Sick Girl Problems, a column by Christine Von Raesfeld

At the age of 28, I was diagnosed with a severe case of lupus. In addition to the renal effects, my lupus began to attack my central nervous system, including my brain. My cognitive function, memory, and mood were greatly affected and made it difficult to do my normal job.

Dealing with an illness isn’t easy, and going through it alone can make things more difficult. Support is one of the most important aspects of dealing with any disease, including lupus. While family and friends can be a crucial part of your support system, it helps to seek advice from…

In the wake of the opioid controversy, it’s important to understand that some patients will do just about anything to resolve their pain. Without stronger medications, most will suffer in silence. Some are even being told to take Tylenol for pain that was once treated with much stronger drugs. The…

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…

With beauty playing such a pivotal role in our society, women often are criticized for changes in their appearances. About 90% of lupus patients are women, which can make dealing with the disease more difficult. Lupus can wreak havoc on the body and change a person mentally and physically. While…

Being diagnosed with a chronic illness as a child can affect an individual on so many different levels. For myself, being diagnosed at age 14 with several chronic illnesses (including lupus) increased anxiety and stress in my life. My illness caused me to make decisions and choices that I would…