Autoimmune Awareness

March is Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month.

Did you know that on average it takes about 7 years from onset of symptoms to slowly build up to full blown onset of disease? It also takes about 3 years of searching and trying to find answers before someone actually gets an accurate diagnosis.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimates up to 23.5 million Americans suffer from autoimmune disease and that the prevalence is rising. The AARDA say that number exceeds 50 million. These numbers are alarming and the fact that they continue to increase means we have to find out why and get to the root issues.

It’s so fitting this month is Autoimmune Awareness month because it was eight years ago roughly around this time that I was fighting a hard battle with my health.

Like my brain tumor, the spirit nudged me to get checked after a few months of an ever increasing amount of symptoms. I had nonspecific, vague symptoms for years prior to in which doctors said I was normal. Though I was far from feeling normal!! That’s the frustrating part. Looking like a “normal” person on the outside, but feeling like you were dying and wasting away on the inside.

Each and every single day, I had widespread body aches and joint pain in multiple sites. I was so fatigued and in so much pain that I could barely get myself out of bed in the mornings. It. Was. Depressing. I had a toddler and an infant less than a year old and I could barely take care of them because I couldn’t even take care of myself. My husband worked from home at the time and I was extremely grateful, but felt so guilty that I depended on his help.

So, I went to my doctor and labs showed I had high levels of rheumatoid factor and inflammatory markers as I suspected. I was referred on and had more testing done (about 13 tubes of blood worth!), and there it was confirmed. The rheumatologist and his PA talked to me about treatment and wanted me to get started on hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil). Side effects were discussed, stressing it could effect my vision. No thank you. I politely declined. The look on their faces read, "Who is this crazy PA refusing treatment?"

First, I was breastfeeding and didn't want to pass on any unwanted chemicals. Second, I'd rather not risk the long list of side effects. Third, I'd recently educated myself about more natural methods of healing, the evils of the food industry, how poor my diet really was, and how I could use food as medicine. I'd already made changes by then and improved on my own, and I don't think they believed me. They had me sign a paper to document my refusal. And so, I signed it, and I've never been back since!

I know for a fact that my use of herbal supplements, essential oils, and the overhaul of my diet are what reversed the progression of my autoimmune symptoms! I am so truly grateful for my dear friend who gifted me my first two oils, Copaiba and Idaho Balsam Fir, because they certainly worked and allowed me to not have to rely on a Rx med! I had finally started to feel better than I had in such a long time! 

I tell others that every person, their body and functioning are unique, and with that, every person's response to medication, diet, and lifestyle changes is going to be different. Healing does not happen overnight. And a Rx pill may only give temporary relief and mask the symptoms. It is a marathon of a journey. I know what triggers cause my flare ups. What worked for me, may not work for you exactly the same way.

You CAN take control of your body and health!  

Consider your diet, nutrition, sleep, exercise, stress, environmental toxins, and your overall well-being.

Get to the root cause. Get those toxins out!

You are NOT your diagnosis!

There is HOPE and light on the other side of the window. 💕

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