My wife and I made our eight-hour trek to UCLA Medical Center and back today, with nothing but frustration to show for our time. I know the doctor is doing her best, but we feel that things are no better than they were two years ago when we started going down to the UCLA lupus specialists.

My wife is sick of all the medications she has to take, and often wonders if the risks associated with many of these medications are worth the trouble. She is constantly approached by snake oil salesmen who claim that their herbal supplement will cure lupus. It’s all very discouraging.