Barbora G. - Diagnosed at age 16

I was diagnosed with lupus in March 2021 at the age of 16. I was feeling really tired, I didn't want to eat anything, I had fevers and my hands and legs were swollen and that's when I went to the hospital. After doing a biopsy of my kidneys, I found out that I had systematic lupus erythematosus. My current symptoms include getting tired very easily, hair loss and sometimes the butterfly-shaped rash. I think lupus has affected my daily life quite a lot, naps have become a part of my daily routine and I have to adjust to eating a healthier diet and avoiding salty foods. Since me and my parents have never heard of this disease, my dad found the Lupus Foundation of America. From there we got lots of resources that helped my parents and me understand what I was dealing with. And knowing that there are so many other people fighting this disease makes me feel so much better that I'm not alone in this. Lupus does affect our lives quite a lot, but it does not change who we are.