Mary McDonough’s Lessons From a Lupus Diagnosis How the 'Waltons' Star and Activist Deals With Symptoms of Lupus

From child actress to adult activist, Mary McDonough’s life has been shaped as much by her health struggles as her career. In this Lifescript exclusive, the former “Waltons” star reveals how she copes with her lupus treatments and overcame body-image issues... As a child, Mary McDonough was known to TV audiences as the youngster Erin on the iconic, long-running show “The Waltons.” In the years since the show ended in 1981, a grown-up McDonough has appeared in other shows, including “ER,” “Will & Grace” and “The New Adventures of Old Christine.” All that time, however, the actress suffered from mysterious rashes, pain and fatigue. She was referred from one doctor to another, mistakenly being diagnosed with everything from allergies to depression. “I started believing I was a hypochondriac, because even though I felt horrible, I didn’t look sick,” McDonough says. After a debilitating car accident, McDonough finally got an accurate diagnosis: lupus, a chronic autoimmune disorder in which the body’s own immune system attacks tissues and organs. Also known as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the disorder affects 1.5 million Americans – 90% of them women – according to the Lupus Foundation of America. In this Lifescript exclusive, McDonough talks about her lupus diagnosis and the important lessons she hopes to share with women and teens. In 1984, when you were 22, you got breast implants. What prompted your decision? The 1980s were the “Dallas” era, when big hair and boobs were the order of the day, especially in Hollywood. I remember going for interviews and having my agent tell me afterward that I didn’t have “the right look.” I never felt thin, blond or built enough. When another actress raved about her silicone breast implants, I thought maybe they could make me feel sexy and help me compete as an actress. But at the time I didn’t realize that sexy is a feeling you get from within, [from] confidence and a sense of self. [Editor’s note: Multiple studies have failed to establish a link between silicone implants and disease. According to the Lupus Foundation of America, no well-controlled research study has established "a clear relationship between silicone breast implants and the development of lupus disease."] What happened after the procedure? The next day after my surgery, I broke out with a rash all over my chest and back. I called my doctor’s office, and the nurse said I was probably just having an allergic reaction to my bra. My bra was cotton, and I remember thinking that didn’t make sense. But I didn’t question her logic. Gradually, over 10 years, my symptoms became progressively worse. I had headaches, hair loss, fevers, and was tired all the time. I gained weight, and my muscles and joints ached. Every doctor I saw referred me to another specialist, and none could tell me what was wrong. When did you learn that you had symptoms of lupus? The first time lupus was mentioned was after a car accident in 1990. For a year after that, I felt pain in my neck, back and joints. Finally, I saw an orthopedist who asked me if I had ever been given a lupus panel [a series of tests that can indicate the disorder]. I was shocked. I was familiar with lupus, having been asked to work with a Los Angeles-based lupus organization years before. But I never thought I might have it. Lupus often runs in families, and no one in my family had [it]. The orthopedist referred me to a rheumatologist, who said that all my tests checked out fine, except that I had an elevated ANA [antinuclear antibodies test, often used for autoimmune-disorder screening or lupus diagnosis]. I had just learned that I was pregnant, so the doctor asked me to come back after I delivered my baby. So you didn’t have a definitive lupus diagnosis at the time? No, my physical discomfort got worse, and I learned how chronic pain disables you mentally and physically. I developed ulcers, lumps in my back and legs, and began losing my hair. I developed fibromyalgia and Sjögren’s syndrome, a condition that causes dry eyes and mouth. I felt like a failure. My husband and I separated after seven years of marriage, and then got divorced. How did you get a definitive lupus diagnosis? It wasn’t until a friend encouraged me to call Daniel Wallace, M.D., a respected rheumatologist and author of The Lupus Book (Oxford University Press), that I finally got a [lupus] diagnosis and answers. He ran tests, studied my past medical records and confirmed I had lupus. I was relieved to have a name for what I was experiencing and to know it wasn’t “all in my mind,” as some other doctors had suggested. What was your lupus treatment? He immediately started me on the medication [Plaquenil] that helped reduce my pain and [improved] function. What do you suspect caused your lupus? I believe the chemicals in the [breast] implants triggered an immune response causing my lupus. If you have silicone leaking out of an implant – mine actually ended up disintegrating – those chemicals are going into your body. I was healthy before I got implants, and felt worse immediately after the surgery. In retrospect, I believe I had an allergic reaction to the implants, and have met many women who have had similar experiences. The more I began researching and learning about the dangers of implants, the more concerned I became. When I had the implants taken out in 1994, I immediately felt better. I’ve felt so much better since then. What do you do now to relieve your symptoms of lupus? I use a combination of Eastern and Western medicine. Acupuncture has helped me manage the pain, and yoga keeps me flexible. I also suffer from light sensitivity as the result of lupus, so I avoid being in the sun for long periods, and when I do go out, I wear big hats and protective clothing. I’ve also learned that certain foods can make my symptoms worse, so I avoid alfalfa sprouts and bell peppers, and eat a primarily gluten-free diet, since that reduces the symptoms of lupus. Being physically active also helps to fight the fatigue associated with symptoms of lupus, so I try to work out daily on an elliptical machine and treadmill. I also meditate and get a full night’s sleep. As you learned, a lupus diagnosis is difficult. Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently? I would’ve seen a rheumatologist sooner and asked for a lupus panel. Since the signs of lupus can differ from person to person, and can also be symptoms of other conditions, it’s important to see a specialist. In retrospect, I also would’ve refrained from Googling my symptoms. There’s a lot of scary stuff and misinformation on the Internet. I tell people now to read The Lupus Book by Wallace and share the information with their families. It’s a good reference for people who are newly diagnosed, and it can help families better understand how to support their family member who has lupus. No one in my family was familiar with symptoms of lupus, but now that they know more about the condition, they understand my limitations. You give seminars on self-esteem. Did you suffer from body-image issues as a young girl? I’ve had body-image and self-esteem issues since I was in second grade, and as I got older, my insecurities grew. I had an unrealistic image of what I needed to look like, and felt I couldn’t live up to the [entertainment] industry standard. I wanted to be what everyone wanted me to be, and if someone didn’t like me, I would try harder. Trying to be perfect stressed me out, and I developed insomnia when I was 13. As a teen, I hated my body and had a rebellious love-hate relationship with food. I was great at keeping my emotions bottled up inside. How did you overcome your body-image issues and regain your self-confidence? I still have insecurities at times. But as I get older, I’ve learned to embrace myself. I talk about my feelings a lot more and, thanks to John Ritter, who appeared on “The Waltons” years ago, I continue to journal. I first met John when he appeared on our show when I was just a teen. Sensing that I was upset, he asked how I was doing, and if I ever kept a journal of my feelings. He told me he had kept a journal for years and that it had helped him through a lot of tough times. I now encourage my daughters to talk about their feelings. We have open discussions about peer pressure, and the media’s portrayal of women, and what body images are realistic. How is your health today? I feel good! I still have lupus, but it’s in remission. In 2004, I remarried. My husband and I have three wonderful daughters, ages 17, 18 and 19. I still act and direct, and keep in touch with “The Waltons” cast, who are like a second family to me. I’m a public speaker and lead workshops for young girls and women, and even men. One is called “Body Branding, Getting Comfortable With the Skin You’re In.” I work to raise awareness of lupus and am the founding president of Lupus Los Angeles. I’ve worked to educate and inform women about the risks of breast implants for more than a decade, and I’ve lobbied Congress and worked with the FDA to assure safety and efficacy of implants. What do you hope readers will gain from your memoir, Lessons From the Mountain (Kensington Publishing)? There are so many life lessons that I learned from my own family and being a part of “The Waltons.” The show continues to have a huge fan base, and I share a lot of memories and give readers a glimpse of what life was like on the set. I also talk about my own journey with lupus and self-esteem, and hope the book will help other women. You can see McDonough in the Hallmark Channel movie “Lake Effects” on May 19. To learn about lupus diagnosis, symptoms and treatments, visit Lifescript’s Lupus Health Center. How Much Do You Know About Lupus Treatment and Symptoms? Roughly 1.5 million Americans are afflicted with lupus – a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks healthy tissue, causing inflammation, damage and pain throughout the body. A diagnosis can be difficult, because the symptoms are sometimes intermittent and changing. But recent improvements in lupus treatment have made the condition somewhat easier to control.