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“The body keeps the score.” Before I was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus, I’d never heard that saying. Over the years, though, I’ve found it to be true. Yes, the body does keep the score, and, unfortunately, the body’s limitations dictate the day. Its disabilities and diseases alter careers,…

Living with lupus is such an individual, personal experience, something I have written about frequently. I assume the same applies to many other chronic conditions as well. Yet we share many things in common, too — the chaos, fear, labs, medicines, limitations, loneliness, altered friendships, bruises, falls, loss of…

Lupus attacked me in an entirely different way this year. How did I respond? You guessed it: I rushed to get an urgent, same-day visit with a specialist, then sprinted to the emergency room when the pain kept shifting and didn’t respond to any treatment I had at home.

There’s a touchy topic in the world of chronic illness that most of us have to deal with at some point: how to navigate the workplace. I’m talking about the real-life version, not the picture-perfect, über-polished LinkedIn one. It’s the reality of sitting in your car before walking into the…

Failure often makes you reflect on the things you didn’t see earlier. When you miss the mark, you tend to consider what caused the misstep and what steps you could have taken to avoid it. Success doesn’t demand the same kind of reflection, although doing so can help you maintain…

Here’s a truth I believe many of us can agree with: Dating in the modern world is a wild ride. Even if you are healthy, it takes a lot out of you. Add in a chronic illness diagnosis and whoa! Suddenly, that roller coaster has a few extra loops, a…

“I hope in 2026/ you let everything/ you survived become/ your superpower.” — @spiritdaughter Those words, written in a simple white font, sit on a silver-spotted, emerald green background. They are part of a carousel of quotes posted on Instagram by author Jill Wintersteen. I reread…

There’s an area of life with chronic illness that many of us rarely bring up at doctor appointments, even while it quietly reshapes our relationships: sex and intimacy. When you’re living with a chronic illness like lupus, nearly every area of life changes. Energy shifts. Priorities change. Career and…

Holidays are either the best or the absolute worst time to get out and travel. Yes, there’s the joy of seeing extended family, sharing gifts, laughing through photo albums, reuniting with old friends over homemade eggnog and caroling, and making new memories. But then, like clockwork, concerns arise about…

Where were you when you were told you had lupus? Who gave you the official diagnosis? Confirming lupus is a challenge, not only because it seems to be a mystery to primary care physicians and specialists, but also because of the testing structure, insurance requirements, and even access limitations.