Living with Lupus
What You Need to Know About Neuropsychiatric Lupus
From fatigue to depression to psychosis, neuropsychiatric symptoms are both a common...
Over the Counter Medications, Interactions, and Lupus
Many Lupus Warriors rely on over the counter medications to control their symptoms, but...
What is Autoimmune Hypophysitis?
Autoimmune hypophysitis is a chronic inflammation of the pituitary gland that can happen alongside autoimmune diseases like lupus. It leads to a host of additional symptoms. Autoimmune hypophysitis (AH or lymphocytic hypophysotis) is chronic inflammation of the pituitary gland. This causes the gland to...
Mindfulness and Lupus by Dr. Donald Thomas
The light bulb moment for a rheumatologist. This is a contributor article by Dr. Donald Thomas, author of The Lupus Encyclopedia. I was attending a review course at Johns Hopkins a few years ago. One of the main lectures was about teaching patients with rheumatologic diseases mindfulness. Until then,...
Reflexology, Massage, and Lupus
Reflexology is a type of special massage used by Lupus Warriors to combat pain and fatigue. When other medications fail, is reflexology a valid option? In reflexology, different parts of the body are “mapped” to different areas of the hands and feet (and sometimes the tongue). Practitioners focus...
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), Fertility, and Lupus
Fertility problems are common. Some women turn to in vitro fertilization to help get pregnant. While effective, it can add additional challenges for Lupus Warriors. In vitro fertilization, or IVF, is a type of fertility treatment that uses hormone treatments. It works like this: Hormone treatments...
Talking to Your Family About Lupus: Tips & Tricks
Lupus has the potential to affect every area of your life, and many people find it difficult to help the people closest to them understand what they endure and what they need. It's important to talk to your family about lupus because managing lupus requires constant tracking of...
Cold Weather, Symptom Flares, and Lupus
Cold weather can bring lupus flares with it, but the reasons behind these flares are not fully understood. How can you prepare yourself for the cold months? Most people with lupus are, unfortunately, very familiar with symptom flares. The triggers that cause...
Brain Symptoms, Brain Fog, and Lupus
Brain symptoms are the least acknowledged and most misunderstood symptoms of lupus. But over 50% of patients experience some sort of brain symptom in the course of their disease. Neuropsychiatric symptoms happen when lupus affects the brain, spinal cord, or any of the other...
Skin Bacteria, Infections, and Lupus Flares
Skin Bacteria, Infections, and Lupus Flares: What’s the Relationship? Lupus disrupts the microbes on the skin and makes people with lupus more vulnerable to skin infections, which can cause flares. We are not alone in our bodies: an entire world of microorganisms lives on our skin and inside our...
Hearing Loss, Ear Health, and Lupus
What’s that? Hearing loss and other aural phenomenon may impact around 30% of people living with lupus. “Autoimmune inner-ear disease” (AIED) was first described by Brian McCabe in his landmark 1979 paper. McCabe reported on 18 patients whose lupus symptoms included hearing loss due...