Diaries of a Lupus Chick - a column by Marisa Zeppieri

Marisa is a journalist, author, and former Mrs. New York 2015. Her verticals include health, nutrition, food, recipe creation, and food photography. She is also the founder of LupusChick.com, a NY-based nonprofit and FB community that helps patients and families dealing with incurable autoimmune disease. Currently working on her second book, she enjoys traveling with her husband and rescued terrier, Bogey.

3 tips for facing a change of seasons with lupus

Ah, the changing seasons. Spring is finally here, and for many people, it’s an exciting time of rejuvenation, of shedding winter coats and embracing the sun’s warmth. But for those of us with chronic illnesses like lupus, each seasonal change can feel like stepping into a battlefield of unpredictable…

Working with chronic illness doesn’t always look like a 9-to-5

In the past three decades of dealing with unpredictable health issues, a pain point has reared its head over and over again for me. After countless conversations with other chronic illness warriors, I know it’s an ongoing struggle for many: employment and financially caring for ourselves. The constant struggle for…

Honoring my dog, Bogey, and a life well-lived

Chronic illness can bring a variety of challenges and limitations into our lives that are out of our control. For me, one of those was my inability to have children of my own. That was a hard pill to swallow, and it took time for me to work through it…

Holiday party planning for those with chronic illness

It’s the holiday season again, and while it’s my favorite time of year, it’s also the season that stresses me out the most. If you have lived with chronic illness for a while, as I have, you’re likely aware that it doesn’t mix well with stress. One…

My mantra for a flare is ‘It’s OK not to be OK’

If you have a chronic illness, I imagine you’ve experienced a moment of guilt at some point because you weren’t able to get out of bed due to a flare or other ongoing symptoms. I even bet you’ve felt that way more than once. I’m more accepting today…