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Lupus and the Roller Coaster Which is Grief Grief (as defined by dictionary.com): “Keen mental suffering or distress over affliction or loss.” Grief (as defined by someone diagnosed with lupus or another chronic illness): “Overwhelmingly keen mental anguish, suffering and distress over the absolute topsy turvy and unexpected negative turn of events in his or…

INTRODUCTION Recently, there has been an influx of research about stem cell therapies being used as a potential treatment for SLE and other lupus overlap diseases.  At Kaleidoscope Fighting Lupus, we have received several inquiries regarding this new therapy, and deemed it responsible to clarify (due to its experimental and somewhat controversial nature) what stem…

Contents: What is Plaquenil? Other than Plaquenil, what are the other antimalarial drugs? Why are antimalarial drugs used to treat lupus? How do antimalarial drugs work to control lupus symptoms? What should I keep in mind when taking antimalarial drugs?  How to use Plaquenil What are the possible side effects of antimalarial drugs? Can I…

Two Scenarios SCENARIO ONE: Sarah’s heart is racing as she sits in her doctor’s office awaiting her test results.   The visible facial rash and joint pain that appeared after her baby was born have been extremely challenging to live with.  The answers to what seem like months of waiting, months of referrals, and months of…

The Use of Low-Dose Naltrexone for Lupus and Other Overlap Conditions WHAT IS LDN? Low-dose naltrexone or LDN is a medication that is getting more attention because of preliminary research showing promise for use with diseases like multiple sclerosis, some cancers, HIV/AIDS and other chronic pain conditions.  Over the last several months, we, at Kaleidoscope…

Note:  For the latest in smart phone apps specific to lupus, check out our updated blog by clicking here Lupus and Mobile Tech – Smartphone Apps and Managing Your Health Contents: EPA’s SunWise UV Index App MANGO Health App Lupus Tracker Pro Image InBox The Lupus Companion Other Helpful Apps     In the age…

WHAT IS IT? CellCept® or mycophenolate mofetil, is a medication that was first prescribed to treat people who have had an organ transplant.  Over the last 15 years, it has been increasingly used more to treat immune disorders, like systemic lupus erythematosus, lupus nephritis, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma and other lupus overlap diseases.    This blog…

Contents: What are the facts? How to Deal with Depression & Anxiety How to Deal with Worry About the Future How to Deal with Social Activities How to Deal with Explaining Lupus to Your Friends How to Deal with Your Parents or Guardian How to Deal with Dating Important Resources   When a teenager or…

It is estimated that 85% of lupus patients will experience some form of unhealthy blood condition. In this article, we will take a closer at the blood disorder risks, symptoms and treatments for individuals living with lupus.   Introduction What is blood? What causes a blood disorder? Diagnosing Blood Disorders Common Blood Disorders in Lupus…

What it is: Azathioprine or the brand name Imuran, is a drug that was originally developed to prevent organ rejection in people who had received a donor transplant.  Currently, in addition to its anti-rejection properties, it is also being used more and more to treat autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus, dermatomyositis, vasculitis, rheumatoid arthritis and…