Lupus: Detention House New!

One more day survived is one more day the warden didn't win. Disclaimer: This blog post is based on personal metaphor and experience. Lupus affects everyone differently. If you are struggling with a chronic illness, please consult your rheumatologist or a mental health professional.

Advocate for yourself. Fire the doctors who act like cruel guards. Find your cellmates (support groups) who know the secret handshake. lupus detention house

I fight for one good hour. One pain-free meal. One laugh that doesn't hurt my ribs. If you are reading this and you recognize these walls, I see you. I see you dragging your heating pad like a security blanket. I see you tracking your rashes and your fevers like a lawyer tracking evidence. One more day survived is one more day the warden didn't win

Then there is Prednisone. Prednisone is the violent guard. It breaks up the fight, yes, but it also trashes the cell. It makes my face moon-shaped. It makes my bones brittle. It gives me the energy of a cornered animal at 3:00 AM, followed by the crash of a hostage negotiator who failed. If you are struggling with a chronic illness,

You learn to walk on eggshells in a house made of landmines. The cruelest part of this detention isn't the joint pain or the "brain fog" that makes me forget my own zip code. It’s the solitary confinement.

I have learned the power of "Spoon Theory" to explain my daily energy ration. I have learned that "no" is a complete sentence when the warden demands too much. I have learned to find a strange, defiant peace in the quiet days.