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Livin’ La Vida Lupus
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Lupus & Coronavirus
It’s what everyone’s talking about. Whether you’re out panic-buying or whether you think it’s all mass-hysteria, there’s no doubt that Coronavirus has taken over our social media feeds and is dominating our office chat. Here’s what it’s like to be amongst it all when living with active, chronic health condition. In most cases symptoms are… Read more
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Lupus Gift Guide
With Christmas just around the corner here are some ideas for some great gifts you can buy or make for your loved ones living with chronic illness. A lot of these are inspired by presents I received when I came out of hospital so thank you so much for your thoughtful gifts. They’re little things… Read more
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Lupus & diet
When I was first diagnosed with Lupus one of the first things I started researching was the role diet plays in causing, treating and recovering from a flare. What I discovered was an absolute minefield of conflicting and confusing dietary advice, some of which I took on board and some of which I dismissed as… Read more
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Lupus & Loved Ones
Although I am the one that’s been diagnosed with Lupus, that lives with the symptoms on a daily basis and has to take ownership of recovery, there is no doubt that my diagnosis has had a huge impact on those around me. I often wonder what they think of Lupus; how have they dealt with… Read more
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My top tips for coping with fatigue
Fatigue. Fatigue. Fatigue. I am so freaking tired of fatigue. Almost everyone with Lupus experiences fatigue and it is one of the most common symptoms of Lupus. It can totally disrupt your life. Many different factors cause the fatigue we experience which means there’s no easy answer to treating it. It can be caused by… Read more
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Busy doing nothing – A guide to keeping busy on rest days
I have never heard or used the word ‘rest’ so much as I have in the last three months since my diagnosis. At first I had no choice, I simply couldn’t do anything but lie in bed or sleep on the sofa. My medical team said it would take weeks of rest to recover from… Read more
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The things I’ve stopped feeling guilty about since Lupus
I started this blog to document and share what it’s like to be diagnosed with Lupus. I had never heard of Lupus before my diagnosis so I knew that others must be living with symptoms and not know. It is so important to raise awareness about Lupus so that more people are familiar with the… Read more
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FeaturedWhy I feel guilty about my Lupus diagnosis
Over the past few months I’ve got very used to being asked how I’m feeling. How I’m feeling physically, how my symptoms are manifesting themselves, how I’m responding to treatment, how I’m feeling emotionally. So what’s the answer? Well, Lupus has made me feel a range of things. Being told I had Lymphoma was the… Read more
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FeaturedThe things no one can believe I did with active Lupus
One of the hardest things to accept at the moment is that recovery is unbelievably slow. I’m trying to do more, but mostly my days involve sitting on the sofa or napping. I try to read for a bit or watch TV, but concentrating is hard. Ten minutes of stretching or going for a short… Read more
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The Lupus Clinic
So you’ve heard me mention the Lupus clinic. My mum and I have been spending a lot of time there recently. For anyone that’s interested, here’s a snapshot of what happens there and why it’s an important part of Lupus treatment. What is clinic? The Lupus clinic is held two mornings a week at Addenbrooke’s… Read more
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Lupus & hair loss: A call to arms!
So, I’m losing my hair. That’s right, on top of everything else that’s going on in my body, my hair is falling out. Just what you want 3 months before your wedding! After a couple of weeks of denial, this is my call to arms. I’m calling all of you who have ever suffered thinning,… Read more
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Steroids made me do it!
I’ve mentioned some of the fantastic steroid side effects I’ve experienced (bloating to the size of a whale etc.) but as well as physical side effects, steroids can also effect your mood and behaviour. Here are 10 of the crazy things steroids made me do! #steroidsmademedoit Go on an online spending rampage for Mint Velvet… Read more
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How Lupus is treated
As I’m quickly learning, nothing with Lupus is ever straightforward. I’m not yet completely familiar with all the different Lupus treatment options but I can explain my treatment plan and what the next few months look like for me. Initial Treatment The first thing the doctors wanted to do when I was admitted was control… Read more
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So what is Lupus?
Lupus, or Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), is an incurable auto-immune disease, probably genetic in origin and mainly suffered by women. It can attack any part of the body, including vital organs, and that’s the danger. There are many signs and symptoms, and no two Lupus sufferers are the same, often making diagnosis a hard and… Read more
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My Lupus and Me…
Welcome to my new blog Livin’ La Vida Lupus! I’m Thea, 27 years old and was on the six-month trip of a lifetime with my fiancé Henry when life changed. It took two months of extensive tests, being rushed into hospital, and my organs to start failing to eventually be diagnosed with Lupus. I don’t… Read more
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Livin' La Vida Lupus 