**CHRONIC ILLNESS IS OFTEN INVISIBLE** Do I look like the p..

**CHRONIC ILLNESS IS OFTEN INVISIBLE** Do I look like the picture of health to you- or do I look vibrant and healthy for a woman of my age? Looks can be deceiving with chronic illness. I have survived 3 bouts of Covid, pulmonary embolisms, lupus, a minor heart attack, and 2 TIA mini-strokes in my early 40s- all, except for the Covid, a result of genetic health issues and Lupus in particular. I am 53 and feel very blessed to even be *typing* this. I have a chronic illness called Lupus which is becoming more and more common in our population and I think I am doing really well managing it mostly holistically. Does it impact my outlook? Hell no, I know how to manage it. It makes me even more grateful to be alive. -More about lupus here: https://www.lupus.org/resources/explaining-lupus-to-others -A great article about another woman with lupus who got the same sh*t from others: https://www.lupus.org/.../savannah-knudtson-speaking-up... **10 FACTS ABOUT LUPUS:** 1. It’s not contagious, relax. You can’t ‘catch’ lupus like a virus. So yes, you can still hug me. And you can still share my water bottle— you might catch my cold but you won’t catch my lupus. No one is quite sure how you get lupus, but scientists think it’s a combination of hormones, genetics, and environmental causes. 2. I might be on the same medications as people with cancer or malaria…but I don’t have cancer or malaria. Yeah, it’s confusing. But some of the drugs that work well for other illnesses help with lupus too. Some medications used in chemotherapy for cancer patients also help control the immune system in people with lupus. Medications used to treat malaria can also treat skin rashes, joint pain, and sun sensitivity from lupus. 3. Yes, it affects my immune system. But it’s not like other immune diseases. Actually, it’s kind of the opposite. People with other types of immune problems have low immune activity so they’re unable to fight off infections, but people with lupus have a **highly active immune system** that attacks the body. And while other immune problems are sexually transmitted, **lupus isn’t.** 4. It’s more common than you think. You might think lupus is a super rare disease, but about 1.5 million people in the US have it. Selena Gomez has lupus. So does Nick Cannon. Seal has it too. It’s tricky to diagnose, so there may be a lot more people with lupus who haven’t been diagnosed yet. 5. Guys can get it too. Lupus is definitely most common in y0ung and middle-aged women (90% of people diagnosed with the disease are women ages 15-44), but anyone of any age can have lupus—guys included. 6. No, I’m not lazy. You’ll probably notice me napping more than the average person. It’s not that I just really like to snooze—I need to. Chronic fatigue is a big part of lupus. If I don’t sit down or take a nap when I get tired, I could have a flare and start feeling really sick. It’s important for me to recharge so I have the energy to do more later. 7. I’m glad to hear I look fine, but that doesn’t mean I feel fine. It’s flattering that you don’t think I “look sick”…to a point. But trust me, when I say I don’t feel well, I mean it. Sometimes it may be more obvious that my lupus is acting up, like if I have a rash on my skin. But even if I look like myself, I might be experiencing joint pain, fatigue, or other problems you can’t see. Lupus is invisible that way, but it’s very real. 8. I’m not avoiding you, seriously. I’m sorry I missed your party last week. But I promise I’m not being flakey. When I say it’s because I’m not feeling well, that really is the reason. 9. I really, really need to stay out of the sun. In fact, I need to wear sunscreen all the time. Even when it’s not sunny. And even when I’m not outside. I know it sounds like I’m overreacting, but my lupus makes me sensitive to the ultraviolet rays in sunlight and even indoor lighting. It can give me a rash and make me feel fatigued. So I’ll stick with my floppy sunhat and SPF 100, thank you very much. 10. “No cure” doesn’t mean I can’t still live a normal life. Lupus sucks. It’s a serious disease, and it can be deadly. But luckily there are a lot of medications to treat its symptoms and prevent flares. I need to work with my doctors to keep my health under control and listen to my body when I don’t feel well. But I can still concentrate on my goals and have fun like everyone else. Lupus is just one part of my life.