Lupus was the ultimate wrench in the works. There isn’t one aspect of my life that went untouched; nothing was safe or left unchanged. I have to admit that in most cases it’s been a positive thing. However, when it comes to love, I can’t bring myself…
I sometimes think the old-school way is the best-school way. I want the technology, research and all that comes with making progress with lupus treatments. However, when you are dealing with medical professionals, a little old-school goes a long way. Doctors with great bedside manners seem to be…
There was a period of time, not long after my diagnosis, when I felt as if I had truly lost everything. I felt overcome by my condition, as if it had sucked all the goodness out of every aspect of my life. Today, I find myself on…
I grew up in a pretty tough neighborhood and was reared by a single mom. She was tough, and she wasn’t overly affectionate. We never heard “I love you,” but we knew she did anyway. She would fight for us with fierceness. Sometimes — a time or…
Can I just tell you that having lupus can really take it out of you? Mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Over the past few weeks I have run the gamut. There is not just an emotional toll for me. I…
When it came to my first six months with lupus, it felt like I took so many losses. My diet, my energy, my face, my body shape, the list just kept growing. I felt like I never got to take anything back. I never got to have a…
I write this in a state of disbelief and heartbroken shock. Not long ago I found out about the passing of someone whose presence merely graced my life, yet left a lasting imprint. I’d love to dedicate this column not only to one wonderful and strong woman,…
I recently was released from the hospital with more narcotics than a drug cartel, or at least that is what it felt like. Each one comes with its own issues and side effects. Instructions vary: Take after dinner,…
Though I openly hate it, I owe my good health to the prescription drug prednisolone. Anyone who has been prescribed the corticosteroid knows the love-hate relationship all too well. And while I can now look back and be grateful for its miracle powers of healing, there was…
Unbeknownst to me, there is a debate raging in online forums — and it has nothing to do with politics. The debate has been going strong for more than 30 years regarding whether birth control and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) causes flare-ups in Lupus patients. Most women are diagnosed…