In September 2012 I was diagnosed with Sjogren’s Syndrome which is a debilitating autoimmune disease that can affect the nervous system, and incorporates a rheumatoid arthritis factor, Raynaud’s disease, fatigue and brain fog (problems with memory or difficulty focusing) along with extremely dry eyes and dry mouth – just for starters.
By the time I presented to my GP I was in bad shape with inflammation and pain – I could barely hold a brush to my hair and I needed help to cut my food or butter my toast in the morning. I was prescribed two drugs to assist with the inflammation and while they were wonderfully helpful (and I am grateful for the relief they gave me), they were equally dangerous.
Prednisolone is a steroid medicine which needs to be taken regularly and requires a gradual reduction in dose to be able to come off it. Side effects include weakness of arms and legs, development of a rounder face, mental health issues e.g. depression at high doses, and users can get infections more easily than usual, and these infections can be more serious.
Plaquinil can cause irreversible damage to the retina of the eye when high doses are taken over a long period (like I am). It can cause muscle weakness, twitching, uncontrolled movement, loss of balance, blurred vision, light sensitivity, pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding, confusion, headache, ringing in the ears, skin rash and, my goodness, the list goes on!
Concerned about the meds and wanting to get my body to heal itself naturally, the way God meant it to, I decided to visit a Naturopath and chose Thomas Staudacher. Why him? A work colleague had been seeing Thomas for about 18 months and over that time I saw the change in her weight and her skin – her face glowed. I decided there had to be something to what Thomas was doing for her.
Four months after that first visit, my blood tests are showing great results. My rheumatoid factor has dropped from 106 to 35. My other readings are returning to normal and my GP is so happy with my progress that I can now slowly come off the prednisolone.
I’m also drinking Body Balance ‘juice’ and it seems to be maintaining my journey to health, (along with a diet suited to me, and a regime to get my ‘gut’ right). The ‘juice’ is a high potency vitamin / mineral hit that supports core body systems with a formula of nine varieties of sea vegetables. All natural.
I haven’t had to take an allergy tablet in four months, I have more energy, I can now eat food that caused me issues before and I’m feeling normal again. My sister saw my new photo on facebook and commented that I looked SO good and so young…she wants to know my secret!
