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Woman's struggle with Lupus turns to support for others

01 / 24 / 2008

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APPLETON, Wis. – When Peg Wojchik’s pain continued after being diagnosed with mononucleosis as a teenager, she knew something was wrong.

“I was really achy, and the mono was not getting any better,” says Woljchik.

After evaluating all of Wojchik’s symptoms, her doctors determined Wojchik had developed Lupus, an autoimmune disease where the body can’t distinguish between foreign bodies, like viruses or bacteria, and healthy tissue. Lupus affects a variety of different organ systems, but the disease is most characterized by fatigue and joint pain.  

Now, at age 48, Wojchik, Appleton, is helping other Lupus patients cope with the disease through the Lupus support group at St. Elizabeth Hospital. “Our group allows people affected by the disease to meet, find support and to find answers,” says Wojchik.

The group meeting includes discussion about a variety of different topics. “We want patients and their families to be informed about the disease,” says Wojchik. “We’ll bring in doctors, talk about new treatments and medications, introduce pain management techniques, like Tai Chi, and help people get in touch with government resources.”

Wojchik says the group is free to the public and encourages people to live beyond Lupus. “Though there is no cure for Lupus, you can live with it and live a very good life.”

The Lupus support group meets from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. the first Monday of the month in the Conference Center Staff room at St. Elizabeth Hospital. For more information or questions pertaining to Lupus, please contact Affinity’s Rheumatology department at (920) 727-8020.

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For the Editor:
Affinity Health System, a Catholic mission-oriented regional health care network, is a partnership of Ministry Health Care and Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare. Affinity Health System is the Fox Valley’s third largest employer, according to the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and is ranked 24 among the top 100 integrated health care networks nationwide (Verispan 2008). Both St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton and Mercy Medical Center in Oshkosh rank among the top 1 percent among hospitals nationwide in terms of quality and efficiency, as determined by the 2007 Premier | CareScience Select practice National Quality Award. Network Health Plan has achieved Excellent accreditation status from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), the highest possible level. It is ranked 37th among the 250 rated health plans in the nation in terms of customer satisfaction and clinical performance, according to the U.S. News and World Report/NCQA Best Health Plans in America listing. Members of Affinity include Mercy Medical Center and Mercy Health Foundation, Oshkosh; St. Elizabeth Hospital and the St. Elizabeth Hospital Community Foundation, Appleton; Affinity Medical Group, a regional network of 23 family practice and specialty clinics in 13 communities; Calumet Medical Center, Chilton; Network Health Plan, Menasha; and Affinity Occupational Health.