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
Tag: lupus community
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
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. (Jeanette is on our 2018 Team of Advisors.) Can you share a bit about your diagnosis and… 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
What’s the lupus/kidney connection? Our healthcare pros explain lupus nephritis and more
“Kidney” is one of the top terms that PatientsLikeMe members are searching for in the lupus forum (click here to join the site for forum access). Last year’s news of Selena Gomez’s kidney transplant put a spotlight on the lupus/kidney link. Lupus can affect your kidneys in a few different ways, so we asked our Health Data Integrity Team (our in-house… Continue reading What’s the lupus/kidney connection? Our healthcare pros explain lupus nephritis and more
Lupus Hair Loss and Folic Acid Hair Loss: Tips and Treatments
Are you losing some of your locks because of lupus? Hair loss isn’t usually listed among the core symptoms of lupus, but it does affect many people living with SLE (systemic lupus erythematosus) and discoid lupus. It may be caused by lupus itself, certain treatments for lupus, or other illnesses or health issues (such as thyroid… Continue reading Lupus Hair Loss and Folic Acid Hair Loss: Tips and Treatments
Zoodles! Let’s dish on lupus/food + swap recipes
If you’re living with lupus, have you found any particular foods that affect you and your condition — for better or worse? Member Jeanette (JeanetteA6872), a member of the 2018 Team of Advisors who’s living with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), shares which ingredients she tries to include or avoid in her diet, plus three of her favorite… Continue reading Zoodles! Let’s dish on lupus/food + swap recipes
Health news: What’s making headlines in June
In case you missed it, check out this round up of some of the stories making headlines in June… Parkinson’s disease: Apple Watch will now be able to monitor PD: Tech developers announced this month that the Apple Watch will now be able to track two common PD symptoms — tremors and dyskinesia —… Continue reading Health news: What’s making headlines in June
Member Christine’s Instagram takeover for World Lupus Day
In case you missed it or you’re not on Instagram, on World Lupus Day (May 10), PatientsLikeMe member Christine took over our Instagram to share her experiences and help raise awareness of lupus (May is Lupus Awareness Month). Christine is a native Californian, a social butterfly, an advocate and a member of our 2018 Team of Advisors (check… Continue reading Member Christine’s Instagram takeover for World Lupus Day