Rachel GuerreroAfter my recent diagnosis with auto-immune disease, I became curious for the cause and didn’t understand why my results came back with mild indication of auto-immune, even-though I’ve been very ill. Many people claim they wait an extensive amount of time for a diagnosis and are usually either mis-diagnosed or have another, underlining issue that isn’t discovered until later. The medical system greatly discourages me as they provide me with short-term treatments but fail to become curious about the core issue behind this disease and the natural way to cure it. I was diagnosed with auto-immune back in September, but after extensive blood work and a constant push for more answers, I have only now received my final diagnosis. I had a nasty bout of Mono two years ago that manifested itself into EBV virus (Epstein Barr). The EBV has reactivated itself multiple times since then, which has triggered an auto-immune response in my body. Little did I know, I have been completely immunocompromised for multiple years now. Sadly, Western Medicine does nothing to treat chronic EBV (Epstein-bar virus) and has left me with no resources. Still determined to get better, I went to see a natural path who offered me a treatment plan that has worked for other patients of hers. EBV is a highly-under researched disease and often goes neglected in those seeking medical care, but I am still researching all possible options. Along with my other lifestyle changes, I will spend around 5-6 weeks undergoing treatment with the ending goal of putting my EBV dormant and possibly putting my auto-immune in remission. Here’s everything I am trying….
DIET
I have always known the relationship between gut and immune system is important, but I failed to realize how much impact changing your diet would have on immediate symptoms. Auto-immune disease and EBV causes painful inflammation throughout the body and has caused me to take multiple pain-relievers and use heating pads/ice packs, just to get out of bed in the morning. I decided I would switch to a PALEO diet solely for the purpose of cutting out inflammatory foods such as dairy, white grains, sugar, and most processed fats/oils. This leaves my current diet to consist of whole grains, meat, fish, fruits/veggies, nuts, seeds, and any other low-processed and natural sugar items I can find such as organic honeys and almond butter. I’ve heard that cutting out sugar/dairy helps others with bloating, but for me it helped with that as well as inflammation in my sinuses, throat, and face. Other than inflammation, cleansing your gut of toxins greatly improves your immune system. Other than foods, I use drinks and vitamins to do so.
Vitamins/Supplements
During my time of healing, I’ve incorporated numerous vitamin and supplement rituals into my daily life. For vitamins I take vitamin D, B-12, C, Zinc, Marshmallow root (anti-inflammatory of reproductive organs/bladder), turmeric, and goldenseal. For drinks I cut out all coffee and only consume matcha green tea as well as a ginger/orange concoction and apple cider vinegar shots. This is my daily routine aside from the medicine I have been taking for EBV.
Now, while all these things help, they do not replace proper medical treatment. Before I discovered the intensity of my illness, many friends/family told me to wash my hands more, eat cleaner, and not go out… I couldn’t understand that when I did all those things, I was still sicker than others. If you feel like there is something wrong with your body, listen to it and if you have access to lab testing, please do so. I was able to get all my testing covered my state insurance. I knew something was different about my immune system than others and felt frustrated that even when switching to a healthy lifestyle, I still wasn’t thriving. My condition and many others need medical help, and it is okay to turn to medication/other treatments to help you!
Medication for EBV
Now, time for the needy-greedy… hitting EBV right on the head. Western medicine does nothing to treat EBV because research is under-funded by the government (Yay for capitalism!). There are things that have proven helpful in many and I am just starting out the most recommended treatment plan. For medications, I take H2PLX, ACYCLOVIR, and Artemisinin Emulsion (An ancient Chinese medicine used to bring down inflammation). All these anti-viral medications don’t negatively impact the immune system the same way antibiotics do. With these supplements I will be receiving infusions, vitamin C and Hydrogen Peroxide IVs. I will keep womenswake updated with the progress of the treatment and what worked for me/what didn’t.
Visualization
Here we go into the mental aspect of having chronic illness. If you want to skip this section, I understand, chronic illness can be incredibly frustrating as has caused me to grow a more negative outlook on life. When others explain that changing my mindset will help, I sit in my stubborn ways and bitterly chew the method out. “F that, y’all have no idea!”. The truth is, changing your mind really does help heal your body, and if you don’t want to explore that yet, that is okay. Some days I don’t have the mental patience to heal my mind alongside my body, but on others I give it a little try. Along with positive affirmations such as
My body is healthy
My body keeps me safe/protected
My body is balanced, if anything negative comes my way, it will simply revert to its natural state
I have the recourses, will, support, energy, and will I need to fully recover
I practice visualization and sit in front of the mirror (I don’t care if it’s silly) to imagine my immune system working. I imagine my immune system killing the chronic virus that lives inside me and I visualize the production of white blood cells (mine are extremely low). I imagine the inflammation being washed off my body each shower and the nutrients being absorbed into my blood every time I eat or receive and IV. Even when I don’t always believe it, I tell myself that not only will I get better, but that I deserve to feel healthy and you do too.
With Love,
Miss Rachel