{"id":58335,"date":"2026-04-27T11:50:44","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T15:50:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.canadahelps.org\/?p=58335"},"modified":"2026-04-27T14:44:42","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T18:44:42","slug":"lupus-canada-shares-lupus-symptoms-and-treatment-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.canadahelps.org\/en\/giving-life\/connecting-with-charities\/lupus-canada-shares-lupus-symptoms-and-treatment-story\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding Lupus: One Woman\u2019s Story of Symptoms, Diagnosis and Recovery"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

This blog article was written by Macenzie Rebelo, a Toronto-based journalist who collaborates <\/strong>with Lupus Canada.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the summer of 2014, Gabrielle (Gaby) thought she had come down with the flu because of her unexplained body aches, fever and stiff joints\u2014 common early lupus symptoms.<\/p>\n

But after a month of pushing through with Tylenol and seeing no real improvement, she went to her doctor for further testing. Her bloodwork came back abnormal, and her doctor eventually referred her to a hematologist.<\/p>\n

At this point, Gaby noticed a change in her physical appearance as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy symptoms went from bad to worse<\/em>,\u201d says Gaby. \u201cI started to lose a significant amount of hair and weight, and developed mouth sores, psoriasis, my lymph nodes were swollen, and I had persistent high fevers<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

While all of this was happening, Gaby was also dealing with severe joint pain and swelling, all common symptoms of lupus.<\/p>\n

\u201cI could hardly move my body<\/em>,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Gabby before and after photo, image courtesy of Lupus Canada<\/em><\/p>\n

Left: Gabby before her symptoms started to appear. Right: Gabby when she was diagnosed with lupus.<\/em><\/p>\n

Lupus Diagnosis: Symptoms and Warning Signs<\/h2>\n

At only twenty-five, Gaby was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (lupus), a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation, pain, and damage to various parts of the body. It is a disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue, affecting organs such as the kidneys, brain, and skin. In addition, it can cause joint pain and swelling.<\/p>\n

Lupus is often referred to as the \u201cdisease of a thousand faces\u201d because it affects everyone\u2019s bodies differently. No two journeys are the same, as symptoms vary, and lupus treatment is complex.<\/p>\n

It has no cure, and its cause is unknown.<\/p>\n

Gaby was familiar with lupus, as her mother was diagnosed with Discoid Lupus Erythematosus (DLE), a chronic autoimmune skin condition, during Gaby\u2019s teenage years.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought, okay\u2014 if it\u2019s like my mom\u2019s, maybe it\u2019ll be manageable. At the time, I didn\u2019t fully grasp the seriousness of this condition<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

After being referred to a rheumatologist, Gaby started treatment for her lupus. But after a year of steady care, her condition worsened, with severe swelling in her feet and nausea, alongside brain fog, joint pain and fatigue, which are all common lupus flare symptoms.<\/p>\n

Gaby admits that during this time, she downplayed the severity of her condition, not realizing her symptoms were far more serious than she initially believed.<\/p>\n

She noticed swelling in her calves and feet from fluid retention and underwent treatment to remove the excess fluid.<\/p>\n

A friend suggested that Gaby have her kidneys examined. After taking her friend\u2019s advice and discussing it with her doctor, she received a kidney biopsy.<\/p>\n

While undergoing transfusions, Gaby developed edema, swelling caused by excess fluid trapped in the body\u2019s tissues, as well as a pulmonary embolism and hematoma in her abdomen.<\/p>\n

\u201cI developed a blood clot in my lung and kept coughing up blood<\/em>,\u201d Gaby shares. \u201cThings were so far gone, my body was full of so much fluid that I ended up being admitted to the hospital<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

After a brief stay in the hospital, Gaby returned home, where she suffered a seizure due to swelling of the brain. Again, she was admitted to the hospital and this time put on life support.<\/p>\n

While at the hospital, Gaby\u2019s family felt she was not receiving the level of care necessary to save their daughter\u2019s life.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think the doctor realized how much fluid I was retaining,\u201d Gaby explains. \u201cEven though I was holding onto a lot of fluid, I was still losing weight. I went from 120 pounds to 85<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

None of the doctors, including her primary doctor, was ready to diagnose Gaby with renal failure, a condition in which the kidneys can no longer filter waste from the blood, even though her body was retaining significant amounts of fluid.<\/p>\n

Kidney complications are a serious risk for people living with lupus.<\/p>\n

With doctors unable to stabilize her condition, Gaby was then transferred to Mackenzie Health in Richmond Hill, Ontario.<\/p>\n

From Diagnosis to Dialysis to a Second Chance at Life<\/h2>\n

\u201cI credit the doctors at Mackenzie Health for saving my life<\/em>,\u201d says Gaby, who was immediately prescribed hemodialysis for her kidneys and stationed in the ICU.<\/p>\n

She was diagnosed with kidney failure (renal failure) and Lupus Nephritis, severe kidney inflammation caused by lupus.<\/p>\n

\u201cHemodialysis was very hard on my body, but I got all of the fluid out of me, and I finally started to feel better. I felt so much lighter<\/em>,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n

After a couple of months in the hospital, Gaby\u2019s symptoms started to settle. The next step in her recovery was learning how to walk again.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Gabby\u2019s treatment in the hospital, image courtesy of Lupus Canada<\/em><\/p>\n

Gaby started rehabilitation, where she relearned to walk with the support of a cane. Although she was still quite weak, Gaby chose to return home when her doctors asked if she felt ready.<\/p>\n

Ten years later, Gaby\u2019s health remains stable, although she must constantly monitor and manage her condition. But, during that time, she faced significant setbacks as her kidney failure and seizures returned.<\/p>\n

In 2021, Gaby received life-changing news when she was approved for a kidney transplant, made possible by the generosity of an anonymous living donor.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were so happy. Getting the transplant call was overwhelming, and seeing the kidney start working right away felt like the best news<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Following surgery, Gaby began anti-rejection medication for her new kidney. Although it initially functioned well, her body soon started to reject it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought, of course, this would happen to me<\/em>,\u201d says Gaby.<\/p>\n

So she was put on a hemodialysis catheter to provide temporary vascular access and resume dialysis. After some time, her new kidney gradually began to function again,<\/p>\n

\u201cI know it might sound strange, but the first time my kidney started producing urine again, and I was able to pee by myself, was one of the happiest and most relieving moments of my life<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gaby shares that the transplant has greatly improved her health, despite not curing her illness.<\/p>\n

Today, Gaby is working on her second chance at life and feels very lucky to be alive. She is focusing on her travel bucket list and making each day count.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Gabby and her partner travelling in Barcelona, image courtesy of Lupus Canada<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIt is true what they say about lupus being \u2018the disease with a thousand faces\u2019\u2013no two cases are the same,\u201d says Gaby. \u201cBut it\u2019s important to share the small victories and keep pushing forward, even when it\u2019s hard.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Understanding Lupus: Why Awareness Matters<\/h2>\n

For people like Gaby, raising awareness of lupus is essential to advancing lupus research and treatment options and ultimately finding a cure.<\/p>\n

Lupus is often misunderstood or overlooked, which makes lupus awareness especially important. Public education not only fosters empathy but also supports earlier diagnoses, improves treatment outcomes, and helps drive funding for research.<\/p>\n

For Lupus Canada, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of Canadians living with lupus through research and advocacy, the ultimate goal is a cure. A life without lupus.<\/p>\n

According to Lupus Canada, lupus impacts more than one in 1,000 Canadians and an estimated five million people worldwide. Gaby\u2019s story highlights the reality of living with lupus in Canada.<\/p>\n

Despite medical advances, many Canadians still face delayed diagnoses, inconsistent access to care, and limited treatment options. For those living with lupus, this often means navigating uncertainty every day.<\/p>\n

Visit Lupus Canada<\/a> to learn more about lupus support, research, and resources, and to read more stories like Gaby\u2019s. Donate to help fund lupus research and support patient care.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This blog article was written by Macenzie Rebelo, a Toronto-based journalist who collaborates with Lupus Canada. In the summer of 2014, Gabrielle (Gaby) thought she … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":58339,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-58335","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-connecting-with-charities","tags-healthcare","tags-lupus"],"acf":{"meta_description":"Learn about lupus symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment through one woman\u2019s powerful journey. 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