Lupus Love

Shortly after marrying Ken, her best friend and soulmate in February of 1975, Katy Conklin, at thirty-five, learned that she had SLE (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus), an incurable autoimmune disease that can attack any part of the body. For Katy, lupus initially affected her joints often causing pain and fatigue. Later, this insidious disease progressed to her lungs and circulatory system, leading to asthma and then to blood clots, including DVTs (Deep Vein Thrombosis) in her legs, and eventually to lupus-induced strokes. Instead of giving in to lupus, Katy, a positive person by nature, vows to overcome the lupus obstacles and live as full a life as possible. She finds success in her work as a CEO of several branches of a non-profit organization. She also uses her music and acting ability to find fulfillment with a semi-professional chorus and by singing and acting with a retirement village entertainment company. With her husband by her side throughout her struggles, she achieves success in her work and in her daily life.

When Mary discovered the pain she was experiencing doing every-day things at school and at home was due to a disease called lupus, she was determined not to let it affect her life. What she didnt know at the time was that the physical challenges of lupus would pale in comparison to the emotional challenges she would face when she fell in love with two very different menand found that neither of them felt quite the same way about her. Never one to give up in the face of any obstacle, Mary began her long-term endeavor to change their minds. Life, Love, and Lupus is the story of Marys battle to overcome unrequited love and go after what she most desires, whatever the consequences and regardless of the limitations. Through narrative description, journal entries and email exchanges, the reader is taken along on an intimate journey with the sharp-witted Mary as she follows her hopes and dreams and finds out that sometimes you have to learn to love yourself first.

This book was written in tribute to a great woman who developed a disease called lupus. Having this illness caused her to give up her career as a registered nurse and to submit to lupus. Alice's desire to live came from her faith in God. She knew that God has the power to heal. At times Alice would get angry over her illness and cry out to God, saying, "Why me?" Some people say we should not question God or ask why. It has been said that we should ask God for what we want and wait for the answer. As this lady of great faith held to God's unchanging hands and the doctors were doing all they could, she began to motivate herself to live on. She developed a purpose for living. She had developed lupus in the year of 1972. At that time, they did not know much about the disease called lupus. Being her husband and caretaker, I began to try to understand. I was having emotional difficulty dealing with the thought that there was no cure and that my loved one was going to die. It seemed very unfair. My faith and our faith combined together, and our love for one another was our strength and our key to our endurance. When you are doing all you can, the best medicine is just a little tender loving care. I was proud to be her husband through sickness and in health. This story is about my love for a dying woman with lupus.

It is time, at last, to speak the truth about Lupus, and the truth is this. No one knows currently if your autoimmune system is the reason you have Lupus. For me, if this is the truth, why aren’t we implementing blood transfusions? New blood, could that be the cure? This book is about bringing awareness from one person’s perspective, as to what is going on in her life with Lupus. “Let me help you take back your life by sharing my story. I hope this will provide you with a clear understanding of what Lupus is and how to maintain your body daily. Moreover, I want you to know what to do if you or someone you know is affected by this madly disease”.

What is the secret ingredient missing from diets and health care plans? Love. It may sound simple, but it’s the most important component of all. The Loving Diet™ offers a progressive heart-centered approach to healing that will show you why coming into cooperation with your disease—paired with an updated Autoimmune Paleo diet to reduce inflammation—may be the fastest way through it.

In the first edition of this important bestselling book, praised by Newsday as “the bible for a whole generation of menopausal women,” renowned physician and pioneering women’s health advocate Dr. Susan Love warned about the potential dangers of the long-term prescription of hormone replacement therapy. Her insightful words of caution have been backed up by the stunning results of the recent studies on hormone replacement. In this revised edition, Dr. Love offers a remarkably clear set of guidelines as to what the studies have shown about the risks regarding heart disease, breast cancer, stroke, and other conditions, and what effect hormone therapy has on osteoporosis. She offers definitive expert advice about whether or not to go on hormone replacement therapy and, if so, for how long, as well as how to taper off hormones; and she introduces the alternative methods for treating the symptoms of menopause. Dr. Love stresses that menopause is not a disease that needs to be cured—it is a natural life stage, and every woman ought to choose her own mix of options for coping with symptoms. A questionnaire about your own health history and life preferences helps you develop a program that will best fit your unique needs. With clarity and compassion, she walks you through every option for both the short and the long term, including: • lifestyle changes (diet, exercise, and stress management) • alternative therapies (including herbs and homeopathic remedies) • available medications other than hormones