Living With Lupus

Bravely telling myself every single morning I stare at myself in the mirror, "I got this," I gather strength from the deep dark unknown.  Not sure where it comes from but I cannot teach my children about perseverance and strength if I don't live it.  Staring at the well known "butterfly kiss" on my face and the bunch of hair I just removed from the shower and placed it on my crisp, white, marble counter doesn't make me feel better. 

Life starting changing a few years ago.  I couldn't understand why my body was hurting. I couldn't sleep or remember things the way I use to.  My head would hurt constantly, different from the constant migraines and constantly walked around with a low grade fever and constantly freezing in a house with teenagers whose hormones were raging and didn't want the central air to be warmer. I get it.  We live in a tropical climate where 80+ degrees outside means you want your cool air running.  Suddenly, I started getting crap from my older husband - who I might add - is in such great physical shape and still turns heads.  I couldn't hike as well as I use to because my feet were swelling at times and my back was hurting, falling asleep by 7:00p.m. most days because I was constantly exhausted.  Fatigue can put a real damper on things. My constant complaints to my doctor went unanswered and left me - almost - in a depression. I was not stressed, as she thought. I did not strain my body.  Dropping a 1/2 gallon drink in the supermarket and standing crying because I couldn't move my arm was the kicker.  Hubby knew something was truly wrong at that point. Something was wrong and I wasn't sure how to fix it.  Two doctors later, the later being a young 28 year old enthusiast general practice doctor who studied a new kind of science (Biome science) - determined to figure this out for me, noticed two things when I sat to talk to her and boom! - she had an inclination.  What?? That is all it took???  A few minutes of her looking at me and listening and a blood test recommendation.  An early, 7:30 a.m. phone call confirmed it.  I had Lupus.

Fast forward and I changed my eating habits.  My body began to respond and I was pleased to know I did not have to use medication. For as long as I can, I will fight this fight naturally.  Though I ate healthy before, I have now become gluten free, lactose free and dairy free.  It has helped inflammation, which affected my joints.  It has made me feel a bit faster and not sluggish. It has helped my skin and hair, I believe and finally, it has helped me limit calories by being mindful about what goes into my food. Processed foods are pretty much a thing of the past and I can only hope that this journey I am on will help me completely.

We'll see how it goes.  Think about that.