Without Hydroxychloroquine, What Do Us Lupus Sufferers Do?

I’ve been taking hydroxychloroquine for Lupus every day, for nearly 20 years.

Yes. That’s the medicine that is all over the news as a hopeful remedy for patients battling the Coronavirus. Many of whom are now receiving it.

It’s a strong medicine. It helps with my pain. And I hope it cures every single person who needs it. EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. I am also aware that Lupus is a strong, autoimmune disease in which your body’s immune system attacks your own tissues and organs.  And it can be deadly.

I’m praying that it is a cure for the Coronavirus. I’m praying that it will be a giant step in healing our world. And I’m not just saying “I pray it’s a cure,” I am actually PRAYING that it’s a cure.

I have enough hydroxychloroquine (also known as Plaquenil) to last for the time being, but like many lupus sufferers, I am painfully aware that the pharmacies are out of it. In fact, I took half my dose this week to conserve it, but was in pain, within days. So, I’m back to the full dose again, and trusting God.

When Dr. Fauci was answering questions on CNN this week, a viewer with Lupus who takes hydroxychloroquine, and was soon to run out, asked what he should do.

Dr. Fauci replied that this was an “unintentional consequence” of this epidemic and he made no promises or suggestions that there will be any available, any time soon.  And he’s right. There are thousands of unintentional, horrible consequences of this virus. No one intended to hurt us Lupus sufferers by taking away the medicine that allows us to have pain-free days and avoid hospital stays. It was unintentional, but it still exists and someone needs to do something about it!

If the Defense Production Act can be used to compel manufacturers to produce supplies, this should be one at the top of the list.  And the production amounts requested should consider both Coronavirus and the unintentional consequences of this outbreak.

I am the only Lupus patient I know that has never been hospitalized. And I know many who have died.

So, I’m asking for everyone to pray that hydroxychloroquine is a cure for COVID-19 and also pray for those who will be forced to go without it. Because our hospitals are already overwhelmed, and do not need a surge of Lupus sufferers, whose conditions have worsened. Stress is a major factor in Lupus flares. Imagine what that stress is doing to those who can’t access their medicine.

This virus does not discriminate. Lots of people are dying, many who are middle-aged.  This blog may be called lovingmiddleagedlife, but I am a lover of every age of life and I want us ALL to survive.  So please stay home and stay healthy.  Pray for a cure.  And please be intentional about it!

God bless our healthcare workers!

Click the link below to read about a Lupus patient who was “thanked for her sacrifice,” when her hydroxychloroquine refill was denied.

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/tanyachen/kaiser-permanente-lupus-chloroquine