Hello I’m Rani Jacinta Hassan . A wife and mother of 3 Beautiful children.
I’m 47 years old and I’m living with Lupus.
I got diagnosed on the 17th of January 2019.
But I was dealing with medical issues affecting my health from as late as December 2016.
I had rashes covering my body. Joint pain. Hair loss. Fatigue. Being in the sun would cause me to stress out in sweats get agitated or make my skin really red and itchy. Swelling of joints even the Lupus butterfly rash.
I was going to both private and public healthcare. And I was continously getting misdiagnosed as allergic reactions or reactions to my asthma. Lactose intolerant etc etc. Numerous doctors blood test and even allergy tests would not make me comfortable or cure me.
During my gyae clinic in October 2018. My gyae doc was concerned with the rash on my face. She started to ask me questions. She listened very sympathetically then made a few calls. Told me she suspected I have Lupus; A autoimmune disease but my bloods will confirm that. She referred me to SOPD Medical Department for the 17th of January 2019.
I’m truly grateful for her. Without her I probably would have been diagnosed much much later.
On the 17th of January 2019 I was officially diagnosed with Lupus.
Without much empathy I was told I have Lupus and it is incurable but suppress able with meds. It could affect the vital organs in my body
I was literally in tears. I thought I was going to die. I didn’t know anything about my illness and I was devastated. I thought of my husband and kids. I wouldn’t see them marry. How could I put them through this.
Through the days I got depressed. Alot of dark days because I thought I was dying.
It was my kids that kept pushing me, googling Lupus, my symptoms, my flares. Showing me research results. Showing me articles of people living with Lupus positively.
From there I got curious. I started to find out if Fiji had any other people who have Lupus
Because all articles, Facebook pages were of people in overseas.
I wanted to know. Started to ask questions about our health system. Why wasn’t Lupus awareness been raised?
It is as serious as Cancer Diabetes and Pressure. Why were there no articles on Lupus for us Fijians?
My constant Lupus topics with my dear friend Jeanette lead me to be introduced to Una Tuitubou the Founder of Lupus Foundation of Fiji through a mutual friend of hers.
It is through Una that I got to fully understand about my illness.
It is then I found a platform to create awareness about this disease. It is through the Foundation I have more knowledge of my illness and that I can live positively with Lupus as long as I attend my clinics take my medication and eat healthy.
It is through the Foundation that I am getting better health care at CWM. I am treated with such cautionary measures. When I first attended clinics I found that most doctors and nurses were vague about the illness as me.
Now when I walk in my clinic the level of care has changed. We are always referred back to the consultants for review after seen by medical doctors.
Through the Foundation’s awareness programs to the Medical profession we the patients are seeing a change in the care and management of our illness.
Each person diagnosed with Lupus is different. Their symptoms, their reactions and flare ups and their course of medication.
For me I found that my meds Prednisolone causes me more harm than good if dosages are high.
I have gained weight. I been hospitalized due to swelling of my face. My eyes were completely shut. I was choking due to the swelling of my throat glands.
Some days I’m a ball of sunshine and some days just dragging myself out of bed is a chore. I’ve come to learn to live with my illness. No matter what staying positive is important.
Without the support of the Foundation, my Family and friends I would not be the Warrior I am today.
With Thanks.
Rani Hassan