My Story

I just saw a performance by a girl named Shanelle Gabriel called "Vanity" on youtube and was so immediately moved that I just had write. Most of you know my story but for those who don't, I'm going to tell it in honor of the milestones I've hit in the last year. I have been battling Systemic Lupus for 4 years. I started getting sick during my first pregnancy though symptoms were present since my young teenage years. I had 3 miscarriages followed by 2 miserably sick pregnancies. Shortly after my second baby boy was born, my hair began falling out in clumps. I stopped washing my hair because every time I did, more and more fell out. I, too, was vain. I had doctors tell me I need to exercise more, hairstylists tell me I needed more expensive hair products, loved ones telling me nothing was wrong with me, my husband not wanting to face that there might be. I was worried but no one would hear me. I went to my mom when the joint pain became so unbearable, that combined with the hairloss, I was ready to just give up and buy a wig. Finally, my mom, being an RN, recognized the symptoms in me that she had treated in so many sick kids. We immediately hit the Lupus website, only to find that I had ten out of ten possible symptoms. Seeing that my own doctor had ignored my complaints for so long (he began suggesting antidepressants and recommending therapy), I decided to see my mom's MD. We went in, hands in the air, babbling symptoms, begging for an ANA. A few days later, our suspicions were confirmed: I had Systemic Lupus and my bloodwork, in the Doctor's words, was "Scary". He sent me to a rheumatologist and my mom and I were relieved. It was treatable, at least we knew what we were fighting, the demon had a name. After a very short course of very low dose prednisone had no effect, this rheumatologist told me that I didn't have the disease because if I did, it would've been helped by this low dose of prenisone. We went home, broken hearted, yet again. I refused to give up. I knew this disease had a hold on me and I knew that if I didn't find the right doctor to help me, I was going to die. Since I live in the area of Vanderbilt, I located the best rheumatologist they had to offer and sent him an email containing my labs. Within an hour, this doctor contacted me and had me booked to see him very quickly. While he Dr. Sergent has been a Godsend, the years since have not been easy. I've been everywhere from being treated with super high doses of highly addictive pain meds, almost on a respirator, to over 30 hospital stays in 3 years. However, I am beyond happy to say that I've not been hospitalized since February and I am highly involved in many charities. I am also a room mother for my son's kindergarten class, and next year will become PTO President at our school. I have a full head of hair again. I've also rediscovered who I am, rediscovered my girlfriends, rediscovered my children and my commitment to them, and renewed my relationship with my husband. I am happy and healthy and a little vain (Have you seen me lately?=) I am a fabulous woman who happens to be a Lupus Survivor. I'd love to hear from others who share any part of this story. Thanks for everyone's support!
xoxox
Sarah Strasser