Autoimmune disease is like a lion lurking in the shadows. It waits for the right moment to strike, such as an unusually stressful season. All at once it pounces, ravaging its helpless victim, leaving her with painful joints, blistered skin, weakened muscles or battered internal organs. She is a mere fragment of her former self.

If you live with an autoimmune disease you know what I mean. It attacks you while you’re cramming for college exams. When you’re going through a divorce. When you’ve given birth and your body is run down from lack of sleep. It starts off small. But one day you look at your “new” self in the mirror. And you cry. You didn’t ask for this.

My name is Stella. I know what it’s like to live with an autoimmune disease and chronic illness. The fear and uncertainty can be overwhelming. It makes you feel powerless. Like you have no control of your own body. I know that’s how I felt. In 2012 I was diagnosed with pemphigus vulgaris (PV), a rare blistering autoimmune disease. Click here to read my story. I’ve also suffered from migraines and eczema since childhood, endometriosis and IBS-C. I’ve taken all kinds of medications. Rubbed all types of creams and ointments on my skin. Used all types of preparations. And still my symptoms worsened. 

I wish I could take one magic pill and make everything go away. But there is no magic pill. But I did find a better way to manage my symptoms. And this is what I would like to share with you. I incorporated a more holistic approach. This has allowed me to minimize, and in some cases, eliminate medications. Through healthy nutrition, stress reduction, movement and achieving overall good health I’ve gotten my life back. And so can you.

The goal of Health Uprising Now is to support women of all ages who suffer from autoimmune disease and other chronic illnesses as they embark on the journey towards optimal health. The blog focuses on women’s wholebeing…mind, body and spirit with the understanding that misalignment in any of these areas promotes symptoms associated with dis-ease.

Health Uprising Now will:

Regardless of whether you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, Chrohn’s disease, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, lupus or any other autoimmune disease, we all share a common thread: an overactive immune system. Here is where our journeys meet. In sharing what I’ve learned my hope is to provide you with the support and encouragement to forge ahead on your own journey to good health.