Vicki Gunvalson's Daughter Briana Culberson Has Made Major Strides in Her Battle with Lupus

Fans of The Real Housewives of Orange County have loved watching Vicki Gunvalson's daughter, Briana Culberson, grow from a teen into an amazing young woman over the course of the show's 13 seasons so far. But they also know that that time has been filled with some huge health issues for the nurse, including her lupus diagnosis, which she announced at the RHOC Season 11 reunion in 2016.

Though the diagnosis provided some answers in Briana's longtime struggle with health issues, she unfortunately experienced several complications from her lupus since then, including inflammation and several surgeries.

Now it appears that Briana has finally found some relief in her battle with lupus. Briana's husband, Ryan Culberson, recently shared on Instagram that they believe following the Keto diet has helped her alleviate some of the complications from the disease. "The face on the left is of an average American diet, never felt good, having constant lupus flares, and on and off steroids for almost a year," Ryan revealed in a post that featured photos of Briana before and after she began the keto diet. "The face on the right is strict Keto, steroid free, and lupus flare free!"

Briana explained in the comments to Ryan's post that she believes this change in her diet has helped prevent complications from lupus, including lupus flares, which can include fever, painful or swollen joints, fatigue, rashes, or sores or ulcers in the mouth or nose, according to the Lupus Foundation of America. "I have lupus and I was having much more lupus complications when eating badly," she said. "Since starting Keto I haven’t been admitted to the hospital or had a lupus flare, which means I haven’t had to be put on steroids."

Ryan also noted in the post that Briana is a "#lupuswarrior."

Vicki opened up to The Daily Dish in July 2018 about what it's like being away from her daughter knowing that she's dealing with these health issues on the other side of the country. "Well, you know, she's got lupus, and she's been hospitalized a couple of times since she moved out there [to North Carolina]. She's got a little bit of heart issues as well, very similar to what Eddie [Judge] has," Vicki said. "But I just have to know that her husband adores and loves her, that she's in good hands. She works at the hospital that she goes to, so she gets excellent care. I just have to put it in God's hands."

Any health-related information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider for any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, or before embarking on any diet, exercise, or wellness program.