My name is Heather. I am 27 years old, and was diagnosed with ITP in January 2012.
I want to share my success story with anyone who may need encouragement for seeking alternative treatment for ITP.
To start off, let me give you a brief summary of my life leading up to my condition. I've been told that stress is related to ITP or can worsen it. In 2011, I had the most stressful year of my entire life, that I can ever remember! We relocated from IN to TX for my husband's work, bringing our 2 small children with us. There was stress from the move, selling our old house, looking at new houses, depression from the move, etc. It had proven to be a stress-packed year for us.
In January 2012, I noticed one day that I had developed a blood blister in my mouth. During the next few days it began to spread across my cheeks and eventually my face, lips and stomach as well. I went to the dentist (haha) not sure what to do. He immediately sent me packin to the doctor for blood work. While waiting on blood work results, the doctor sent me home! (Can you believe this guy?!) I started to feel very uneasy as I was talking to other people about the symptoms. My sister-in-law prodded me to the ER. They found my platelets were at 2.
At the hospital (11 days), I went through all the common things that doctors make you go through with ITP (platelet transfusions, IVig, bone marrow biopsy, steroids, etc). This was my first visit to the hospital (other than childbirth) and I was terrified! The doctor pushed Xanax on me- probably for her benefit! Ok, so I officially have ITP at this point... Steroids were not successful, IVig was very effective temporarily.
After leaving the hospital with the understanding of: "You have an auto-immune disease; We don't know how you got it, and we don't know how to fix it".. I could not swallow this! I just knew that it was caused by something I was doing commonly everyday without realizing it. My husband and I spent every day for the next few months researching the internet, talking to people, seeking alternative treatments, experimenting with vitamins, different diets, stool sample testings, homeopathic doctors, naturopathic doctors, allergy doctors, etc. We were like machines at work on this! There was no way I wanted to live my life without answers- or without my God-given spleen.
So, after much prayer, the Lord put a lady in my path while shopping at an organic food store in Beaumont, Tx. I told her about my diagnosis and she made mention of a Naturopathic doctor in Houston, Tx who helped her cure breast cancer. I was determined to find alternative treatments rather than what the hematologist had planned. I was also desperate to keep my spleen!
At this point, I had already received another IVig (outpatient) which brought my platelets up to 200+. However, it was a temporary fix, just like before. My platelets were dropping at a rate of 10,000 per day. My next infusion was scheduled for 3 weeks.
So I called the Naturopathic doctor and requested a hair analysis packet. She uses a forensic hair analysis to determine imbalances and overexposures. After running the lab, she was very excited having read my results- she couldn't wait to see me. This lady was very confident and assuring about helping my condition. So off to Houston..
After arriving at her office, we found that she has treated some of our Olympic athletes; including one who won the gold metal after receiving treatment from her (He gave her one of his gold metals for appreciation!) She was very impressive, to say the least. I was handed a book that detailed every part of my cellular structure and the levels of 21 minerals and toxic metals that were screened in my hair sample.
The findings:
1. Presence of aluminum (deodorant, bakeware, etc)
2. Calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, iron, etc. deficiency
3. Overloaded with Manganese, heavy metal. (which we found in our well water afterwards)
4. Candida overgrowth
After a 4 hour discussion of my results, the doctor gave me practical and very simple guidelines to follow to stabilize my body. Her approach to health is this: All disease is derived from an imbalance in the body. Fix the imbalance and your body will fix itself. More importantly, she believes that Jesus Christ is the true source of healing.
I was put on a high-protein, low sugar, lower carb, high vegetable, all organic diet. This was the most difficult for me!(My regular diet included sweets, peanut butter, bread, whole milk, sweet yogurt, fruits, etc.) I was put on 10 different vitamin supplements to balance my deficiencies. ( Including high potency vitamin c, multi-vitamins, adrenal boosts, etc.) She wanted me to start probiotics to fight the candida overgrowth and to continue taking MagO7, which is a natural laxative. She also wanted me to filter my well water, rest periodically throughout the day
and most importantly: Stop stressing!
I went home from that visit and immediately started the vitamins and diet. After one week, I went to my hematologist who was expecting my platelets to be bottomed-0ut. Much to her surprise, my platelets were at 192 and the Win Rho returned to sender! At this point, I didn't say anything about my new diet or supplements. She scheduled me again for 4 weeks. At the next appointment 4 weeks later, treatment was not necessary again, as my platelets were 178. My hematologist was speechless. Almost 5 months later, continuing the vitamin supplements and diet plan, my platelets are still on the rise @ 231,000.
Before I give all the credit to the blessed Naturopathic doctor, I want to say that with Christ, anything is possible! I have cried out in prayer to Him and have been put on prayer chains at churches in 4 different states! I give Him the credit, the praise and the thanks, first and foremost.
If anyone else has a story kinda like mine, and would like to check out this doctor in Houston, I can email you the number. (She is unlisted) A hair sample must be mailed in and she can do appointments over the phone. She is not cheap, but worth every penny. Also, don't pay any mind if your doctor laughs at you while seeking alternatives; prescription drugs are all they are taught in medical school. God Bless you and thanks for reading!
Heather
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