F Lupus 🤬👊🏾

Systemic lupus erythematosus, commonly known as lupus, is the most common type of lupus. There are others, but for this post I will just focus on SLE. Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks healthy tissue instead of only fighting infection. It’s a chronic, long-term, disease in which has no cure yet. It can literally affect ANY part of the body! It can cause problems anywhere in the body from the skin, to the kidneys, to the heart, to the brain. Wherever it wants to show up, it will. It occurs mainly in women, especially women of color. It normally diagnosed between the ages of 15-44, but can happen earlier or later. Individuals are more at risk if there’s a family history of it. There will be periods of time called flares when symptoms get worse, but will get better or disappear after some time. I have lupus and let me tell y’all, she is a BITCH!!

I was diagnosed with lupus in 2011 or 2012. I was putting on eyeliner and closed my right eye and realized I couldn’t really see out of my left eye. Do you know how scary that was?!! I had multiple tests done and finally got diagnosed with lupus. Initially I only had joint pain along with that loss of vision, but after 4-5yrs I developed fluid around my heart and in my lungs that had to be drained. I also began to experience memory loss about ‘15-16 and I still have problems with my memory to this day. This last yr has been my toughest battle with lupus as it has attacked my CNS (central nervous system). It caused some damage to my brain which caused a lot of swelling. They had to take out a small piece of my skull to relieve some pressure and keep me in a coma to give my brain time to rest. When I woke up almost 2 weeks later I couldn’t talk, walk, swallow, or move my right side. But by God’s grace I’m still here able to talk and walk again! 🙌🏾🙌🏾 Neither is back to it’s baseline, I can’t use my right arm YET, I get tongue tied, I’m forgetful, my emotions run all over the place, and I have to use a brace to lift my toes so I don’t drag them. But guess what?? I’M STILL HERE!! 💜💜💜

To my fellow lupus warriors, WE GOT THIS!! Keep on fighting! WE CAN’T GIVE UP! Get a good support group to encourage you for those times when you feel like giving up. For those that know a warrior check on them, they could be here today and gone tomorrow. RIP Amber 😇💜