So Much to Learn — So Little Time

“What advice would you give, or what would you want non-chronically ill people to know about your illness and your life?” This question brought up something I hadn’t thought about in years.  Although a different type of situation, its point still holds true—at least I think it does—to what Leslie at Getting Closer To Myself  is ...

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Monday ,August 23, 2010 Autoimmune Diseases & Syndromes, Challenge and Opportunity, Chronic Illness, Communication, Coping, Identity, Lupus, Oregon, Relationship-focused, Social Support, Treatment Approaches and Perspectives, Washington No comments

A Picture Worth a Thousand Flares

I’ve been around the block a bit when it comes to knowing what I should and should not do because of my lupus. (Note: the lower case “l”)  For over a decade, I have managed my living with illness fairly well and have been very lucky so far.  I have no complaints that are worthy ...

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Monday ,August 16, 2010 Autoimmune Diseases & Syndromes, Behaviors and Patterns, Coping, Health, Lupus, Oregon, Outdoor Fun, Personal Stories, Self-Care, Strategies, Treatment Approaches and Perspectives, Washington, Work and Career One comment

Lupus makes the TV lineup tomorrow

Have any of you noticed the increase in lupus talk happening in the media?  Lady Gaga, Snoop Dogg’s daughter, and John Stewart comparing lupus to the FOX News Network?  You don’t only have to search within the entertainment industry, either.  Last year, news about new potential pharmaceutical treatments on the verge of FDA approval were ...

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Thursday ,August 5, 2010 Advocacy, Family, Health, Lifestyle, Local Resources, Lupus, Oregon, Personal Stories, Social Support, Television and Radio, Washington No comments

Breathing Lessons

Having a book to read is never a problem and I have the bookshelves to prove it.  My biggest dilemma is in deciding which book to read.  I immediately head to the library when I get stuck choosing from my ‘shelves of best intentions’.  There, I feel pressured (through shame) to walk out of there ...

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Sunday ,July 25, 2010 Autoimmune Diseases & Syndromes, Books, Chronic Illness, Diagnosis, Health, Labs & Testing, Lupus, MLWT, Oregon, Personal Stories, Relationship-focused, Social Support, Treatment Approaches and Perspectives, Washington No comments

A Cautionary Tale

For this next edition of Patients For a Moment (July 28th), hosted by Queen of Optimism on her blog, she presents the question: "What is the nicest thing (or things) anyone has done for you since you became ill?" I believe the nicest things that I’ve received from people since my health challenges hit me have been to ...

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Wednesday ,July 21, 2010 Chronic Illness, Events, Internet, Lupus, MLWT, Oregon, Personal Stories, Social Support, Treatment Approaches and Perspectives, Washington 2 comments

Knowing Where Illness Stops and Love Begins

I'm working down my catch up list of posts and have reached this trailer for a new movie that addresses living with illness (lupus) and learning to love right along with it. Check out Love Simple

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Friday ,July 16, 2010 Advocacy, Autoimmune Diseases & Syndromes, Challenge and Opportunity, Chronic Illness, Family, Friends, Lupus, Men's support, Oregon, Resources, Social Support, Washington No comments

A Penny For Your Thoughts

On Tuesday night, July 6th, I watched the PBS NewsHour (on OPB Channel 10 ) segment (reported by correspondent Betty Ann Bowser and funded by  Robert Wood Johnson   Foundation ) about the new health coverage option for high-risk patients with preexisting conditions .  Living without any health coverage myself, I was eager to learn a little ...

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Thursday ,July 8, 2010 Advocacy, Chronic Illness, Disability, Fibromyalgia, Health, Lupus, Oregon, Personal Stories, Resources, Scleroderma, Self-Care, Washington No comments

My Version of Physical Comedy

I will apparently go to great lengths to avoid exercising on purpose.  This Wednesday, July 7th, was to be a Target Practice gathering at Cooper Mountain.  It has to be postponed, but I still encourage you to take some time and walk their trails.  Although, the heat is on its way, too, so I may ...

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Monday ,July 5, 2010 Behaviors and Patterns, Health, MLWT, Oregon, Self-Care, Social Support, Sports & Fitness, Strategies, Washington No comments

Scleroderma Foundation OR Chapter on AM Northwest This Thursday

  I received a note from the Oregon Chapter of the Scleroderma Foundation that they will once again be on our own KATU Channel 2 AM Northwest morning show!  This Thursday,July 1st, AM Northwest will generously offer program time for the chapter's scleroderma awareness team to introduce information about living with scleroderma and to present the upcoming "Stepping Out To Cure Scleroderma" benefit ...

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Tuesday ,June 29, 2010 Advocacy, Community, Events, Health, Local Resources, Oregon, Scleroderma, Social Support, Washington One comment

People First!

Today, BloggersUnite is hosting an online event entitled People First: Empowering People With Disabilities . I’ve been having unusually prominent symptoms from my lupus.  I always anticipate a little trouble once the sunshine finally arrives here in Oregon, but these are symptoms that I haven’t had or remember having for quite a few years.  Naturally, my ...

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Thursday ,June 24, 2010 Advocacy, Books, Chronic Illness, Community, Disability, Events, Internet, Local Resources, Lupus, Oregon, Resources, Social Support, Washington, Work and Career No comments

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