SUBSCRIBE
Tuesday, July 8, 2025
Health For Mzansi
  • Trending
  • My Health
  • Conversations
    • Podcast
    • Health Heroes
    • TV
  • Grow It
  • My Food
    • Nutrition
    • Recipes
No Result
View All Result
  • Trending
  • My Health
  • Conversations
    • Podcast
    • Health Heroes
    • TV
  • Grow It
  • My Food
    • Nutrition
    • Recipes
No Result
View All Result
Health For Mzansi

Lupus warrior gives hope to fellow sufferers

by Staff Reporter
10th May 2022
in Trending
Reading Time: 6 mins read
A A
The month of May marks Lupus Awareness Month. This inflammatory disease is caused when the immune system attacks its own tissues and affects the overall well-being of the person in many ways. Tamryn Swartz shares her story of living with lupus. Photo: Supplied/Health For Mzansi

The month of May marks Lupus Awareness Month. This inflammatory disease is caused when the immune system attacks its own tissues and affects the overall well-being of the person in many ways. Tamryn Swartz shares her story of living with lupus. Photo: Supplied/Health For Mzansi

“Lupus might have my body, but it does not have me,” says lupus warrior Tamryn Monique Swartz. The 25-year-old from Grabouw in the Overberg region of the Western Cape, was diagnosed in 2016.

Tamryn Swartz was diagnosed with lupus in 2016. Photo: Supplied/Health For Mzansi

According to the Lupus Foundation of America, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) or lupus, is a complex and poorly understood condition. It is a chronic, autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in various parts of the body.

A life-changing diagnosis

In her matric year in 2015, Swartz decided to take a gap year to figure out what to do next. “Little did I know my life would be turned upside down.”

In March of 2016 she found out she was pregnant, and during one of her prenatal visits, one of the nurses spotted blood and protein in her urine sample.

“She asked me to come back the following day to give a urine sample again, and it had the same outcome as the previous day.”

“I was sent to the doctor’s office. I remember being very scared and nervous. The doctor booked me for a consultation at a nearby hospital, and when I got there, I was given the option to either terminate my pregnancy or visit Tygerberg Hospital to determine if they could manage the problem.”

She chose motherhood and with further investigation, it was determined that Swartz had lupus.

“I remember while the doctor was breaking the news to me, just seeing his lips move but hearing nothing come out of his mouth. The worst-case scenario played out in the back of my mind. I just nodded for yes and no, and just wanted him to leave so that I could be alone. I remember him telling me not to do Google research on the disease as pictures one will find are very scary … but I did not listen, and after seeing what was on the Internet, I felt like I was going to die – worst case scenario.”

A warrior’s gruelling journey unfolds

Swartz soon started with treatment, and although she experienced fatigue, hair loss and body aches, she says she still felt okay. She gave birth in 2016, and soon after, her lupus started to flare up.

“It was a never-ending type of pain and I was stripped of my confidence. I was insecure and no longer recognised myself when I looked in the mirror. From never taking medication, not even headache tablets, I started consuming an average of 26 tablets per day,” she says.

“I could not even take care of my baby, nor could I take care of myself. I felt helpless, and that was not something good to experience because for as long as I could remember, I never accepted help from others as I always stood on my own two feet.”

The magic of support

In 2018, Swartz joined a lupus support group which was created by a fellow lupus warrior. “I had my own people! People that had the same experiences as I had. In that same year, I finally started my studies. I felt like I had purpose again, I had something I could do for myself and for my family … something I could accomplish.

“Every day was not all sunshine and roses, but I kept pushing and with the studies came a lot of academic stress. This was not always good for my health, and I had a few minor setbacks, but rose from that too. I lost a dear friend of mine to lupus that same year, and I made a promise to fight this battle twice as hard not only for myself but for those who lost their fight against lupus.”

When Toni Braxton was first diagnosed with systemic lupus in 2008, doctors told her that she would need a heart transplant and might not be able to ever perform again. Photo: Self

Swartz adds,  “One thing I’ve learnt on this journey is that giving up is not an option, and no matter how hard you fall or how many times you fall, it’s about how many times you choose to get up and fight. If I had given up on my fight I wouldn’t have been able to share my story. I wouldn’t have been able to give someone else hope.”

How lupus is diagnosed

Diagnosing lupus is difficult because its signs and symptoms often mimic those of other ailments, and no two cases of lupus present the same, observes Dr Riette du Toit.

“There is no single test for lupus, and the diagnosis is usually made based on the symptoms (medical history) provided by the patient, comprehensive physical examination by the doctor, radiology and a special laboratory test that measures the autoantibodies and inflammation levels,” she says.

Dr Riette du Toit is the head of the Rheumatology Division at the Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town. Photo: Supplied/Health For Mzansi

Du Toit is the head of the Rheumatology Division at the Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town. She says annually, an average of 400 lupus patients are treated at the hospital.

How to live with lupus

“The management of lupus is a holistic approach by the multidisciplinary team to ensure spiritual, mental, emotional and physical wellbeing. There is no cure for lupus, but the symptoms can be controlled. Regular follow-ups by specialists for treatment is important as the treatment is aimed to reduce the inflammation and improve the quality of life of the person. Continuous research is also done worldwide to improve treatment options.”

Medical treatment will vary and is determined by the severity of the disease. Non-medical treatment for lupus includes:

  • Maintaining a healthy diet and exercising.
  • Getting enough rest.
  • Protecting the skin when outside and ensuring that adequate sources of protection are worn when outside e.g., wearing a wide brim hat and long sleeves. Apply sunscreen at least three times a day, even on days that are cloudy. 
  • Adherence to doctor’s appointments so that the patient can be monitored.
  • Compliance with medication.
  • Developing a support system – surround yourself with friends and family who love and understand you and try to join a support group.
  • Keeping a journal. This helps to record triggers, symptoms, and any points for discussion with your doctor at future appointments. 
  • Getting to know your body and to identify when a flare-up is imminent.
  • Avoiding expectations and comparisons. Lupus is an individual disease. No two people are the same.

ALSO READ: Tween celebrates new heart after life-saving surgery

Tags: diseaseHealthWomen's wellness
Staff Reporter

Staff Reporter

Related Articles

Trending

Student hunger crisis spurs vital UCT intervention

by Niémah Davids
4th July 2025
Achooooo! Tame winter allergies and take back control
Trending

Act fast with allergies: Anaphylaxis can be deadly

by Staff Reporter
2nd July 2025

Stories

HIV and initiation: Supporting boys through cultural rites
Security fails as gangs target Eastern Cape clinics
Dr Makanya blends spiritual healing with art therapy
Canola oil: A heart-healthy choice for your kitchen
No more pain! Tackle the torment of toothaches
How smoking causes harmful bacteria in your mouth
Discover delicious, healthy dishes that will make your heart sing
Rediscover the joy of creamy pap with chicken livers
No Result
View All Result

Latest

Carnivore diet: Experts warn against meat-only madness
Nutrition

Carnivore diet: Experts warn against meat-only madness

by Vateka Halile
8th July 2025

Think you can thrive on meat alone? Think again! While some praise the carnivore diet for curbing cravings, experts warn...

Read moreDetails

Pill by pill: How addiction nearly destroyed a mother’s life

7th July 2025

Student hunger crisis spurs vital UCT intervention

4th July 2025
Enjoying the sun

Catch the morning sun for better health in winter

3rd July 2025
Achooooo! Tame winter allergies and take back control

Act fast with allergies: Anaphylaxis can be deadly

2nd July 2025
Health For Mzansi

Contact us
Office: +27 21 879 1824

News: hello@healthformzansi.co.za
Advertising: sales@foodformzansi.co.za

Awards & Impact
Privacy Policy

Cookie Policy
Copyright

Somagwaza

HIV and initiation: Supporting boys through cultural rites

cropped-scott-webb-yekGLpc3vro-unsplash.jpeg

Security fails as gangs target Eastern Cape clinics

Dr Sinethemba Makanya

Dr Makanya blends spiritual healing with art therapy

Carnivore diet: Experts warn against meat-only madness

Pill by pill: How addiction nearly destroyed a mother’s life

Student hunger crisis spurs vital UCT intervention

Catch the morning sun for better health in winter

Act fast with allergies: Anaphylaxis can be deadly

Tradition meets taste: Goat meat gets a modern twist

error: Content is protected !!
No Result
View All Result
  • Trending
  • My Health
  • Conversations
    • Podcast
    • Health Heroes
    • TV
  • Grow It
  • My Food
    • Nutrition
    • Recipes

© 2021 Health For Mzansi | Farmers For Change Pty (Ltd)

HIV and initiation: Supporting boys through cultural rites Security fails as gangs target Eastern Cape clinics Dr Makanya blends spiritual healing with art therapy Canola oil: A heart-healthy choice for your kitchen No more pain! Tackle the torment of toothaches How smoking causes harmful bacteria in your mouth Discover delicious, healthy dishes that will make your heart sing Rediscover the joy of creamy pap with chicken livers