issue. It seems like we never get enough. And ... Read more