Briah C. - Diagnosed at age 17

Hi, my name is Briah. I initially got sick my junior year of high school at 17 years old. It started as normal flu like symptoms such as, fever, cough, rash, chills, and nausea. I was very ill for 2 weeks until I saw my primary care doctor. I went in thinking I was going to be diagnosed with the flu but I was very wrong. When I was tested for the flu, Covid, mono, and a few other common illnesses everything was negative. I was told to go home and sleep it off. I went in after having a constant fever of at least 102 for 20 days. I was then referred to infectious diseases. I went through 2 months of strenuous testing, while still having high fevers and rashes, but now I was losing my hair too. Just to be told yet again no one knew what was wrong with me. I was then sent to oncology. I was being tested for lymphoma and leukemia. Yet again everything was negative.

Going into my senior year of high school bed ridden and not knowing why was the worst feeling. I finally got into rheumatology in November of last year and was diagnosed with lupus almost immediately. I have systemic lupus brought on from an asymptomatic case of EBV. It has been almost a year since my diagnosis and I still struggle with flare ups very often. My positive mindset is how I stay strong through this disease.