A Shared Journey: Two Doctors, One Fight Against Lupus

On World Lupus Day, NMC Royal Hospital Sharjah shares a story told through the lens of a doctor who suffers from lupus and her treating specialist, two very personal perspectives that bring this complex condition into clearer focus.

For Dr Enas Mustafa, a resident doctor at NMC Royal Hospital Sharjah, life in medicine has always meant long hours and caring for others within the same hospital corridors she now walks as both physician and patient. Having already been diagnosed with lupus, she has learned to navigate its unpredictable course alongside her demanding profession. When the fatigue intensified, she initially attributed it to the strain of her workload. “Some mornings, I wake up feeling like I’ve run a marathon in my sleep,” she says. “My body feels heavy, my joints are stiff, and even the simplest tasks can feel overwhelming.” What once seemed manageable gradually became harder to ignore as new symptoms emerged.

As her condition evolved, she sought care from the very hospital where she works, under Dr Azhar Abdullah, Consultant Rheumatologist. His role has been central in supporting her through recent episodes marked by recurrent low blood counts, protein in the urine and symptoms suggestive of pleuritic inflammation, features that can signal lupus activity and require close monitoring. Lupus, he explains, occurs when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissues, sometimes affecting the joints and skin, and in other cases extending to vital organs.

“Lupus rarely presents in a straightforward way,” says Dr Azhar. “It often involves fluctuating symptoms such as fatigue, joint pain or rashes that can easily be overlooked, especially in busy individuals. The challenge is recognising when changes in these symptoms indicate increased disease activity.”

Further investigations at NMC Royal Hospital Sharjah confirmed that lupus was affecting Dr Enas’s lungs and kidneys, serious complications that can develop quietly. With timely intervention and a carefully guided treatment plan under Dr Azhar’s care, her condition was stabilised, highlighting the importance of ongoing specialist involvement in managing established lupus.

For Dr Enas, experiencing lupus within the very hospital where she treats patients has reshaped her understanding of illness. “It’s an invisible condition,” she reflects. “You may look fine on the outside, but feel completely different within. Being both a doctor and a patient here has changed how I listen to people.  It reminds me that small symptoms can mean something bigger.”

Her journey continues at NMC Royal Hospital Sharjah, where she balances her professional responsibilities with ongoing care and monitoring. With appropriate treatment, many individuals with lupus can lead active, fulfilling lives, something her story quietly reflects.

On World Lupus Day, this experience at NMC Royal Hospital Sharjah serves as a reminder that lupus often hides in plain sight. Early recognition, supported by simple checks such as blood pressure monitoring and urine testing, can play a crucial role in identifying disease activity and preventing complications. Through the combined eyes of patient experience and specialist care, the message is clear: when symptoms persist, even subtly, seeking prompt medical attention can make all the difference.