Thank you for sharing your incredible and inspiring living with lupus story Felicia.
My pleasure. Even if it helps one person it makes my day. Thank you for your interest and for helping raise awareness. We lupies appreciate it.
You bet. How are you?
A few weeks ago I was a little under the weather but I’ m doing alright, thank you.
So, how are you handling life with this lupus?
Living with lupus is challenging, it’ s no easy task. You’ ve got to bring your A game and your mind is as much at risk as your body. It affects you physically, emotionally and mentally. And because it’ s a chronic illness, it’ s relentless. Lupus means to kill you, so you have got to make up your mind to not let it. I try to live and to love and be happy. Life is short, the race is on and I intend to give this thing a run for its money.
Is it possible to lead a full life with lupus?
It is possible to live a productive life with lupus but you need support— the right medicines, a good doctor and you need to educate yourself. That way what you have to face won’ t seem as scary and daunting when you already know what to expect.
Studies show majority of people with lupus had never heard of it prior to being diagnosed. Was that also the case with you?
I had heard doctors mention lupus before but no one had diagnosed me. I had some symptoms but never the correct combination to be identified as lupus. I had been living with the symptoms of lupus from the age of 19 but was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus( SLE) in 2007 at 31. This March marked ten years.