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Optimism and Holiday Thanks

This year, in many ways, lupus has been the gift that just kept taking. But no matter how heartbroken I’ve felt in a single moment, I’ve put in the effort to find a silver lining to every single gray cloud that came my way. I’m not sure…

Weigh advantages against possible side effects

I am just gonna call out the white elephant in the room because everyone has seen the news about drug therapies and possible side effects but no one really knows who or how this affects someone with any chronic illness let alone, for me, with lupus. Let’s be honest, we…

With Lupus, You Can Rely on Unpredictable Pain

It may sound crazy to expect to be able to predict something as unpredictable as pain, so when I say “unpredictable pain” I don’t mean you should be able to set your watch by it; I mean you should have an idea of what level it will…

Sometimes Life is About the Destination, Not the Journey

I’ve been blessed with many supportive souls since my lupus diagnosis, a few of whom also live with chronic illness. One of them, along with her partner, has taught me a most valuable lesson, by being my constant reminder that sometimes it’s not about leaps and bounds, but…

Sex, Drugs and Rockin’ Lupus

You probably have heard the phrase “Sex, Drugs and Rock ‘n’ Roll.” I was used to hearing it as well as I grew up in the music industry in Los Angeles, with parents heavy into the ’80s rock scene. I grew up being told I was a rock star. No matter what…

Dear Vegans, Please Don’t Preach to Me

Veganism is a popular topic of late and, while I have opinions, its nutritional merits are not what I want to write about. Rather, as someone who lives on a medical – read: necessary and involuntary – elimination diet, I wish to kindly ask the vegan community not…