#KnowLupus PurplePress

[smith0507]

How Did You Sleep?

Are you having difficulty sleeping at night? Are you uncomfortable? Do you constantly toss & turn? If you are sleeping well through the night, do you still feeling restless in the morning? Unfortunately, Lupus has an affect on the amount of sleep you receive each night. Click the link to learn more about it.

https://resources.lupus.org/entry/sleep-is-essential

[smith0507]

My Story

In March 2002, I was in the second semester of my first year in college. My roommate and I were spending another late night in the cafe studying for an upcoming exam. One minute we were laughing. The next minute I was in excruciating pain. So much pain that four male neighbors from our dorm had to carry me back to our dorm. When we reached the lobby my roommate called my dad. It was well after 1a. Though we lived 30 minutes away, that night my dad’s car was more like a jet. I went home that night and never returned to that college campus.

It took 6 weeks and an abundance of doctor visits to get to the root of the issue. I was tired of being told that I had the flu and then being sent home. During this time, it hurt to walk, eat, or even drink. The only thing that would ease my pain was sleeping but even in my sleep, I could feel my aching joints. It took a month for a doctor to refer me to a Rheumatologist. During this time, my weight drastically decreased. I weighed 165 lbs in March 2012 and I wore a size 14/16. By the time I was officially diagnosed with Lupus, I was 100 lbs and wore a size 4. I’ve NEVER been a size 4 in my life! My Rheumatologist stated that my white blood count was so low that had I waited another day, I probably wouldn’t be alive. That occurred on Friday, April 19, 2002.

Having Lupus is an ongoing roller coaster and I strongly believe that my purpose is to share my journey in hopes to build a positive place where those with Lupus, their family, and friends can share their experiences. I also want to inspire and uplift my fellow Lupus warriors. Lupus does not define us. Most of all, I want to educate the world about this auto-immune disease that has claimed the lives of so many people. Stay tuned...