One of the hardest parts of having lupus is how much of the unknown surrounds it. I’m not talking about just a lack of awareness among the wider population, although that is a problem. I’m speaking specifically of the fact that every day I live with a…
One thing I’ll always identify with lupus is a feeling that no amount of sleep is enough. Although I occasionally wake up feeling rested, for the most part, mornings are a gargantuan-size struggle before the day’s even begun. Of the year and a bit since my lupus diagnosis,…
A select number of family members and friends have been integral to my well-being and sanity since I was diagnosed with lupus in 2001. I’ve realized over the years that some people are truly compassionate and helpful, and will put in the effort to maintain a…
When I think of cold feet and a warm heart, what comes to mind is a caring relationship that carries a little fear of commitment. If that is what you thought of, too, sorry to take you down a different path. This one is literally one of cold feet and a…
Like many lupus patients, my life didn’t exactly go as planned. While my friends were all settling into their lives, mine was beginning to unravel. I had just been declared in remission from a rare blood disorder known as thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). I was looking forward to getting…
Stress is a trigger. It is one of the first things you learn as a lupus warrior. The unfortunate thing is that life is filled with stress. No matter what you do, there is going to be something that is going to create a certain level of…
After getting two masters degrees and a PhD while dealing with lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, the reality of what it means to be a chronically ill student was transformed into the reality of what it means to be a chronically ill worker. I have been in my current job since February…
As a single millennial, I live in the digital age of Tinder and unsubtle euphemisms. The phrase “Netflix and chill” can have many meanings, but for someone who lives with a chronic illness, like me, it tends to take a more literal form. Considering how significant the push…
For those of us with a chronic illness, I think it is safe to say that, initially, we had no idea how a diagnosis would impact our lives. At the age of 23, I was told lupus was the cause of my…
Compassion, empathy, and sympathy: These are all things we wish the world had more of. Understanding is also something we seem to ask for, but I humbly submit that of all the things on the list, this is the most difficult to give and to get. To truly…