Tag Archives: Autoimmunity

Autoimmunity

newly diagnosed – now what?

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So you’ve just been diagnosed with an auto-immune disease…or maybe you’ve been diagnosed for a while and are wondering what exactly this means for your life. You’ve probably been counseled to take prescription medications. You may have been told that what you’re facing is “incurable”. You may be grieving. You may even be afraid.

However you may be feeling, please know that fear, anger, and grief are valid. The physical pain and uncertainty that so often comes with autoimmunity can be overwhelming. The process of getting a correct diagnosis can even last years and be exhausting.

I’ve been down this road before and have three things that I’d like to encourage you with.

#1: You are NOT a diagnosis. A diagnosis can help shine light on which area, of your health, needs attention. BUT it is not telling you who you are. It doesn’t have to become your identity. It is not condemning you to a future of limitations. Medical professionals, although well-meaning, do not know exactly what your future holds.

#2: You ARE powerful. As one of my favorite mentors used to always say: “If you weren’t born with it, then you don’t have to live with it.” (Roby Mitchell) When it comes to addressing auto-immunity, there are options out there that go beyond allopathic medicine’s “answers”. By getting to the root cause of auto-immunity via proper nutrition, lifestyle changes, and proper supplementation, there is a very good possibility that your symptoms may lessen and the disease process may even be halted.

Check out this post for more on root causes of autoimmunity: https://shalomtotalwellness.com/2020/08/10/autoimmunity-decoded/

#3: You are NOT alone. It may feel a bit lonely, right now, but you are never alone. Many people have traversed this path. Find the support you need. I am cheering you on! And remember that GOD is not surprised by your present health struggle. He has solutions for your health and wellness. You are always on His heart and He is always there for you.

Auto-immunity is a serious situation. Your body is sending you a message that things must change. But it doesn’t have to be a life sentence. You can switch the disease/diagnosis narrative by putting your energy into making the necessary changes that will place your body in healing mode. You got this!

Shalom to you,

Autoimmunity

Autoimmunity: decoded

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The steady rise of autoimmune diseases should be quite alarming. However, they certainly don’t get the attention they should for many reasons. First among these reasons is the fact that it is so difficult to get a correct diagnosis. Many sufferers will go through multiple doctors before being diagnosed and it is even more difficult to find treatment that actually helps.

Second, autoimmune disorders are often looked at like they are a mystery. Questions like “Why do I have an autoimmune disease?”, “How did this start?”, and “Is there anything I can do besides medication?” rarely get answered. Not addressing the root cause places the patient in a cycle of trying different medications but rarely finding something that arrests the auto immune activity. .

I’d like to interject, however, that autoimmune issues are not the mystery we’ve been led to believe they are. Below are a few things that should strongly be considered when looking into possible root causes. The following should also be considered when addressing areas that may need some healing solutions – in regards to all dis-ORDERS and dis-EASES.

(1) Faulty Nutrition. When our bodies don’t receive the nutrition they need, free radicals can form. This often causes a crisis of inflammation within our bodies as well as vitamin deficiencies. Our immune systems receive the wrong message (to “fight”) and then will attack things that they shouldn’t like joints, myelin, stomach lining, the colon, etc.

(2) Vitamin Deficiencies. Like mentioned above, when our bodies are in a state of vitamin deficiency, our immune systems receive the wrong messaging and may end up attacking our bodies. The type of deficiencies a person has may even play a role in what type of autoimmune issue they’re dealing with.

(3) Toxins. The world we live in certainly isn’t the world our great grandparents lived in. Pollution, radiation exposure from tech devices, vaccination, medication, and chemicals in cleaning products just barely scratch the surface. Some people seem to be more sensitive to the aforementioned or, at the very least, feel the effects more rapidly. Toxins wreak havoc on an immune system and can play a role in autoimmunity.

(4) Weakened Gut Health. Up to 80% of our immune system is housed in our gut (stomach, intestines = everything gastrointestinal related). Proper gut health is key for proper immune system activity and is linked to all other bodily systems. When gut health is ignored, or becomes weakened, then the way is paved for illness and disease.

If you are looking into natural ways to combat autoimmunity, then the above may seem a bit overwhelming. However, rather than looking at these things like problems, look at them as opportunities. After all, once the light of truth shines on a problem, the solution is not far behind!

I’d like to encourage you to do your own research, and self assessment, in these areas.

(As always, this information is for educational purposes. Medication decisions are between you and your doctor.)

Shalom to you all – Dr. Karen Michelle Ricci, N.D.