🎁 The Hidden Challenges: Top 5 Difficulties for Lupus Patients During the Holidays

The holiday season is often advertised as a time of joy, endless energy for non-stop events, and celebratory gatherings. While that's true for many, for those living with lupus, this time of year presents a unique set of challenges that can make the "most wonderful time of the year" feel more woeful than wonderful.

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue, causing inflammation and damage in various parts of the body. Since stress, fatigue, and changes in routine are major flare triggers, the holidays can be a minefield.

Here are the top five things that are often difficult for a lupus patient around the holidays:

1. The Overwhelming Pressure to "Do It All" (and the Fatigue that Follows)

The holidays come with a massive to-do list: decorating, shopping, wrapping, baking, cooking a feast, and traveling to see family.

• The Difficulty: Extreme fatigue is one of the most common and debilitating symptoms of lupus. Trying to keep up with the non-stop social and logistical demands of the season is a direct path to a flare. Patients often feel intense guilt or pressure to maintain traditions, pushing themselves far past their physical limits.

• The Result: A crash that leaves them unable to participate in the very events they pushed themselves for, leading to emotional distress on top of physical pain.

• Tip: Prioritize the essentials this holiday season and work around what is MOST important to you and your inner circle. Then, say "no" and mean it.

2. Navigating the Social and Emotional Stress

Stress, whether good or bad, is a notorious trigger for a lupus flare. The holidays are a perfect storm of social and emotional stress.

• The Difficulty: Managing the stress of travel, the emotional dynamics of family gatherings, and the sheer volume of social engagements. A lupus patient may feel obligated to attend event after event, sacrificing essential rest time. Furthermore, they often face well-meaning but difficult questions about their health or judgment for declining an invitation.

• The Result: Increased emotional load and a surge of stress hormones that can kick the immune system into overdrive, resulting in a flare-up of symptoms like joint pain, brain fog, or rashes.

• Tip: Set boundaries. You may think that you are being controlling, rude, or cold by setting boundaries, but they are in place to foster healthy relationships. Check out this blog we wrote on Setting Healthy Boundaries here!

3. The Holiday Buffet and Dietary Restrictions

Holiday meals are typically rich, decadent, and a central part of the celebration—but they can be a nightmare for sensitive systems.

• The Difficulty: Many lupus patients follow anti-inflammatory diets to help manage their condition, often avoiding ingredients like excessive sugar, processed foods, and high-sodium items that are staples of holiday spreads. It can be incredibly hard to refuse a beloved relative's signature dish without causing offense or drawing unwanted attention.

• The Result: They either risk a flare by indulging in inflammatory foods or they feel isolated and awkward picking through the buffet or explaining their restrictions to well-meaning but uninformed family members.

• Tip: Ask for the menu ahead of time so you can be prepared. Offer to bring one or two dishes that you know your body handles well and stick to the foods that won't cause you to flare.

4. Disruptions to Routine and Medication Schedules

Living with lupus requires a highly structured routine, especially around medication and sleep. The holidays throw a wrench into that stability.

• The Difficulty: Traveling across time zones, late-night parties, and irregular mealtimes can disrupt carefully balanced medication schedules and sleep patterns. For a lupus patient, missing a dose or getting significantly less sleep isn't just an inconvenience; it can be a serious medical risk that leads to a loss of control over their symptoms.

• The Result: An unstable routine increases vulnerability to infection (especially in crowded airports/gatherings) and significantly raises the risk of a debilitating flare.

• Tip: Set calendar alerts to remind you to stay on track with your mediations. If you are traveling to a different time zone, calculate the time you would normally take the dose and try to stick to it. Talk to your doctor about any changes in times of dosing!

5. Dealing with Cold Weather Symptoms (Like Raynaud's Disease)

While the holidays are a universal challenge, the winter setting for many common holidays adds a physical layer of difficulty.

• The Difficulty: Colder temperatures can exacerbate common lupus symptoms like joint stiffness and pain. Furthermore, many lupus patients also experience Raynaud's Disease, where blood vessels in the fingers and toes spasm in response to cold, causing numbness and pain. Simple tasks like waiting for a car or even holding a cold beverage can become excruciating.

• The Result: The patient has to constantly manage the temperature of their environment, which can limit their participation in outdoor activities like holiday light viewing or even cause discomfort indoors if the room is drafty.

• Tip: Travel with disposable "Hot Hands" hand-warmers. Bring a scarf to cover your nose and ears (yes, Raynaud's affects those too) and always wear wool socks!

🌟 Finding a Path to Peace

For lupus individuals, the key to surviving—and enjoying—the holidays is to redefine success. It's about letting go of the expectation of a "perfect" holiday and prioritizing self-care.

Remember: Your health is the greatest gift you can give yourself and your loved ones. It’s okay to delegate, say no, and choose a quiet night on the couch over a crowded party.

Happy Holidays!

Compiled By:

Kelli (Casas) Roseta

**All resources provided by this blog are for informational purposes only, not to replace the advice of a medical professional. Kelli encourages you to always contact your medical provider with any specific questions or concerns regarding your illness. All intellectual property and content on this site and in this blog are owned by morethanlupus.com. This includes materials protected by copyright, trademark, or patent laws. Copyright, More Than Lupus 2025.

Sources & Resources:

• Lupus Foundation of America: Tips for a low-stress holiday season

• Lupus Foundation of America: Navigating the Holiday Season with Lupus: 7 Tips for Stress Management

• MyLupusTeam: How to Enjoy the Holidays Despite Lupus

• Lupus Foundation of America: Your guide to traveling with lupus

• Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS): Tips on How to Manage Holiday Stress When You Have Lupus

• Lupus Foundation of Northern California: 7 Holiday Tips for lupus patients from Setareh Banisadr (includes note on Raynaud's)

• Anna Pinnock Nutrition: Autoimmune Disease & Festive Stress (mentions Raynaud's and cold temperatures)

• Lupus Encyclopedia: wwwlupusencyclopedia.com