Interview with Toni Braxton: Living with Lupus

Toni Braxton talks about the struggles of living with a chronic disease that affects 1.5 million Americans.

Recognized as one of the best singing voices of her generation, Toni Braxton has won eight Grammys and sold more than 60 million records. She’s also a talented songwriter, pianist and record producer, who has appeared on Dancing With The Stars and recently written her life story in Unbreak My Heart: A Memoir. Toni will have a new album on Def Jam that will be released this fall.

On the surface, it seems like a magical life. But for more than a decade, Toni has been meeting the challenge of living with lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks healthy tissue in the body. The star and producer of the hit TV-reality show Braxton Family Values recently talked with My Hometown Health about her experience dealing with the disease and the life insights that ongoing challenge has revealed.

How did you find out you had lupus?
I was performing in Las Vegas in 2008. I collapsed on stage and was rushed to the emergency room. The doctors initially thought I had suffered a “baby heart attack” until they did some blood work. It revealed the true cause: lupus.

What was your response when you heard the diagnosis?
Well, it was quite a surprise. At the time, I didn’t know anything about lupus. I didn’t know that it affects about 1.5 million Americans. Then I got some bad advice. I stayed stay quiet about my diagnosis for two years because, as I was told, informing the world about my medical condition could stall my career and even affect my insurance coverage. When I finally did go public with my diagnosis, it was so empowering because I wasn’t having to carry around that secret any more.

How are you treating the disease?
Well, there is no cure for lupus—at least not yet. But the disease and its symptoms can be managed using medications and making some lifestyle changes. Lupus can cause rashes, joint pain and inflammation of the organs. With me, the disease likes to attack my heart for some reason. That’s where it likes to hang out. So I’ve had to acquire some new heart-healthy habits. I’ve changed my diet to eat healthier foods, and I try to exercise every day, but nothing excessive—just walking around the neighborhood or on a treadmill. The last thing I want to do is overwork my body. That’s one of my triggers, one of the things I have to watch out for to prevent the lupus from flaring up. Working long hours is a trigger, so I really have to watch my schedule. Overexposure to sunlight is also another trigger. That makes summer a challenging time of the year, and I always wear protective clothing and plenty of sunscreen when I’m outside.

What has been your low point in fighting lupus?
I guess that would be in December 2012. I had a major flare up. The disease came back in full force and caused some blood clots. Doctors recommended that I give up performing at least for a while. It was so bad that I thought it might end my career, and I became depressed as a result. That was a dark and difficult time in my life. Fortunately, my friends reached out to me and got me through it, got me to the point where I didn’t want to be scared any more. I wanted to live and perform and enjoy my life.

What has the experience taught you?
It’s taught me to see the silver lining in things. Some days are good; some days are bad. What really matters is that I’m surrounded by family to keep me going. A strong support system is so important. That’s the reason I volunteer for Lupus LA and other organizations. It’s my way of helping people who have lupus to get the support they need and connect with the resources that can help them manage the disease and improve the quality of their lives.

Any final thoughts?
Looking back now, I realize that lupus is something that runs in my family. I have an uncle who died from complications of lupus and my younger brother Michael also has the disease. So finding a cure for lupus is a personal matter for me. Research continues and new medications are being developed. That makes me excited and hopeful for the future. It would just be so wonderful if we could find a cure in the very near future.