As the Lupus community commemorates Lupus Awareness Month in May, the Berea Mail’s Danica Hansen sits down to chat with local lupus survivors to find out more about the little-known disease.
Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can lead to inflammation affecting many different body systems — including joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart and lungs.
This week we chat to Overport resident, Lolly Naidoo.
“Between birth and death, there is life. You have a purpose. Make use of that purpose whether you are sick or not. Find your purpose and you’ll be healed,” said the mother of two who was diagnosed with Lupus in 2012.
She did not know what Lupus was when she was diagnosed.
“I just knew it was a blood disease – I didn’t know anything else about the disease at all. As I was going into it I learnt a little bit more about the disabilities involved and the inflammation, fatigue and pain,” she said.
“I had to stop working. I worked for Sassa for 35 years in disability management. I had to stop working because I had [MEL PULSES?]- it was very painful. I have been diagnosed with Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) Lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, vasculitis of the brain and osteoarthritis,” added Naidoo.
She said she could not continue working because her job involved interviewing people- a task she could not continue due to pain and inflammation.
“I had to use a mouth spray and take tablets. My fingers were curled from arthritis and I couldn’t write anymore. My comprehension wasn’t there anymore,” she said.
Managing the symptoms
While many Lupus patients require chronic medication, Naidoo said she is managing her symptoms with a health supplement and lifestyle changes.
“My rhematologist put me on 18 chronic medications and two years later I realised the chronic medication was making me more sick. I was diagnosed with Lupus but getting cancer treatment. I decided to wean myself off my medication and I am now using a health product which has helped me to cut done my inflammation, clean my gut and improve comprehension. I can do things now I couldn’t do before. I can dance, I can cook, I can drive and carry my grandchildren. I can do all things now that I couldn’t do when I was on chronic medication,” she said.
Naidoo is passionate about encouraging other Lupus warriors. She hosted a Lupus awareness breakfast on Saturday, 8 May.
ALSO READ: ‘Lupus changed my whole life,’ says Mayville mother
“The aim was just to reach out to those with Lupus. There were about 40 people at the event with a few people sharing their testimonies. People were surprised to see my extrovert side because I was always known as an introvert. The illness made me the person I am today. I feel this illness has come to me so I can help others with Lupus, because, I know I can manage it,” she said.
She hopes to encourage and inspire other Lupus Warriors, sharing health tips to make life with Lupus more manageable.
“When you have Lupus you cannot get up in the morning- you are stiff. I showed them how to get out of bed. how to exercise and I encouraged them to drink warm water. many people cannot afford health supplements, so I tell them to go to their kitchen- that’s where you get your health supplements in your turmeric, cinnamon, sweet potatoes. With any auto immune illness, if you can change your lifestyle, you will be amazed at how much it helps. Simple things like boiling your water before you drink it and cutting down on bread and red meat and introducing more vegetables into your diet. Meditation and walks on the beach help- don’t sit there in pain, shake yourself up and do gardening, like I do. Even if I can just reach out to one person, I have achieved my purpose,” she said.
To join a lupus support group, contact Naidoo on 083 731 4014.
Do you want to receive news alerts via Telegram? Send us a message (not an sms) with your name and surname to 060 532 5535.
You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
PLEASE NOTE: If you have signed up for our news alerts you need to save the Berea Mail Telegram number as a contact to your phone, otherwise you will not receive our alerts
Here’s where you can download Telegram on Android or Apple
