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Shalonda

My sanctuary

Lupus is a part of me but not all of me. This is how I deal with it.

Interests: My interests are my husband Larry, daughter Gabi, and our two Shiz Tzu's JoJo and Menace. I love shoes, live music, reading, laughing, wine, and home is my favorite place to be.

Recent Activity

Ask me about Lupus

I was working the information booth at a Lupus Awareness Event and a group of 12 -15 year old girls came and asked me about Lupus. One of the girls has a parent with Lupus. These girls put me thru my paces ! As I was speaking to them, I... Continue reading

Posted May 15, 2013 at Butterfly Warrior

1

Intimacy can be challenging when you have lupus. Lupus and its treatments may cause changes in your physical appearance, and these changes -- skin rashes or lesions, hair loss, weight gain -- may affect your sense of your own desirability. Joint pain, mouth sores, vaginal ulcers, and a decrease in... Continue reading

Posted Jan 18, 2013 at Butterfly Warrior

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Lupus Nephritis1

"Lupus nephritis is the term used when Lupus causes inflammation in your kidneys, making them unable to properly remove waste from your blood or control the amount of fluid in your body. Abnormal levels of waste can build up in the blood and edema (swelling) can develop. Left untreated, nephritis... Continue reading

Posted Jan 6, 2013 at Butterfly Warrior

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I have a phobia of going to the dentist. Even before my Lupus diagnosis it caused me a great deal of anxiety. Now even more so since I am on coumadin for antiphospholipid syndrome. Now a trip to the dentist involves an appointment with a hematologist in order to wean... Continue reading

Posted Jan 3, 2013 at Butterfly Warrior

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Lupus is not contagious. You cannot "catch" lupus from someone or "give" lupus to someone. Lupus is not like or related to cancer. Cancer is a condition of malignant, abnormal tissues that grow rapidly and spread into surrounding tissues. Having Lupus is neither better than nor worse than having Cancer.... Continue reading

Posted Dec 29, 2012 at Butterfly Warrior

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Combating Fatigue

As many as 80 percent of people with lupus experience fatigue. For some people with lupus, fatigue is their main symptom and can be debilitating, even to the point of forcing them to stop working. It is unclear why extreme fatigue occurs in so many people with lupus, but disease... Continue reading

Posted Dec 23, 2012 at Butterfly Warrior

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Combating Fatigue

As many as 80 percent of people with lupus experience fatigue. For some people with lupus, fatigue is their main symptom and can be debilitating, even to the point of forcing them to stop working. It is unclear why extreme fatigue occurs in so many people with lupus, but disease... Continue reading

Posted Dec 23, 2012 at Butterfly Warrior

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Continue reading

Posted Dec 22, 2012 at Butterfly Warrior

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Laugh A Little More

Today I'm grateful being able to laugh! No matter how bad I feel or tough times are; I'm always able to laugh. During the best and worst times of my life I can say that one of the things I've had is my sense of humor. When I get nervous... Continue reading

Posted Nov 2, 2012 at Butterfly Warrior

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Music Is My Therapy

Today I'm thankful for music! Regardless of whether I'm happy, sad, or stressed I love music. When I left home at 17 years old I had $200 in my pocket, a suitcase, and case of cassettes (yes I said cassettes). They were my comfort when I was so far away... Continue reading

Posted Nov 1, 2012 at Butterfly Warrior

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Ushering In The Holidays

Halloween marks the beginning of the Holiday Season for me. Whether you have Lupus or not this time of year can be very stressful. It's really hard to find a balance between work, play, obligations, and rest that work for us. All of it can become completely overwhelming and stressful.... Continue reading

Posted Oct 31, 2012 at Butterfly Warrior

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Fat, Bald, Or Dead

Some of the medications we take to treat Lupus are awful. Prednisone is a treatment a first-line treatment used for most of us. It works fast and its effective; however it has a lot of side effects. None of the side effects are easy to deal with and I have... Continue reading

Posted Oct 2, 2012 at Butterfly Warrior

2

A September day 17 years ago I was diagnosed with Lupus. I finally knew what was wrong with me; why I had been sick and not feeling well for at least the 3 years before. However I didn't have much information on the disease itself and of course this was... Continue reading

Posted Sep 22, 2012 at Butterfly Warrior

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Subtle Differences

Over the last couple of months I have not been myself. I haven't gone shopping, got my nails done, I rarely write, and I haven't gone out with my husband. Lately I've come home from work and put on my jammies. On the weekends I've been isolating myself from the... Continue reading

Posted Aug 26, 2012 at Butterfly Warrior

2

Think Before You Speak

Happily, after battling kidney failure, blood clots and autoimmune disease, Cannon's health is back on track. "The doctor says I am cured," says the America's Got Talent host. His new diet, which required him to cut out fried and processed foods, along with proper rest and a 30-45 minute daily... Continue reading

Posted Aug 22, 2012 at Butterfly Warrior

2

Marijuana an Alternative Treatment

I've been researching alternative treatments for a while now as I am interested in finding treatments and medications that don't further damage our bodies. For example I have severe bone and joint damage due to long-term steroid use. Unfortunately I also have Antiphospholipid Syndrome and Class IV Nephritis which mean... Continue reading

Posted Aug 14, 2012 at Butterfly Warrior

4

Insomnia and anxiety

Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder. It is a problem initiating or maintaining sleep or the experience of non-restorative sleep that impacts daytime functioning in some way. Insomnia is typically associated with fatigue (not necessarily sleepiness). Insomnia is also associated with irritability, negative mood and pain. Typically insomnia symptoms... Continue reading

Posted Aug 5, 2012 at Butterfly Warrior

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Gratefuls Part 2

The last couple of weeks have been very hard both physically and emotionally and not just for me but also for several of my friends. I've only slept about 3 hours per night for the last few nights. It makes for very long exhausting days. Times like these are when... Continue reading

Posted Jul 31, 2012 at Butterfly Warrior

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Foward Thinking

The idea that lupus is generally a fatal disease is a big misconception. In fact, the prognosis of lupus is much better today than ever before. It is true that medical science has not yet developed a method for curing lupus. And some people do die from the disease. However,... Continue reading

Posted Jul 27, 2012 at Butterfly Warrior

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The Big Bad D Word

Depression Being diagnosed with Lupuswas a pretty traumatic time for me as well as for many others. You do realize that your life will change however you have NO idea how much. Your energy levels, moods, medications, lifestyle, and many other things change with the ebb and flow of Lupus.... Continue reading

Posted Jul 22, 2012 at Butterfly Warrior

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Willingly Killing Me

I have been tobacco free for 12 years. I smoked off and on from the time I was 12 years old up to when I was 30 years old. When I first started smoking (mostly choking ) in 6th grade I thought I was tough. At that age having a... Continue reading

Posted Jul 21, 2012 at Butterfly Warrior

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My Truth About Lupus Fatigue

Sometimes no matter how much rest I get, it still isn't enough. Fatigue, especially when you've rested is hard to accept and very hard to explain to someone who does not have a chronic illness. Imagine having to pace yourself... just to get out of bed, planning for a half... Continue reading

Posted Jul 18, 2012 at Butterfly Warrior

3

You Don't Look Sick

There is nothing more irritating and/or frustrating for someone with a chronic illness to hear than "You don't look sick". The comment is so prevalent for those of us with Lupus and other autoimmune diseases that a website with the name www.butyoudontlooksick.com was created by a person with Lupus. The... Continue reading

Posted Jul 12, 2012 at Butterfly Warrior

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Stupid Things People Say

We've all played the "open mouth insert foot" game a time or two in our lives. When people give advice to anyone with a chronic illness; they seem to take the game to a whole new level. Some of the things that those of us Lupus have heard are: It's... Continue reading

Posted Jul 8, 2012 at Butterfly Warrior

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Let's face it, I hate working out. I have made up excuses for the last 6 months about working out: I'll wait until I feel better; I'm incoherent in the morning; I'm too tired in the evening; I'll start next month; Monday's suck; I'll start on even numbered day; and... Continue reading

Posted Jul 4, 2012 at Butterfly Warrior

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