Ep. 92: Lupus, AVN, and Building a Career on Your Own Terms with Sakshi

<p>This week, Karin sits down with Sakshi — a 24-year-old lupus warrior who also lives with avascular necrosis (AVN), the same degenerative bone condition Karin has navigated herself. </p><p>Sakshi shares how she&#39;s held down a demanding corporate job while managing chronic pain, what it took to get diagnosed after doctors initially dismissed her symptoms as a routine skin issue, and the moment a specialist&#39;s careless comment made her change rheumatologists for good.</p><p><strong>Key takeaways:</strong></p><ul><li><strong>Diagnosis took over a year and multiple dismissals.</strong> A &quot;skin issue&quot; in 2018 turned out to be an early sign of lupus, but it wasn&#39;t confirmed until butterfly rashes and a month-long fever landed Sakshi in the hospital in 2019.</li><li><strong>A supportive manager makes corporate + chronic illness sustainable.</strong> Sakshi works from home, communicates proactively about flare days, and has built a working relationship where flexibility goes both ways.</li><li><strong>Self-advocacy with doctors is non-negotiable.</strong> After a rheumatologist told her it would be &quot;easier&quot; if her symptoms turned out to be cancer instead of incurable lupus, Sakshi switched doctors — and encourages every warrior to get a second or third opinion rather than settle.</li><li><strong>Community replaced isolation.</strong> Starting an Instagram page to share her story connected her with warriors who understand pain her friends and family couldn&#39;t fully grasp.</li><li><strong>Invisible strength is the unseen prep work.</strong> Looking &quot;fine&quot; in a photo can hide hours of physical and mental preparation just to leave the house.</li></ul><p><a href="https://invigorateyourjourney.com/reset-workbook/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=sakshi-chauriwar-lupus-avn" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Grab the free RESET workbook</a> mentioned in this episode— it&#39;s the same first step we walk every client through before coaching.Connect with Sakshi: instagram.com/lupuswithsakshiConnect with us:<a href=" https://www.invigorateyourjourney.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"> https://www.invigorateyourjourney.com</a>#Lupus #AvascularNecrosis #ChronicIllness #InvisibleIllness #autoimmunewarrior ⚠️ Disclaimer: This content is for education and shared experiences only and is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare team before making changes. As an Amazon Associate, we earn