Lupus: How to Survive and Thrive After Doctors Say You Have Five Years Left To Live

by Rick Saldan

Lupus Gave Me Nearly 30 Years of Unbearable Physical Torture and Mental AnguishThe sunlight sensitivity kept worse with nothingavailable to lessen the physical pain and mental torment. My skin burned likeyou poured gasoline and let me up. My muscles hurt. Unexplained fevers, andreverse fevers. My knees and ankles hurt. Fatigue and exhaustion crippled me.Brain fog. Raynaud's phenomenon. Constant diarrhea. Various flu-like symptoms.You cannot imagine how hellish this is to live this way. Nothing to look forwardto but pain, anguish, and hopelessness. The pain grew so intense we boarded upthe windows of our home to block the sunlight. That added to my heartbreakingsense of feeling ostracized and cut off. I was falling deeper into the abyss ofdread and hopelessness. Lupus wrecked every area of my life. Over the course of28 years, I saw at least a dozen doctors who all had no idea what my symptomswere. Most dismissed my symptoms. Some ridiculed me.TV Show With Top Rheumatologist In NE PennsylvaniaWhile watching late night television, abroadcast sponsored by the Scranton Lupus Foundation had a panel of expertsdiscussing lupus. One doctor in particular, Dr. David Pugliese, from Geisinger Hospital, described several of my symptoms exactly. I was thrilledthat someone FINALLY identified with what I was experiencing. One lone voice outthere in the medical community which could address what was wrong with me.I Finally Met With Dr. David PuglieseAfter waiting three months for an appointment,the big day arrived on December 11, 2006.When I met with Dr. Pugliese, he patiently and compassionately went over mybackground. He caringly interviewed me to assess my symptoms and learn what Ihad been experiencing. He was kind-hearted and supportive. He ordered bloodtests to try to narrow things down. Oddly, I was ANA-negative, the blood testthat ordinarily is used to confirm a diagnosis of lupus. Despite that, Dr.Pugliese said he would be willing to work with me and treat me anyway.My Hopeless Purgatory Started Dying DownFinally identifying what was wrong with mestarted to open some doors. I learned that back in World War II, the militaryprescribed Plaquenil to help soldiers with malaria. They accidentally discoveredthat it was also helping servicemen who were lupus patients with the butterflyrash. Plaquenil began helping me with the various symptoms I was wrestling with.Plaquenil even helped reduce the sunlight sensitivity. I began reading books onalternative diets and exercise regimens. I learned that intensive cardioexercise helped alleviate lupus symptoms. I began vigorous 12-mile bicyclerides, combined with jogging and swimming. I began making green smoothies withkale, spinach, and celery. I learned how processed foods were contributing to apoor immune system. I made it my mission in life to become as healthy aspossible and do anything I could to counter balance these horrible symptoms. Ilearned other coping strategies.Buy This Book And Give These Strategies ATry!If you are struggling with lupus, fibromyalgiaor related autoimmune diseases, please this book and consider giving thesevarious simple strategies a try. They have helped countless other people and Ihope they will help you, too!

96 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 9, 2018