"About Me"

Lisa & Giggles

Lisa's Story

Hi, I'm Lisa Pittarelli and this is my lupus story.  I used to be an energetic, hardworking and athletic young woman.  I lived in San Diego (a.k.a., paradise), enjoyed hiking the canyons, playing tennis at Balboa Park, walking on the beach, boxing aerobics and weightlifting.  But, it wasn't all fun and games.  I was an FBI Special Agent who worked long hours investigating criminal activity on the Violent Crimes Major Offenders (VCMO) Squad; affectionately known as, the Bank Robbery Squad.  And being it was SoCal, business was good!

In August, 2000, I received "the call".  You know, the one that profoundly alters your life course.  My primary care doctor re-ran my blood work and confirmed, "you have lupus".  It had taken 1 1/2 years, numerous tests and specialists to diagnose.  And, another 6 months to confirm the findings when my HMO plan refused to acknowledge a diagnosis of lupus.

How Lupus Has Impacted My Life

After struggling with symptoms for almost 8 years, I was retired on disability; which meant, the loss of my career as an FBI Agent and the life I knew.  My physical symptoms: widespread joint pain, fevers, rashes, chest pain, sinus/respiratory infections, photosensitivity, memory loss/confusion and hair loss.  My arsenal:  included over 20 pills, patches and injections daily just to function.  My new vocabulary:  terms like chemotherapy, NSAIDs, DMARDs, biologics, prednisone, analgesics and opioids.  The side effects of just 1 drug often outweighed any benefits.  My immune system was compromised and vulnerable to even the most minor infections.

Mentally, lupus created fear, anxiety and depression.  I dealt with frequent long-term absences from work, loss of confidence and anxiety over what the future held.  In 2002, an added stressor emerged: underwent surgery to remove an unidentified mass, only to discover that a surgical sponge had been left behind by the previous surgeon ... 7 years earlier!  In medical terms, I'd been living with a "retained foreign body" for 7 years.  I'd heard of medical mistake cases like this, but never dreamed it could happen to me.  I tried to manage my lupus symptoms; especially, downplaying the memory loss & confusion.  I vividly recall the day I couldn't remember the security code and procedure to access the FBI building.  I felt a complete and total loss of control over my life.

Financially & Socially, how will I afford medical insurance and prescriptions?  As a single woman, this frightened me.  I began withdrawing from friends, couldn't play tennis anymore and ceased dating.  Living with a chronic illness takes a toll on your mind, body, self-confidence and sucks the life out of you.  When it robs you of all energy ... isolation quickly sets in.

Why I'm Advocating For Lupus Awareness

To give a name and face to a disease; for which, symptoms aren't always visible.  To affect change and bring awareness to a life-altering illness, we must:

• Pass legislation to reduce drug costs and insurance premiums.
• Fund more research to find a cure and new drugs specifically targeted for lupus.
• Educate the public, elected officials and medical profession the impact lupus has on our community.

Healing Powers In Telling My Story

I began my blog, Arresting Lupus, so I could share my 18-year journey with lupus.  One of my best coping strategies is my dog, Giggles!  She provides the companionship and inspiration I need to get up each day.  Sharing my story and "lupus life lessons" with others is not just therapeutic, but an opportunity to advocate for everyone living with this disease and those who love them!

If you live with lupus, please share your story and encourage others to do so!

Sharing My Story

Don't forget to check out my recently added post, titled "About Me", where I tell my story!

Initially, I thought there was a separate page for the "About Me" section, but after typing it out I discovered the page wasn't visible to my readers.  Go figure ... I'm still figuring out the nuances of this blogging thing. 

Sharing your story has a certain therapeutic quality.  It helps others who may be going through a similar life experience to connect with you.  When you live with a chronic illness, it can be very isolating and easy to start feeling like no one else understands what you're going through.    

Why Share Your Story?

So, I felt it was important to include a brief synopsis of where I was in my life prior to lupus:

• How lupus has impacted my life: physically, mentally, financially and socially.
• Why I'm advocating for lupus awareness.
• Healing powers in telling my story.

{Also, it's a good idea to have a 1 page summary available for any speaking engagements, media events, advocacy awareness days and guest blogging invitations.}

The Lupus Foundation of America, Georgia Chapter, is having their 11th Annual Lupus Advocacy Day, on Thursday, March 1, 2018, in Atlanta, Georgia, at the State Capitol, 9 am - 2 pm.  It's a wonderful day to gather with other lupus advocates and share your personal story with your elected officials.  There will be guest speakers, House and Senate Resolutions, Governors Proclamation and photo op with Governor Nathan Deal.   

METHOTREXATE TREATMENT AND BACK PAIN, PART DEUX!

Back Pain and Methotrexate

As stated in my previous blog post, "Best Laid Plans ... You Know How The Saying Goes!", dated January 27th, living with a chronic illness such as lupus can and will keep you on your toes with it's intensity and unpredictable nature.  And as your lupus symptoms are forever changing at a moments notice, so will your medications and corresponding treatment plan.  Proper monitoring of a chronic disease means having to make periodic adjustments, tweaking prescriptions from time to time and keeping your medical team informed.

When I last blogged about my debilitating back pain, which occurred the day after my weekly methotrexate injection, I was quite concerned about its sudden onset and intensity.  In addition to the searing back pain, I experienced nausea, dizziness, alternating fever/chills, runny nose/eyes and my throat was tightening causing breathing difficulties.  The more I thought about it the more alarmed I became.  After all, I had just spent the past 6 months reducing the dosage in a controlled manner in hopes of stopping the medication altogether.  I was looking forward to eliminating this toxic drug from my daily arsenal and sure didn't want a repeat performance of the previous week.  Since I already had a rheumatology appointment scheduled, I made the decision to fore go my next methotrexate dose.    

During the appointment, I recounted my recent "turtle on the back" experience and how it had taken more than a week to regain full range of motion in my back.  My doctor expressed her concern at the sudden onset of symptoms .... it could've been a sign of something more serious.  She reminded me of the importance in reporting any future symptoms to their office immediately and/or go to the ER.

To ER?  Or not to ER?

In hindsight, it probably would've been a good idea to go to the ER to rule out heart involvement and address the anaphylactic symptoms I was experiencing.  But, if you're a seasoned lupus patient like me, you are well aware of the increased dangers from an ER visit.  Being exposed to viruses and other unknown contagions can have serious consequences to someone with an already compromised immune system.  It's all too common dilemma for anyone living with a chronic illness.  Do you go to the ER and risk further exposure with crowds and more germs, or not go and risk worsening lupus flare symptoms?  

So, the good news is my rheumatologist decided to discontinue the methotrexate injections, effective immediately!  Yay!  The bad news .... another round of prednisone was prescribed to address the increased chest pain and inflammation.  I have to say, after 17 years of taking methotrexate, I'm looking forward to not being nauseated every day of my life.  And I hope and pray my lupus doesn't flare up even more, sans the methotrexate. I guess, only time will tell .....  

This might just be a good reason to celebrate!  If you live with a chronic condition, it's important to take a moment and recognize the good in your life and be thankful for small victories.  One of my favorite things to do is treat myself to a pedicure ... and maybe for Giggles, too!