Shironda, Kendra and Jeff on Surviving Lupus: Kidney Failure, Flare-Ups and Diagnosis

Shironda, Kendra and Jeff live with lupus. Christie of the Lupus Foundation of America joins them.Together they explain why the invisible illness takes years to diagnose.Shironda, Kendra, Jeff and Christie of the Lupus Foundation of America in Dallas sit down to talk about lupus. The host notes that lupus gets overlooked and mentions T-Boz of TLC being hospitalized. Shironda describes SLE, stage three kidney disease, inflammation and flare-ups set off by the sun. Jeff explains he was diagnosed in South Korea in 2016 after symptoms began in 2010. Kendra recounts nonstop fevers after a vacation, a Christmas 2024 ER visit, failing organs, and New Year's at Baylor. An ice storm delayed her diagnosis. Christie says 90% of lupus warriors are women, many of them African American, and that diagnosis takes about six years on average. The panel covers hair loss, Shironda's blurry vision on the freeway, gaslighting by doctors, specialists, medication, yoga, dialysis, alcohol and fatigue. They discuss Lupus Awareness Month and name celebrities including Toni Braxton, Nick Cannon, Selena Gomez and Trick Daddy. Christie describes the Lupus and You conference, the Dallas Walk to End Lupus at Clyde Warren Park, and promising clinical trials. The panel also talks about family support, Kendra's strained relationship, and Shironda's emotional first lupus conference. Work and insurance come up, including Shironda's team at Radio One. The conversation closes with pregnancy, disability, FMLA and ADA protections, and Jeff's Men Versus Lupus support group.CHAPTERS0:00 - Intro1:00 - Meet Shironda, Kendra, Christie and Jeff2:33 - Why Lupus Gets Overlooked and T-Boz3:36 - Shironda's SLE and Kidney Disease6:08 - Lupus Flare-Ups and the Sun8:12 - Jeff Diagnosed With Lupus in South Korea10:46 - Kendra's Super Flare and Christmas Hospitalization13:23 - Is Lupus Hereditary14:57 - Lupus in African American Women15:57 - Why Lupus Takes Six Years to Diagnose16:28 - Early Signs: Inflammation and Hair Loss17:30 - Shironda's Blurry Vision on the Freeway19:32 - Lupus Stigma and Invisible Illness21:34 - Finding Doctors Who Listen23:08 - Rheumatologists and Lupus Specialists24:39 - What Lupus Medication Does25:09 - Exercise, Yoga and Avoiding the Sun26:39 - Dialysis, Diet and Alcohol With Lupus28:12 - Lupus Fatigue28:43 - Lupus Awareness Month and Celebrities30:47 - Dallas Walk to End Lupus Fundraising31:49 - Clinical Trials and Chemotherapy for Lupus33:50 - Family Support After a Diagnosis35:51 - Kendra on Lupus and Relationships37:57 - Jeff's Family and Friends Checking In38:30 - A Partner at Doctor Visits39:33 - How Loved Ones Can Help42:09 - Shironda's First Lupus Conference44:44 - A Whole Person, Not Lupus45:15 - Lupus at Work and Insurance48:21 - Pregnancy With Lupus48:53 - Disability, FMLA and ADA Protections50:25 - How to Support Lupus Warriors51:57 - Jeff's Men Versus Lupus Support Group54:00 - Where to Find the PanelWatch the full video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DstJFmumNpQBecome a Patron - https://patreon.com/RealLyfeStreetStarzSubscribe on YouTube - https://shorturl.at/GkyztSubscribe to our clips channel - https://www.youtube.com/@reallyfestreetstarzclipsWatch more exclusive series and footage from the Reallyfe Street Starz Network:Reallyfe Street Starz Podcast - https://shorturl.at/miibxReallyfe Street Starz Clips - https://shorturl.at/0R3V1Blue Couch Performances - https://shorturl.at/7eRMdReallyfe Mic Drop - https://shorturl.at/v1VIU🔥 Support the movement: 🛍️ Store ➜ https://reallyfestreetstarz.com🌐 Website ➜ https://reallyfestreetstarz.com📱 Follow: 📸 Instagram ➜ @ReallyfeProductions 📸 Instagram ➜ @ReallyfeStreetStarz 🎵 TikTok ➜ @reallyfestreetstarz 🐦 Twitter/X ➜ @Reallyfe_214 📘 Facebook ➜ Facebook.com/ReallyfeStreetStarz ▶️ YouTube ➜ https://www.youtube.com/@RealLyfeProductions💸 Cash App: $RealLyfeProductions#ReallyfeStreetStarz