Abbey McMann

Meet Abbey McMann from South Lyon, MI. Abbey was recently diagnosed with lupus in November 2023.

Abbey'’s Story:

I’ve been having joint/muscle pain, stomach issues and chronic fatigue since I was a teenager. In my mid 20s, it ramped up and the pain became constant. I started getting unexplained rashes all over and my face started getting red every time I was outside. My hands and feet were always cold and I could not regulate my body temperature. In 2020, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. As I approached my late 20s, my symptoms continued to get worse. My hair started falling out at a rate I could not control. My stomach was always inflamed and hurting. I was having chest pains, dry eyes, dry mouth, my joints and muscles were unable to do daily tasks and I had to quit the job I had because it was too physically demanding and required too many notes from my doctors and I couldn’t keep up. My doctor finally referred me to the University of Michigan. My doctor is incredible and truly saved my life. He immediately suspected SLE. Tons of tests and scans later, I was diagnosed with SLE, secondary Sjogren’s, fibromyalgia, Raynaud’s syndrome and bilateral arthritis in both hips and both knees. During the scans, they checked my heart and found a birth defect as well. I struggle every single day doing regular tasks.

I miss the sun not making my skin feel like it’s on fire. I miss jumping and running. I miss being able to go up the stairs without having to immediately sit down and regain my strength and catch my breath. Every single day is a challenge honestly, but I’m doing my best to learn how to conquer each day with as much joy as I can muster up. 💜

What brings you joy?: My sweet dogs, who are always by my side, exploring nature. Hearing the birds sings, seeing the sun shine through the trees during golden hour. Spending time with loved ones. Cleaning up our Great Lakes and searching for beach glass and rocks. 

What is one misconception you wish you could change about lupus?: It’s more than a skin rash or kidney issues. It affects your entire body inside and out. That so many younger people are diagnosed with it as well. 

What is one piece of advice you would give to someone who is newly diagnosed?: Find as many support groups as you can, even if it’s online reddit pages so you don’t feel as alone and isolated. Medication takes a long time to start working, so don’t get discouraged when you start treatment and don’t feel better. Never stop advocating for yourself. It will get better. 💜