If you live with chronic pain, you already know that there are some times when the pain is significantly worse than others. These sudden episodes of increased pain are known as flare-ups. The cause of flare-ups can be as diverse as the cause of the chronic pain itself and can vary depending on what type… Continue reading Chronic Pain Flare-Ups Explained: What Are They? How Do You Recover?
Category: Lupus
What causes chronic pain? Is chronic pain a disability?
Medically Reviewed and Written By: Kathleen O’Shea Northrup, MD What Causes Chronic Pain? When people think of pain, they frequently imagine injuries like fractures or burns or pain from illnesses like strep throat or appendicitis. This type of pain is known as acute pain, meaning it comes on fairly quickly and is expected to resolve… Continue reading What causes chronic pain? Is chronic pain a disability?
9 Anti-Inflammatory Foods to Fight Chronic Illness
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes Eat Your Way to Relief: 9 Powerful Anti-Inflammatory Foods to Fight Chronic Illness If you’re living with a chronic illness, there’s a good chance your doctor has suggested altering your diet to help reduce or eliminate inflammation in the body. Increasing evidence suggests that there is a link between inflammation… Continue reading 9 Anti-Inflammatory Foods to Fight Chronic Illness
7 Things You Need to Know About Living with Lupus
After months or even years of experiencing symptoms like extreme fatigue, skin rashes, pain, or swelling in the joints, you finally got a diagnosis. It’s lupus. Because symptoms differ from person to person, can come and go, vary in intensity, and mimic symptoms of various other diseases, lupus can be difficult to diagnose. Lupus is a… Continue reading 7 Things You Need to Know About Living with Lupus
From Lupus Diagnosis to Fearless Patient Advocate
Meet Alyshia Alyshia Merchant was always healthy, but as a busy mom, she did experience fatigue from time to time. However, it wasn’t until she was out to dinner in 2012 when the early signs of her condition became more apparent. Her friends pointed out a rash that had spread across her cheeks and nose.… Continue reading From Lupus Diagnosis to Fearless Patient Advocate
Lupus And Period Problems, Explained
Are you living with lupus (SLE) and experiencing problems with your monthly period? (Like, not getting it. Or having a really heavy, long period.) And have you ever wondered how lupus might play a role in this? Read on. What Does The Research Show? Small studies have found that people with SLE are at greater risk… Continue reading Lupus And Period Problems, Explained
Family activities with a health condition
Your chronic health condition may steal your energy, but it shouldn’t rob you of family fun. Jeanette Alston-Watkins was diagnosed with lupus (SLE) when her kids were 11 and 14. Check out this Q&A about activities she enjoyed with them despite SLE. Try some of these with your children or grandchildren over the upcoming holiday… Continue reading Family activities with a health condition
Lupus Diagnosis and Lupus Self Test: Member Hetlena’s Pointers For Her Old (Newbie with SLE) Self
What would someone who has lived with lupus (SLE) for decades tell her younger, newly diagnosed self? PatientsLikeMe member Hetlena (@TheLupusLiar), who was diagnosed with lupus in 1993, recently answered that question for us in the following personal essay reflecting on what she’s learned through the years… Tips For A Newly Diagnosed SLE Patient “This… Continue reading Lupus Diagnosis and Lupus Self Test: Member Hetlena’s Pointers For Her Old (Newbie with SLE) Self
Parents with lupus (or any health condition) ‘don’t have to be perfect’ — take it from this mom
PatientsLikeMe member Jeanette Alston-Watkins (JeanetteA6872) was diagnosed with lupus in 2006, when her kids were 11 and 14. “My kids are my strength and they gave me energy and willpower,” she says in this Q&A about parenting with SLE. Can you share a bit about your diagnosis and how it impacted your children? They were… Continue reading Parents with lupus (or any health condition) ‘don’t have to be perfect’ — take it from this mom
Lupus Weight Gain: Q&A with the founder of Making Lupus Look Good
Alyshia Merchant knows first-hand how lupus can affect you inside and out. After her diagnosis in 2012 and struggles with visible symptoms and self-esteem, she launched an organization called Making Lupus Look Good, which provides wigs and “glam sessions” to people with lupus-related hair loss and other symptoms. The organization currently serves people in Alyshia’s home… Continue reading Lupus Weight Gain: Q&A with the founder of Making Lupus Look Good