The Real Housewives of Orange County star Vicki Gunvalson’s daughter, Briana Culberson, has recently been diagnosed with lupus.
This isn’t the first time we’re hearing about Culberson’s health problems; she was previously diagnosed with cancer, and just last year she underwent surgery to remove enlarged lymph nodes. You will be happy to know that Culberson is currently cancer-free.
Lupus is an incurable autoimmune disease that causes joint pain and fatigue. If the illness sounds familiar to you, that is because recent singer Selena Gomez also admitted that she was diagnosed with lupus. She underwent treatment and is currently in rehab to deal with symptoms.
Culberson currently lives with her two sons Owen and Troy in Orange County, while her husband Ryan is in Oklahoma. The family was stationed there while Ryan was off in Afghanistan, but Culberson moved back to Orange County to be closer to her doctors.
Although Gunvalson is known for her drama on the RHOC, one thing is for certain—she has a strong love and bond with her daughter, and that has often been documented on the show.
Culberson has gone through many surgeries for various health problems. The most recent surgery was conducted in Oklahoma, but complications resulted from it. Culberson developed an infection that caused problems with her leg. The problem with her leg even causes Culberson to drive from Oklahoma back to Orange Country with the boys because she was not allowed to fly.
All of Culberson’s health problems are quite stressful for Gunvalson, and would be for any parent to see their child in such a state. In one episode, Gunvalson said, “Why is she so sick? I’m just tired of her feeling so sick. Goddammit I can’t get her healthy.”
Unable to help her daughter, Gunvalson added, “I feel like I’m failing because her health is not improving. Did I do the right thing by taking her out of Oklahoma? I don’t know.”
Lupus Treatment
With her current diagnosis, Culberson will have to undergo specific treatment for lupus. Lupus treatment involves targeting the specific symptoms. This helps determine what kinds of medications and therapies need to be used.
Some lupus treatment options include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs), antimalarial drugs, corticosteroids, and immunosuppressant’s.
As of now, all we know is that Briana Culberson has been diagnosed with lupus, and her treatment options are unclear. We hope that being close to her mother Vicki Gunvalson can help her heal and get better.
Sources:
Stone, N., “Vicki Gunvalson’s daughter Briana Culberson has been diagnosed with lupus,” People web site, http://people.com/celebrity/vicki-gunvalson-daughter-briana-culberson-diagnosed-with-lupus/, last accessed November 3, 2016.
Caldwell, K., “Vicki Gunvalson’s daughter Briana reveals lupus diagnosis after years of struggling with her health,” Daily Mail web site, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3894224/Vicki-Gunvalson-s-daughter-Briana-reveals-Lupus-diagnosis-years-struggling-health.html, last accessed November 3, 2016.
“Lupus treatment and drugs,” The Mayo Clinic web site, http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lupus/basics/treatment/con-20019676, last accessed November 3, 2016.
