As many of you know I have Lupus (Systemic Lupus
Erythematosus), which is an autoimmune disease. It is an inflammatory disease
where the immune system attacks its own organs and tissues. Currently there is
no cure for lupus. I take preventive medications so that I won’t have a lupus
flare and to prevent further organ damage. Due to lupus, I also have lupus
nephritis (kidney disease). I was diagnosed in 2009 and for the past few years
my health have just kept on getting worst. In 2012 my health started to rapidly
decline. I started to lose weight, wasn’t able to eat, lost my appetite, wasn’t
sleeping, had rashes, fevers, arthritis, joint pain, wasn’t able to walk,
shortness of breath, couldn’t catch my breath, stabbing heart pain, stomach
pain, acid reflex, hurt to move my jaw or chew, and I was extremely fatigue. I
had no energy to do anything. I would start to feel lightheaded and that I
would pass out just from standing for five minutes, opening the fridge, or
lifting a pan to cook. I was really sick. 2013 I practically lived at the
hospital. The doctors kept on running tests on me to rule out other illnesses
and cancer since people with autoimmune diseases are likely to have other
autoimmune diseases. I had 99 problems and it was all from lupus. I had internal
bleeding, ulcers, yeast infection down my esophagus, oral thrush, pericarditis,
high blood pressure, migraines, night sweats, and leaking copper and I started
to hallucinate. The medications that I was taking to suppress my immune system
weren’t able to control my severe lupus flare. I started to do rituxan
infusions, but I had to stop due to my liver showing signs of decline. My
doctor and I decided to start Cytoxan, which is chemotherapy but at a lower
dose than a cancer patient. Most people are surprise when they hear that I had
chemo treatments. But my reality is that chemo will always be my backup when the
other medications don’t work. Having lupus is not a joke. It’s a serious
disease that can cause severe organ complications and death.
This is the first time in 8 years that I feel
healthy (mentally and physically) besides the nerve and minor joint pain. I
feel also normal like before I had my lupus symptoms. I’m walking to raise
lupus awareness. And I need your help. This is my first lupus walk and it won’t
be my last. Help me raise awareness and to find better treatments for lupus
patients. The medications that we take have serious side effects and are use
for other illnesses.
Please support my walk and help spread the word.
Making a secure donation is easy: just click the donate now button on this
page. Or join my team and walk with me. Thank you for helping me. Your funds go
into researching better treatments for lupus patients like me! I’m almost ready
for Walk to End Lupus Now in June! Who’s joining my walk team in Orange County
June 4th? You can join my team and/or donate via the link here: http://lupus.convio.net/goto/chattykathy
xoxo,
Kat
