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Sarah’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Lupus, Fibromyalgia)

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Aug
05
2011
Sarah's Story (Lupus Fibromyalgia)

I don't think I'll ever forget how my diagnoses came about. I thought it was just a routine follow up I was having with my Orthopedic Surgeon concerning my second right shoulder surgery. Then, I mention to my doctor about chronic jaw pain I've been having and how I've already seen a dentist and had my wisdom teeth removed and hoped possibly he could help me. He thought it was odd I had a lot of joint pain at the age of 17 so he decided to run some blood work. My ANA came back positive, so he sent me to see a rheumatologist. My jaw wasn't the only joint where I was experience pain at so they ran some tests and I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. Around the same time all this was happening I broke out in a really painful rash on my arms and got sent to a few more doctors. They took a skin culture and the tests came back positive for Discoid Lupus. I was half-way through my senior year of high school and got really sick. Luckily all of my teachers were very understanding and helped me … [Read more...]

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Sonya’s Fight Like A Girl Story (Lupus)

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May
29
2011
Sonya's Story (Lupus)

Purple Colored Sunglasses I walked with a pretty fast gait. I walked around others who couldn't catch up to me. Rolled my eyes at those who were too slow. Cringed at the elderly who took too much time getting up the steps to the bus. I cringed at ANYONE who took too much time to do anything! My intention wasn't to be rude. It's just I had SOMEWHERE TO GO! I couldn't wait for time - time had to catch up to ME. I had to take my daughter to school, get ready for work, work for ten to twelve hours a day and with my job I was always on the move. I had to get home and drive through crazy Chicago rush hour traffic, grocery shop, and make it home to cook dinner. Help my daughter with her homework and make sure I got in the bed with just enough sleep to do it all over again. Slowing down? Not an option for me. The world had to match my speed. Not the other way around. But times began to slowly change. I was out of breath more often than I cared to admit. I started … [Read more...]

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Shalina’s Fight Like A Girl Story (Lupus)

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May
06
2011
Shalina Lupus Story

My name is Shalina Tovar and I battle Lupus, a kidney disease. I have been fighting like a girl since May of 2005 which is when I was officially diagnosed. My Lupus has caused my left hip to fail. I've been dealing with avascular necrosis of the hip since 2009 and now I will have to have a hip replacement on April 13, 2011. I just have to say that without the support of my Husband, church, family, friends, and most importantly without God, I would not be where I am today. I will continue to fight like a girl till they find a cure to end this awful disease!! To anyone who is battling a disease without a cure, don't ever give up! We have to stay strong and have a little faith that one day a cure will be found to end the fight! Shalina Georgia Submitted 3-18-11 The informational content of this article is intended to convey a personal experience and, because every person’s experience is unique, should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional healthcare advice. … [Read more...]

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Monique’s Fight Like A Girl Story (Lupus)

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Feb
06
2011
Monique's Story (Lupus)

I've been sick, literally, since the day I was born. My real mom is an addict who couldn't get sober while pregnant. I was born early and addicted. The drugs that sent her into labor early, also magnified a congential heart defect that runs in my family. I had open heart surgery when I was 7. And I never looked back. I was completely unstoppable! I became trained in classical ballet. I was in jazz, tap, and gymnastics. I was so excited when I made the drill team in high school. We won awards on a national level - which allowed me to perform in the Main Street Parade of DisneyWorld, and with Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders during half-time. I was working as a phleb for a nearby cancer center. When the fall semester was to start, I would be there for the nursing program. It all started with one migraine headache. The next month, I had two migraines. They increased to 3 a month. Before I knew it, I was barely over one when the next would hit. I had to leave my job. I got in to see a … [Read more...]

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5 Ways To “Fight Like A Girl”!

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Jan
29
2011
5 WAYS TO FLAG

It's a brand new year and I'd like to welcome you to the lupus corner of the Fight Like A Girl club! What does it mean to "Fight Like A Girl" you ask? It means to learn how to have the courage to speak up, to share your story! To battle against your disease and continue to have hope. To encourage others and soothe the soul. It means banding together and reaching out to a fellow sister regardless of the different illness that ails us because we are all fighting to live! Now that we know what it means to "Fight Like A Girl", let's learn how to do it! Step 1: Acknowledge it! First we have to acknowledge that we have an illness before we can take a step in any direction. This is sometimes the hardest step for most of us who have come back from the doctors' office with a shocking diagnosis. Take a deep breath, and exhale! We must come to terms with the fact that being sick is not our fault and we should not be ashamed because of it. Denial is extremely unhealthy! If you … [Read more...]

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Anabel’s Fight Like A Girl Story (Lupus)

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Jan
13
2011
Anabel's Story (Lupus)

Hello, I’m 34 years old. I was diagnosed with lupus about a year and 6 months ago. Since then, I’ve been in treatment. It started with pain on my knees and my energy was low. My job was to fill empty bins at a fast pace. Because of this problem, I had to go see my doctor and my test for lupus came.  It was positive and I needed to see a bone doctor who told me that I also have Rheumatoid Arthritis. Then from there all my life changed completely. I had to try several medications: Prednisone 10mg 1 every day, after that I was put on Hydroxchloroquine 200mg 2 times a day, then continued with another, Azathioprine 50mg 2 times a day. I sleep a lot and try to eat healthy and do exercise but it’s hard to when the joints hurt and at times I feel heavy and tired. Sometimes I’m good to go and hang out at church trying to be involved in something that can give me happiness. I sing and help care for children and teach arts and crafts. Meanwhile, my parents are learning … [Read more...]

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Amy’s Fight Like A Girl Story (Lupus)

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Nov
22
2010
Amy's Story (Lupus)

Lately, even as sick as I am — recovering from a lupus flare that began six months ago — I’ve learned to be grateful for the disease I have. My appreciation slowly started maybe about a year ago when I was starting to feel somewhat better and was told I might be going into remission. Well, life happened, as did stress and working, and my disease pulled a 180. I had been diagnosed for a little over two years at that point and I was shocked to find I could get really sick. I thought it would just be the everyday symptoms that were managed *fairly* well with my medicines. I guess not because I found myself unable to work and struggling to take care of my five-year-old daughter. Of course, this flare happened about the same time I moved back out on my own (away from immediate family), so I was alone the majority of the time. But I pulled through. It hasn’t been easy and I still struggle every day. Sometimes I think I’m worse now than when the flare started, but the … [Read more...]

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Alyssa’s Fight Like A Girl Story (Lupus)

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Oct
22
2010
Alyssa's Story (Lupus)

Hello Fight Like A Girl Club! My name is Alyssa and I have Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. I am 14 years old and a freshman in high school. I was diagnosed 6 years ago by my rheumatologist and have since been battling with lupus. Lupus is a chronic disease in which your immune system thinks that your blood cells and platelets (which protect your body from disease) are the virus. My friends have always asked me why I couldn’t play sports with them, why I was always out of school, and why I couldn’t go outside in the extreme cold. The symptoms of lupus are extreme fatigue, fevers, Raynauds syndrome, extreme bruising, unusual hair loss, and swelling/aching of the joints. I’ve told my story to hundreds of people at conferences for arthritis and lupus. However, it's hard for older people to connect with me because there are very few teenagers like me that have lupus. I was the only teenager at the Lupus Foundation Conference. But since lupus falls under the arthritis … [Read more...]

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Myricle’s Story (Lupus)

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Oct
13
2010
Purple Lupus Ribbon

I was diagnosed with Lupus at age 12 in 1990. That was so long ago and neither me nor my family had ever heard of it. I was a very active child and all of a sudden I would get very fatigued and had not even done very much. My joints started aching everyday and my ankles, knuckles, and forehead were swelling. I went to the hospital and they didn't know what was goin on. They knew it was kidney related because of the swelling. I was transferred to a children's hospital for further testing and a kidney biopsy! I was so scared - I had NEVER been sick. When the results came back the Dr. informed me and my mom that I had Lupus. I turned to my mom and asked "Am I going to die?" She said, "No baby, you're NOT gonna die" and those were the words that kept me going. I'm 32 now and going strong! Myricle Submitted 9-14-10 The informational content of this article is intended to convey a personal experience and, because every person’s experience is unique, should not be relied … [Read more...]

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Tara’s Story (Lupus)

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Oct
11
2010
Purple Lupus Ribbon

Hi, my Name is Tara. I will soon be 28 years old. I have been living with lupus (SLE/nuephritis) since the age of 14. I've never been upset or sorry that I have lupus and I dislike when others feel bad for me. Recently I've been dealing with a pretty bad lupus flare up. I grow so frustrated because I hate not having control over my own body right now. And my friends, family and co workers just don't get it. I know they will never be able to fully undertsand what I am talking about, but it just aggravates me, especially when they look annoyed with me for complaining of pain for 3 minutes of the day. If only they knew - which led me to writing this poem. Enjoy. Title: "I'm Sorry That Lupus Has Chosen To Call My Body Home" In the dark quiet hours, when all others are fast asleep, Is when I allow myself to feel this pain devour, me whole, as my tears seem to steadily seep- through in silence. I don't want your sympathy, I just want you to understand me- Impossible! … [Read more...]

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