The lupus life can feel seriously lonely. Supporters surround me, but I know they can’t understand the things I endure. Lupus can create a whole lot of problems, mentally and physically. A tiny symptom can become something serious. When serious flares strike, I fear that one of the many…
Lupus is unpredictable. If you have it, you might wake up feeling it’s a good energy day only to end up in the hospital. Now, in addition to already living a topsy-turvy life, we have a global pandemic to manage. Those of us already coping with depression and anxiety from…
When the doctor told me that I have lupus, I first thought only of the diagnosis. I had no clue that so much more would come with the knowledge that I would be fighting my body for the rest of my life. Guilt, depression, anxiety are just a few…
For those of us battling lupus, chronic fatigue is often the reason we cancel social engagements at the last minute. Some friends and family members don’t understand that our fatigue is not a normal type of tired. Sleeping for days on end is not unusual with lupus, and we…
When I recently was admitted to the hospital, I had no idea it would be for two weeks. But after hearing the list of reasons for my admission, I understood that it would take a while. I had planned to be in the States for a routine four-day visit,…
Sometimes, I forget that I have lupus. Is that weird? I have spent so much time pushing my body and telling myself that many of the things I can no longer do are because I am not trying hard enough. Then I landed in the hospital followed by a…
It’s been an interesting couple of months. I have learned, endured, and accepted (I hope) a lot. I am always doing checks and balances with my mental health, working to find joy on difficult days, being grateful for another day, and looking for opportunity amid my adversity. Following my…
I was lulled into thinking that I could give American healthcare another chance. I had a 14-day stay at the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital in Tampa, Florida, where I was treated like a VIP. I heard about the culture shift throughout the hospital, and I felt it through…
People tease about how there are no manuals for rearing kids. Well, there is no manual on how to navigate an illness like lupus, either. Everyone is simply winging it and hoping they are making the right decisions. It seems lupus is always delivering something new, with no instructions…
A routine visit with my primary care doctor turned into the biggest reality check of my life. It led to a two-week hospital stay followed by a move to a 24-hour rehabilitation center where my weak immune system required full isolation. Life seems to build up armor before the battle.