Tag: lupus

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I’m A Reiki Energy Healer Living In Hawaii

Oahu, Hawaii Reiki Practitioner Brandy Gomez-Duplessis

Yes, I am a Reiki Energy Healer living in Hawaii. With all of the powerful history of the 3rd Reiki Grand Master Hawayo Takata living here in 1937, I personally feel Oahu Hawaii is a perfect place to live and practice this spiritual art form.

I was introduced to Reiki by a nurse at my appointment with my Rheumatologist. She pulled me to the side because she saw that my doctor wasn’t understanding what my body was going through with Lupus, RA and Asthma. As soon as she place her hands on me, I instantly felt something. I didn’t understand it but I felt my body doing things. She explained to me to go home in relax. Well, I did the opposite. I went home, started dancing and having a good time. I haven’t felt good like that in years. I don’t know where that energy came from. My husband finally got me to listen and I showered and got in bed. By then we both were sitting in bed researching “REIKI” and everything I felt we were reading.

So time went by and I kept thinking about Reiki and what it did for me and how great I felt. Because I was mostly at this time on bed rest due to my health. I had the time to learn more on how I can receive this gift in my hands. I always knew I was an empath and that I always spoke to my Spirit Guides & Angels. Once they saw that I was ready to commit to this way of living they made the transition an effortless one. I started with completely changing my lifestyle, I got stricter with my diet, I was already releasing peers from my life so a few more I had to remove. Actually it’s not hard to do. When you start making changes you will see your peers separating from you as well.

Now I’m living in Hawaii, practicing Reiki on myself everyday. I’m going through my Spiritual Awakening and I’m now helping all of my Lupus warriors and other autoimmune warriors. I know what Reiki did for me and my body that I knew it’s my mission to help my peers. So I was happy doing just that.

Then in 2020, like everyone else was living in a pandemic and my guides shared with me that I needed to now help more people. That I am needed to use my gift for peers that is going through many life challenges. So before I started adding more energy to my body I needed to get myself as strong as I could because the energy is going to be different than what I was use to.

Brandy Gomez-Duplessis, Reiki Practitioner in Ko’olina Hawaii.

For me, being a Reiki Energy Healer is not a trend. It’s something that I’m passionate about. I always enjoy helping others and my Spirit Guides said you been saying you want to help, well we have a big task for you. I’m loving my journey. I wish my body could and would let me do Reiki on 10 people a day but I can’t. When the time is right, I will travel, I will speak at events and touch as many people that I can. My guides sends people to me it’s not forced. So when I do get clients from the mainland it’s because their guides connected that client to me.

Reiki Practitioner in California doing Reiki on client
Reiki Practitioner in Hawaii on the beach with client

I only offer Healing Touch Reiki sessions on Tuesday’s. I’m in town in Honolulu. You can contact me at brandyreikihealer@gmail.com

Namaste 🙏🏾

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I Want To Heal Auto Immune Warriors

I learned how to heal myself better than any doctors or any meds that I have taken since diagnosed. I’m healing myself so I can help heal other Auto Immune Warriors. I want to teach others how they can have a life after being diagnosed. 🙏🏾💜💚🦋

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Day 2 After Having A Bad Lupus Flare

One of the great things about living in Hawaii is when you are on bed rest the view, the breeze, the exotic birds make for bad days in bed not so bad. Then when you’re ready to leave the house it’s just beautiful anywhere you go. So, let’s go backwards, I started feeling bad about 2 weeks ago. I just assumed it’s a flare up. My body started to go down fast, very fast. I don’t know what caused the flare up but this one took me down. I don’t know if I was exposed to COVID but I was ready for a trip to the ER. I started calling the kids to make sure they know where everything was. I’m serious the body aches was unbearable, I was back to using my breathing machine because I couldn’t breathe. I was going through my inhaler. The day the got me was when I decided to wash all of the bedding. Took everything off the bed, went downstairs to the laundry room came back upstairs and half way up the stairs I fell on the stairs and had to crawl back to the room because I couldn’t catch my breath. I didn’t leave the house I just went downstairs and my body couldn’t handle it. I didn’t have any strength to put fresh sheets on the bed. I just collapsed on the bed.

I know a lot of my peers cannot understand what Lupus is and what a Lupus flare can be like. I wish I had strength to hold a camera to show what it looks like. It’s the worse thing ever for someone to go through. It’s day 2, my left ide of my ribs and back hurt so bad. It feels like I been stomped numerous of time it still hurt to breathe. I feel like I’m going through my inhalers and if it continue then I will make an appointment. As long as I don’t overdue it I can make myself look decent and nobody would ever know what went through. Working from home helps a lot because I can slowly get back to normal at my own speed. Thank God for my hair and makeup skills because I know how to fix myself up.

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I’m What Lupus Looks Like

I may be chronically ill
but I’m also chronically
fabulous!…that’s my tag line!

I know my makeup is pretty but if you look in my eyes you know that I’m not having a good day.
This is how you know I’m having a bad Lupus flare, when my eyes look like this says Brandy Gomez-Duplessis

If you’re a friend or an associate of mine you know that Lupus is one of the 4 autoimmune diseases I battle. If you been around me you know I am a pro at hiding my daily battle with wearing makeup, having big hair, and all my extraness 😂😂 only someone who’s very observant knows the truth when they look at my eyes. No matter how fabulous I dress it up I can’t hide my 👀.

May is Lupus Awareness Month

May is Lupus Awareness Month. It’s the month that I usually do a lot of interviews, speaking, collaborating with organizations, posting and wearing my purple lipstick “Queen B” that I created for us Lupus Warriors with my makeup line Entitled Beauty Cosmetics

Queen B
All Nighter Liquid Lipstick
https://entitledbeautyonline.com/shop/ols/products/queenb

There is one special person that will always have a special place in my heart in that’s Lauren Kimberly Burnham she attend a Lupus Walk with me because she didn’t want me to be alone. I will never forget that special offer. 💜💜

If you noticed I haven’t been on social media lately because I been on bed rest. Whenever I’m gone for to many days know I’m suffering. But I will be back more fabulous then ever, don’t worry.

If you have any family members or friends with ANY autoimmune diseases be patient with them. If at the last minute they cancel, if they can’t travel, if they don’t accept an invite, don’t take it personal. We only have energy to do just a little. In when we push ourselves we pay the price…unless you’re our caretaker it’s a lot. Sending 💜 to all of my Lupus & Autoimmune Warriors out there. This month share your story, let’s stop hiding. The medical field needs to know they can’t keep pushing us to the side, we’re important! If you wear purple this month please tag me so I’ll know that you’re here for me. 💜
🤙🏾🌸🌺

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Wearing A Face Mask Is Killing Me Because Of My Asthma

I feel like crap but I feel crap everyday because of my Lupus so on Friday I thought it was just a regular day. I knew I would be driving with ALOHA so I left for work early so I could give myself time to get there on time. As I sat in my car I knew I did not have enough energy to get out the car. I decided to check my pressure to see what it was looking like. I carry my mobile machine with me and I check it in the morning and again when I’m on lunch.

I manage to make it inside to work but not for long. Before I knew it I was helped to one of the managers office with two coworkers holding me up. My body was shutting down. I managed to call my doctor and she advised me to go to the ER because of my heart being irregular. My husband was called and I was taken to the hospital near my home. One that I’ve been to before where they have my records in the system.

At the hospital I was checked in outside, the typical questions and the wellness check was given. I was wheeled straight in after my pressure was taken. They started working very fast on me with; Basic Metabolic Panel, CBC w/diff, Part Throm Time (PTT), PRO BNP, Prothrombin Time (PT) Sedimentation Rate, Troponin T Gen performed 3 times, Urinalysis, Complete, Reflex to C & S, CT Head without contrast, EKG 12 LEAD, XRAY Chest AP Portable.

What I found out was that my body has been struggling since I returned back to work on July 6th. Struggling from wearing a mask everyday at work. Because of my Lupus, Asthma, RA, and having high blood pressure I wear a mask in sometimes gloves at work to stay safe because of my health, being that I have a compromised immune system. Wearing a face mask for 5 -6 days a week for many hours a day I’m not getting enough oxygen to my brain. So my heart and lungs has been working hard and on Friday it had enough. I noticed some chest pains, difficulty breathing, getting dizzy, and feeling confused but I thought it was perimenopause since I’m 50, so I over looked it. I didn’t think it was because of me wearing a mask.

So, what do I do?! I DON’T KNOW. Finding a job that I could work from home is going to be a challenge and I honestly don’t know where to begin. I’m just here stressing and I know I’m not supposed to be stressing but I need to figure out what can I do. Getting unemployment is out I’m still pending since March /April to receive. I’m actually nervous about having to put the damn thing back on but if I have to wear it I will because I have to work. If anyone have any ideas please share.

Mahalo

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Hawaii Lupus Warrior Created Her Own Purple Lipstick For Lupus Awareness Month

Today is Put On Purple because it’s Lupus Awareness Month 💜 As you know, I’m a Lupus Warrior who created a liquid lipstick color called “Queen B” an honor of us Lupus Warriors. Living with an auto immune disease is hard but in these times it’s the most scariest. Our flare ups mimic the virus so I have days when I’m not feeling well. Even though I haven’t left the house having family members who have to can chance me contacting the virus. But today, I celebrate 🎉 💜💜💜💜

•Queen B can be purchased on entitledbeautyworldwide
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Today I’m Feeling Entitled…Entitled Beauty

Today I woke up feeling ENTITLED…Entitled Beauty Cosmetics that is. As you may know I’m the Co-Founder to Entitled Beauty Cosmetics, it’s a mineral base makeup line. With the pandemic going on I am so glad that my makeup is mineral based. Being a Lupus warrior my body is very sensitive right now. Because I LOVE to wear makeup I need everything that touches my skin to be healthy. And Entitled Beauty Cosmetics is just that. 

We understand that everyone pockets are very lite and makeup lovers need their makeup. We decided to do 50% off of all lip items and 20% off everything else. Our $19.00 liquid lipsticks are now $9.50. This is a great opportunity to try out Entitled Beauty Cosmetics especially if you are someone with an auto immune. 

All Nighter Liquid Lipstick in “Get Naked”

Glamxurious Lip Gloss in “Vanity”

Social Class Eye shadows in ” Socialite, Rich Bitch and Broke A$$”

Spotlight Highlighters in “Pretentious and Resting Bitch Face”

*Our Spotlight Highlighters also work well as Eye Shadows.

Follow Entitled Beauty on Instagram

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What Item Do You Get Excited About Scoring During The Coronavirus Pandemic

Eimg_0401very time my husband or my son leaves our beach house to go to the store I’m always reminding them to check for LYSOLDisinfecting Wipes, Sprays or any kind of cleaning products they can find.

During the pandemic besides lots of alcohol, and David’s sunflower seeds, LYSOL cleaning products is always on my list.

Because of my health (Lupus, RA, Asthma and Hypertension) I don’t leave the house. I have been in this house now for 45 days and I don’t plan to leave until it’s safe. I don’t even chance walking to the beach, nada. I get my fresh air by having the Lanai doors open while I’m sitting on the living room sofa.

So, when the guys come home they strip in the laundry room, shoes off and clothes in the wash, then they dash off upstairs. And like a crazy woman, I follow wiping down anything that they could have touched along the way. I probably have the cleanest floors in the world because I also wipe them down daily with my LYSOL wipes. I go through these wipes because I’m so afraid of bringing germs in the house.

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When they come back from the store, I take one item at at time and I’m wiping down each box, or meat, or bags before it goes in my refrigerator or my kitchen cabinet. Here in Hawaii we bring our own bags so I spray them down with Lysol and let them air dry in the laundry room. Before being quarantine, I kept a container of Lysol in my car, in the kitchen, in the laundry room and each bathroom has a container. I was always a person that was scared of getting any virus, again because of my health, so I’m use to living in a bubble. Now…it’s out of control. I find myself still picking up germs from my family and I have many horrible flare up’s and have been using Albuterol more now since then ever. So, I can never run out of LYSOL, this is why it’s a big deal for me to always have.

What do you get excited about scoring from the store?

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Wearing Entitled Beauty Makeup While Traveling Kept Getting Me Stopped

 

img_2775While traveling for Entitled Beautymy makeup line, I kept getting stopped by women inquiring what makeup I was wearing. I wear something from Entitled Beauty everyday but I have never received this type of response like this before. It was a proud moment to say, I’m a Co-Founder and not hype up another brand.

Today, women all over in different cities were obsessing over Entitled Beauty. This is what keeps me going hard because of the reactions on the plane, the airport, at meetings, etc. If more people could see how amazing my makeup line is they too will fall in love with it.

Let me show you what I was wearing, you got about 10 mins to spare? Maybe you’ll see something for yourself, a sibling, a friend, a co-worker who is a makeup addict like myself. So after a few glasses, I’ll be ready to fill all the orders that came in today

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Thanks for watching them and I hope this Holiday Season you will give my makeup line Entitled Beauty a try. If you have anyone in your life that has Lupus, I made a purple liquid lipstick shade called, Queen B. I’m sure they would appreciate receiving Queen B, made by another Lupus Warrior. Because of my Lupus is the reason why I moved to Hawaii. And I have been doing 100% better. I took myself off the Prednisone, Meloxicam, Gabapentin and the Nebulizer.

So this Holiday Season, I have so much to be thankful for.

 

 

Honolulu Hawaii Lifestyle Blogger and Makeup Artist Brandy Gomez-Duplessis has 22 years of experience in the Beauty & Entertainment industry. Brandy is located on Oahu Island but you can find her working doing makeup in Waikiki, Waipahu, Waikele, and Kapolei. Being Hawaii top social media influencer & a Hawaii blogger don’t be surprised to see her writing beauty articles anywhere in Hawaii and taking selfies for her 60K followers on Instagram on the beautiful beaches in Honolulu or Haleiwa…and YES, there are black people living in Hawaii. 

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Living In Hawaii With An Auto Immune Disease

 

img_1290I’m so lucky to have a beach day everyday, that’s the plus to living in Hawaii. If you have never visited Hawaii, know that  Hawaiian beaches are absolutely breathtaking. You can just stare out at the ocean for hours in just enjoy the wonderful breeze.

I always find that when I’m feeling low like a flare up is coming on and my body /joints are hurting due to my Lupus I walk down to the beach. I’m so lucky that the beach is just a 3-4 minute walk for me. If  I’m having really low energy then I drive to the beach.

Since living here in Hawaii, I haven’t been having many flare up days. My body has really embraced this move. I wish all my Lupus Warriors and Auto Immune Warriors could make a move like I did to live better and be healthier. No more suffering like I did when living on the mainland, it’s really about finding the right environment. I’m not sure about you but before being diagnosed with Lupus, I didn’t know much about the environment and environmental issues and how the body reacts.

All of this Aloha Spirit has allowed me to live life again. I even cut back on some of the meds I was taken on the mainland. My body has not reacted negatively since living here in Hawaii. It’s only been 4 months but I can definitely see an improvement. I’ve learned what my triggers are so I’m aware of what will cause a flare up and I do my best to keep it from happening. With stress being one of the things that cause my flare ups that includes negative and stressful people I now keep them away.

With Hawaii being a summer state all year round and because I am photosensitive I make sure I cover up as much as possible. I do find that I get drained if I’m out in the sun. So, I make sure I go out later in the day when the sun has gone down on beach days. Because of the sun, I’m still tired and I have joint pains everywhere. I do take CBD Hemp Oil to help with my joint pains. And sunscreen is major, I don’t leave the house without using it on my body. I also make sure that my foundation have SPF cuz everything helps.

Overall, this move has been one of the best things I could have done to help my body. I’m never leaving Hawaii, I have got my life back and life is good.

 

Honolulu Hawaii Lifestyle Blogger and Makeup Artist Brandy Gomez-Duplessis has 22 years of experience in the Beauty & Entertainment industry. Brandy is located on Oahu Island but you can find her working doing makeup in Waikiki, Waipahu, Waikele, and Kapolei. Being Hawaii top social media influencer & a Hawaii blogger don’t be surprised to see her writing beauty articles anywhere in Hawaii and taking selfies for her 60K followers on Instagram on the beautiful beaches in Honolulu or Haleiwa…and YES, there are black people living in Hawaii.