Diaries of a Lupus Chick — Marisa Zeppieri

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…

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…

Picture it: You’re deep in a lupus flare and have been in bed for weeks. In the silence, you think, “What is my purpose if I’m constantly sick?” or “How do I find meaning in my everyday life?” I can’t count how many times the frustration of being…

It can be a sticky topic — working (or not working) when living with a chronic illness. We travel so many journeys when we navigate this aspect of our lives. The fact is, each one of us will, at some point, experience our health intersecting with our ability (or inability)…

Having lived with lupus for decades and having spoken to countless chronic illness warriors over the years, I’ve realized that while our varied symptoms hit us differently, we all face one unifying dilemma: toeing the line of looking sick enough that medical personnel and others take us seriously while…

Have you noticed that certain stressors, environmental factors, lack of sleep, or foods seem to cause lupus symptoms to suddenly express themselves, or current symptoms to increase in severity? If so, you may have identified a trigger. When I was diagnosed with systemic lupus in 2001, I’d…

Few couples hearing the term “in sickness and in health” at their wedding have thoughts of chronic illness enter their mind. But the reality is, with almost half of the American population dealing with some type of chronic illness, this should be something all couples consider. Relationships, while…

Dealing with a chronic illness each day can be frustrating and overwhelming, so how do we factor in grief and the grieving process when someone close to us passes away? How do we actively mourn the passing of a loved one without causing a flare-up? To be honest,…

One topic I hear about often when it comes to lupus and chronic illness is the subject of employment. In the past 17 years, I’ve heard some incredible stories of compassionate employers from people living with lupus. Unfortunately, I have also heard stories that have made me cringe.

If you are living with lupus, you know all too well that we never get a break from the disease. I sometimes tell my husband that I wish I could go a few days without even hearing the “L” word. Although I feel (after 17 years) that I…

I recently spent a month with my family in my hometown region of Long Island, New York. It was an enjoyable but extremely busy season of life, so when a family member recommended I visit a local salt cave, I was intrigued. I hadn’t previously heard of salt cave…

I think learning how lupus can permeate every aspect of your life is one of the most frustrating and challenging aspects of dealing with the disease. Unfortunately, intimacy and our sex lives typically take a hit at some point. Maintaining a certain level of intimacy with your partner while…