How To Survive and Thrive With Lupus
When first diagnosed with this autoimmune disease, the question on my mind was, "How can I survive this?" My own body is attacking itself and I can't do anything to stop it.
After reading up about lupus on their national website, I became paranoid, depressed, and extremely worried. I was worried I would be arthritic, have a heart attack before age 40, lose my vision, have kidney shutdown and a myriad of other problems.
It reminds me of reading the What To Expect When You're Expecting book that every woman reads when she is pregnant with her first child. A friend of mine aptly renamed it What to Worry About When You're Expecting. Every possible scenario for what could go wrong during pregnancy is in that book. The reader begins to wonder which of ten or twenty symptoms she is experiencing might mean this or that awful thing could happen to her and her baby.
Recalling this little factoid about pregnancy led me to make the most important first step of surviving and thriving with lupus:
1. THROW THE BOOK AWAY!!!
(or in this case, don't read the website)
My autoimmune disease is different than anyone else's because it is in my body. I have different symptoms than the other women I know with the disease. One of them has severe joint stiffness and is sometimes confined to bed rest. Another has had many doses of steroids and has had severe weight gain as a result. My main symptoms are fatigue and hair loss. These seem like minor things to deal with in comparison to others. I decided to let the disease reveal itself to me, instead of trying to pre-define it.
2. REMEMBER THE DOT.
Keep it in focus: my life on this earth is brief. Should I spend my time focusing on my health problems and attending support groups? I don't think so. It is way more important to do what counts. Be who God intended you to be. Do what He intended you to do! Focus on things that have eternal value.
Argue less, complain less, busy yourself less.
Value your family more, thank God for every one of your blessings, simplify your life and schedule.
Think Pollyanna's "Glad Game" times 10. We have so much to be thankful for!!
3. PRAY, PRAY AGAIN, PRAY SOME MORE!!
"The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." (James 5:16)
"The prayer of a righteous main availeth much."
The Bible says these things because they are true. If you are struggling in life, it is time to connect or reconnect with God on a personal level. After asking for and accepting His forgiveness from sin, you can ask Him for strength to get through life's toughest battles. He is the God Who Sees, and you can approach Him through prayer when you need him most, which in my case is every minute of the day!
My favorite verse discovered during this difficult time was:
"When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul." (Psalm 94:19)
I pray it brings comfort to you, whatever trial you may be experiencing today.
After reading up about lupus on their national website, I became paranoid, depressed, and extremely worried. I was worried I would be arthritic, have a heart attack before age 40, lose my vision, have kidney shutdown and a myriad of other problems.
It reminds me of reading the What To Expect When You're Expecting book that every woman reads when she is pregnant with her first child. A friend of mine aptly renamed it What to Worry About When You're Expecting. Every possible scenario for what could go wrong during pregnancy is in that book. The reader begins to wonder which of ten or twenty symptoms she is experiencing might mean this or that awful thing could happen to her and her baby.
Recalling this little factoid about pregnancy led me to make the most important first step of surviving and thriving with lupus:
1. THROW THE BOOK AWAY!!!
(or in this case, don't read the website)
My autoimmune disease is different than anyone else's because it is in my body. I have different symptoms than the other women I know with the disease. One of them has severe joint stiffness and is sometimes confined to bed rest. Another has had many doses of steroids and has had severe weight gain as a result. My main symptoms are fatigue and hair loss. These seem like minor things to deal with in comparison to others. I decided to let the disease reveal itself to me, instead of trying to pre-define it.
2. REMEMBER THE DOT.
Keep it in focus: my life on this earth is brief. Should I spend my time focusing on my health problems and attending support groups? I don't think so. It is way more important to do what counts. Be who God intended you to be. Do what He intended you to do! Focus on things that have eternal value.
Argue less, complain less, busy yourself less.
Value your family more, thank God for every one of your blessings, simplify your life and schedule.
Think Pollyanna's "Glad Game" times 10. We have so much to be thankful for!!
3. PRAY, PRAY AGAIN, PRAY SOME MORE!!
"The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." (James 5:16)
"The prayer of a righteous main availeth much."
The Bible says these things because they are true. If you are struggling in life, it is time to connect or reconnect with God on a personal level. After asking for and accepting His forgiveness from sin, you can ask Him for strength to get through life's toughest battles. He is the God Who Sees, and you can approach Him through prayer when you need him most, which in my case is every minute of the day!
My favorite verse discovered during this difficult time was:
"When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul." (Psalm 94:19)
I pray it brings comfort to you, whatever trial you may be experiencing today.
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