Fall 2008 Issue of Lupus Now Hitting the Streets

In the new Fall 2008 issue of Lupus Now, the Lupus Living section reveals how you can keep your skin happy, healthy skin, despite winter’s freezing temperatures, low humidity, and wind exposure. And is your worrying habit sometimes out of control? We offer you some tips on how to stop this cycle of worry. Besides the bones of your arms, legs, fingers and toes, there’s another part of your body that could be at risk for bone mass loss. Do you know what it is? Plus, Part 2 of the facts and fictions of environmental lupus triggers can be found in this issue.

The Wellness section has important information to help you prepare for an ER visit when you have lupus; the key is having all the information related to your lupus ready to hand over to emergency room staff when you arrive. And in the second part of the series on being newly diagnosed we provide answers to some of the more complex concerns that arise over time.

Positive Makeup introduces our readers to Miss Nicole Paxson, who was diagnosed with lupus at age 12. “I’m a firm believer that things happen for a reason,” she says. “Find out what that reason is, and find something you’re passionate about.” Nicole’s passion is her cosmetics company. With products named for butterflies, like Painted Lady Powder and Monarch Crème Foundation, Nicole Paxson Cosmetics is starting to take off across the country. Nicole says she chose to embrace lupus rather than deny it. “I still struggle with the ups and downs, whether it’s the lupus or hormones or the normal life of a young woman. But I have something that I worked really hard on and something I’m proud of, and now I have a direction in my life,” she says.

Ask anyone about their lupus medications and they’ll probably tell you it’s a true "love-hate” relationship. In this feature article, Tough Medicine acknowledges that, at one time or another, just about everyone with lupus has dreamed of tossing all their meds right down the drain. There are many reasons people stop taking their meds: some haven’t truly accepted the fact that lupus is a chronic illness; some can’t afford to continue to buy the prescription, some find that the medicine is used up before our insurance will allow a refill; some find the side effects are worse than the symptoms the meds are supposed to help. In these interviews you’ll find that a little attitude adjustment can go a long way.

You may have read that lupus pregnancies are considered high-risk. That’s not because there are always complications, but because there could be problems, and it’s better to be safe than sorry. In the feature article Baby Steps you’ll meet people who have completed their families in a variety of ways -- from traditional pregnancy to adoption to surrogacy when lupus prevented a pregnancy. The end result is what matters: a child to love, no matter how he or she became part of the family!

A big part of growing up is taking responsibility for your own health -- and that’s saying a lot when you have a complicated disease like lupus. Making the transition from child to grownup is the topic of Teen Talk in this issue, as hear how four young people with lupus approached the transition from pediatric to adult care.

Finally, this is the issue in which we give you the results of the recent Reader Survey. Find out what your fellow readers think about the magazine, its topics and what made the Top Ten List for both the medical and general topics.

So, there’s your sneak peek at what’s in store in this fifth anniversary issue of Lupus Now. We hope you enjoy it!