The Wolf Inside Me

I received my diagnosis with Lupus in 2022 after more than a decade of daily seizures, brain fog, and pain that my doctors weren’t helping as my labs weren’t critical.

I’ll be speaking at the Arthritis Foundation’s Barrels and Bubbles Event on April 14, 2023 as their Adult Honoree alongside the amazing rheumatologist who solved the mystery of what I’m dealing with. Not only was I diagnosed with Lupus, I had to go ahead and have one of the rarest forms: Lupus Podocytopathy. Along with that, I have AntiPhospholipid Syndrome. Basically, my body and protein aren’t compatible, but with protein being the building block of life, you kind of need it. Since beginning treatment, my seizures have stopped, the brain fog is gone most days, and my pain is manageable as long as I watch my protein intake, stress levels, take my medications, get enough sleep, see my rheumatologist regularly, and do my best to avoid getting sick.

That means that my family still masks when we go anywhere, we don’t have people over unless we’re outside, we don’t eat in restaurants or at anyone else’s home unless outside and away from others, and we’re still pretty much in COVID lockdown other than school/work. It’s not the most fun (and I miss hosting friends over for game nights), but it allows me to take care of my kids, keep writing, and have some semblance of quality of life.

I will have videos up on my Instagram and TikTok in the near future, talking about my story.