ROMANS 8:18
Know You Are Not Alone... Lori's Story
Lori Carter is a national sales manager, a personal health coach, a wife and a mom. Her life was moving a million miles an hour before she was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), a chronic, systemic autoimmune disease, in April of 2013.
Lupus affects as many as 1 in 1000 people, and is caused by the immune system mistakenly attacking healthy cells. But its wide variety of symptoms and manifestations - like inflammation of the kidneys, joints, skin, severe fatigue, headaches, and lung issues - can make it difficult to tell who's sick, or what they're actually suffering from. As Lori explained, "It's a silent, cruel disease. And it is serious. I had no idea that you could die from it."
At the time of her diagnosis, Lori was told that if her symptoms had manifested 10 or 15 years ago, she likely wouldn't have survived. Four years on, she's finally managing her symptoms successfully. She prioritizes self-care by regularly exercising, eating no-processed-food diet, and staying hydrated.
(My own story started in 1975 and by the "Grace of God" I had a doctor who after many hospitalizations realized I had lupus. The only way they could treat me was steroids... I was in the hospital for a year and received IV steroids. When I was finally discharged... I was taking 47 pills a day of steroids. You can read my story tomorrow.)
These days Lori visits the doctor for lab tests to monitor lupus flares every 90 days instead of seven, and is taking three medications instead of 12. But it took time and a remarkable effort to get there.
You can find the rest of Lori's story at:
(Copy and Paste URL & Using the period)
https://www.benaroyaresearch.org/blog/post/living-lupus-lori-carter%E2%80%99s-story#:~:text=Living%20with%20Lupus%3A%20Lori%20Carter%E2%80%99s%20Story.%20Lori%20Carter,by%20the%20immune%20system%20mistakenly%20attacking%20healthy%20cells.
Write Your Own Story...
I would be happy to post your stories right here on my website, throughout the month of May. So please send me your story, you will find that by writing your own story that no one answer is available for all lupus (SLE) patients. That different medications and treatments work for a large variety of women.
I would also encourage mom's who have teen age daughter who have been diagnosed with lupus or any autoimmune disease to write their stories... they need to know they are not alone also!
(Don't worry... if you don't want to use your real name that is perfectly fine... we can use an alias.)
Join the LupusConnect™ Community
LupusConnect™ is an online lupus community where individuals with lupus and their loved ones and/or caregivers can engage with others like them to share experiences. You will find emotional support and discuss practical insights for coping with the daily challenges of the disease.
This is an easy-to-use, online platform that encourages its community members to ask questions, reply to posts, and read about others experiences in a safe and comforting community.
Just go to:
(Copy and paste to URL)
https://www.inspire.com/groups/lupusconnectutm_source=www.lupus.org
Music: He Will Carry You
Don & Judy Weltin