How I Advocate for Myself and My Lupus Treatments | MyLupusTeam

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How I Advocate for Myself and My Lupus Treatments

Posted on February 16, 2023

Lupus activist Seda Bryant is an overcomer — a mother, writer, and designer who is using her gifts to turn pain into purpose. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) — the most common type of lupus — disproportionately affects people of color, and racial disparities also impact lupus treatment. Watch the video to see how Seda encourages people of color to self-advocate for the best lupus treatment.

Transcript

00:00:00:02 - 00:00:32:02
Seda
Hello. My name is Seda Bryant and I live with systemic lupus erythematosus, stage 4 lupus nephritis, antiphospholipid syndrome, and Raynaud's Disease. My lupus story started in 2011 where after years of medical problems and misdiagnosis, I was given only three weeks until total organ failure. Lupus really dropped a bomb on my life. I experienced a lengthy journey to remission, and it included two rounds of chemotherapy, dialysis, 26+ hospital admissions.

00:00:32:07 - 00:00:57:00
Seda
Despite the fact that lupus predominantly affects people of color, I have had several instances where I felt like my care was affected because of my race, so the advice that I give people is, #1: If your medical group offers an app, I would use that to message your doctor. Writing things down strips away a lot of the layers, and it literally becomes a black and white issue of: Did they address your needs or not?”

00:00:57:07 - 00:01:20:07
Seda
It also creates a time-stamped paper trail in case you need to file a grievance or take other actions. Secondly, I would heavily lean on friends and family or your support system. Take them with you to doctors’ appointments so you have witnesses to what's going on and especially, especially, especially if you have to go into the hospital. 3 is get a second or third opinion.

00:01:20:07 - 00:01:36:04
Seda
If you feel like your concerns are being dismissed or you're being discriminated against. You can live a normal, beautiful, except normal life with lupus. And don't you dare settle for anything less.

Posted on February 16, 2023
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