The Lupus and Autoimmune Blog

My dad keeps telling people my hair is falling out. I have an autoimmune disorder called Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease, which causes me chronic muscle spasms; constant pain; weakness that sometimes prevents me from walking, showering or even getting out of bed; migraines; vomiting; tremors; episodes of depersonalization/derealization; and telogen effluvium, but sure, yes, my […]

The holiday season is upon us, a time to be happy and joyous, right?  At least that is what all the commercials show and tell us on TV.  It is the time to shop, purchase, and wrap presents for those we hold dear. It is the time to put up the tree or take out […]

If you’re thinking about bringing an animal into your life to help you manage your illness or emotional needs, it’s important to know the difference between a service dog vs emotional support dog. While both are helpful, they fill very different roles, and the rules and laws of access for one can be very different […]

By guest writer, Sarah Ratliff We’ve all had them, although we may call them by different names: epiphanies, eureka and aha moments, revelations, moments of truth or clarity—those defining moments when the light bulbs went on. Not only do things make more sense, they influence what we say and do from that point forward … […]

By contributing writer, Marisa Powers As many people with Lupus know, your life changes dramatically when you begin having symptoms – even the medications can wreak havoc on your lifestyle. But your friendships seem to be one of the first things affected when you have any chronic illness. There was a time when I used […]

This is a guest post by contributing writer, Stephanie Pawlowski When your spouse is facing chronic pain or illness, it can be a difficult and draining time for you and your family. Everything looks fine on the outside, and it’s hard to understand why your life together seems to have changed so much. Maybe the […]