LUPUS... The word kept repeating itself over and over in my head. I sat in the office of the Rhematologist completely horrified by his diagnosis. Suddenly things made sense...the fatigue, the weak immune system, the constant ache in my knees and elbows, always being cold, the random brusing... And to think, the entire time I thought it was simply a matter of me getting old!
At first, I didn't know how to react. I had heard of the disease and knew some people that had it, but I couldn't come to grips with the fact that I had a chronic, auto-immune disorder. I cried. I got angry. I had a pity party, but then I realized that in life there are many bumps in the road, and this was simply one of life's challenges. I had been overcoming obstacles since birth (at 28 weeks), so why should this be any different? I started researching the disease as well as herbal alternatives to the drugs and steroids used to treat it. Suddenly, things didn't look so bad. Finally, I decided to treat this like any of the other bumps in the road I had overcome so far. Learn about it, then BEAT IT!!
Lupus: a chronic inflammatory disease that can affect various parts of the body, especially the skin, joints, blood and kidneys.
Hair Loss: Hair loss can occur for other reasons besides scarring on the scalp. Severe systemic lupus may cause a temporary pattern of hair loss that is then replaced by new hair growth. A severe lupus flare can result in fragile hair that breaks easily. Such broken hairs at the edge of your scalp give a characteristic ragged appearance termed "lupus hair.
Another up-side to the diagnosis was the fact that I now knew why my hair was falling out. Though my doctor never said NOT to continue relaxing, he explained that it was "highly discouraged". My decision was made. No more relaxing, texlaxing or chemicals. I had to make a decision for my health. Thus... the true journey to sisterlocks began.
For more information about Lupus, visit the following website:
www.lupus.org
This must have been devastating for you, thank you for sharing your struggles and triumphs. I wish you all the best in overcoming this disease. A close friend of mine had lupus and now I understand why her hair was also so fine and fragile...
ReplyDeleteI too have lupus and was DXd in 2010. It is definitely a life changer, but not a death sentence. I do not experience hair loss, as I have a LOT of hair, but I do have fibromyalgia and many other medical problems that complicate everything. I am also in the process of being medically retired from the military because of it. I decided to Loc just incase I did start to lose hair. I hope you have been able to keep flares at a minimum. I would like to know how the holistic approach is helping to control things. I cannot go that route until I am no longer in the care of military doctors.
ReplyDeleteTiffany
I too have lupus and was DXd in 2010. It is definitely a life changer, but not a death sentence. I do not experience hair loss, as I have a LOT of hair, but I do have fibromyalgia and many other medical problems that complicate everything. I am also in the process of being medically retired from the military because of it. I decided to Loc just incase I did start to lose hair. I hope you have been able to keep flares at a minimum. I would like to know how the holistic approach is helping to control things. I cannot go that route until I am no longer in the care of military doctors.
ReplyDeleteTiffany