ITP Personal Stories

Mind/Body/Spirit Approach

I have experienced a slow, but steady gradual improvement since using a natural and holistic approach. My last platelet count was 198,000 two weeks ago! I'm in the normal range for the first time since I stopped needing IVIG treatments to boost my count a year ago.

In July of 2000, I discovered that I had a platelet count of only 3100. I was treated with high dose prednisone and IVIG for a period of about 5 mos. This treatment did not seem to be a long-term answer for me and I began having additional problems from the prolonged steroid use. After experiencing numerous severe side effects from prednisone, I was weaned off of the steroid, and then treated only with IVIG as needed to boost the counts.

I then decided to give my body a rest and use an alternative approach. I decided to develop my own Mind/Body/Spirit program and to find a physician whom was involved with alternative and natural medicine, but also trained in traditional and allopathic medicine. I am the wife of a family practice physician (trained in traditional, allopathic medicine) whom helped monitor my progress along with a hematologist. I found a physician (M.D.) who believed that changing my diet and using natural supplements would help to cure me of autoimmune-related problems. I have also had problems with a rare acquired autoimmune disorder of the skin, called EBA, on and off for the past 7 years. I went into remission (after cyclosporine treatment) from that disorder before developing ITP two years ago. The EBA began returning after I was prescribed prednisone to help treat the ITP, but that problem has also improved since using this program. In addition to regular multi-vitamins, & extra vitamin C, I was prescribed probiotics, digestive enzymes, essential fatty acids and grapeseed extract to help improve my digestive system and promote immune system health.

I have not been using the vitamins or supplements now for the past two months of my own choice. I would not hesitate to resume using them, however, if I felt a need to do so. All of the above factors seem to have worked for me. Only time will tell whether or not I have found a lasting cure for my problems with ITP and EBA. I am happy to report that I have not had an IVIG treatment in a year and have been on no pharmaceutical medications for ITP in over a year and a half. I was given an MRT delayed food allergy test in March, 01 and then followed my individualized LEAP dietary program strictly as directed for at least a six-month period. The new M.D. monitored me monthly while I followed the diet and the hematologist continued to monitor my platelet counts and prescribe IVIG treatments as necessary during that time. I kept a detailed food and health journal for myself, so that I could relate platelet counts and symptoms to foods that were eaten and discover any correlations. After the six-month period, I was able to follow the dietary guidelines that were given to me more loosely. I began to know myself well enough to know which foods were best to avoid and gained a more intuitive sense of knowing what I needed to do for myself.

The LEAP program began with a very strict detox, three-day rotation diet (during which time I felt utterly miserable for about a week! But I was told that this was not unusual). Thereafter, I ate foods from a list to which I had been tested as not showing a significant immune reaction. Other foods were gradually added back into my diet plan after the six-month period. In addition to following my personalized LEAP program, I decided, on my own, to stay away from all dyes, chemical preservatives, additives, processed food products, and most anything that can't be pronounced on those food labels! Only some of these substances were listed on my reactive list, but I chose to avoid all of them in case I was not tested for those particular substances. (I was tested for 150 common food and substances.) At some point, I had a feeling that all of those sorts of additives were things that I needed to avoid. I now try to eat whole, organic, unprocessed foods as much as possible and be aware of everything that is in my food before eating it. If I eat a meal at a restaurant or am in a social situation where there may be some doubt as to all the ingredients of a meal, I make sure that I know exactly what I am eating for at least the next several meals after. In addition to changing my diet, I developed and maintained some form of regular exercise. I do walking, cycling, resistance training, free weights, etc. all in various combinations, at least 3 times a week but usually more often.

I have focused more fully on Spiritual aspects of life, and began making gradual lifestyle changes to reduce stress levels. I have worked very hard to create a happier personal life for myself. I am now in the process of working towards fulfilling some lifelong dreams and feel happier and healthier than I have in many years. I have hope for the future again and am able to enjoy and cherish life much more fully and in the moment, on a day-to-day basis. During the healing process, I found and learned to listen to that special inner voice which I believe that we all have somewhere inside of us. When you find it, there is a certain sense of trust and knowing that comes along with it. It seemed important to me that I try to live much more in the present moment. I was actually forced into living life in a more day-to-day way while was going through having ITP and being treated. I began thinking more about what was truly important to me in life. I thought more carefully about how I chose to spend my time as I began to wonder if that time might be cut short. I rearranged my priorities and my perspective in many ways, both large and small. I tried to learn what I could from the past, release it, forgive mistakes and people, and not worry quite so much about what the distant future might hold. I learned to view people as souls instead of imperfect human beings. Souls who are doing the best they can to learn their lessons while here, just like me. I felt that it was no longer necessary to plan all things out in advance. I did what I could do, humanly and spiritually, to help myself with problems along the way and learned to then let them go. I began to relinquish my tendency to want to control or change others in my life; I began to focus only upon changing myself and my own circumstances. I managed to do what was right for myself in ways that I felt would do the least harm to others. I began to know and recognize the things that felt right for me to do for myself. I was guided towards each step, sometimes moment by moment, as each day came and went. I began to feel confident that the right people, situations, and circumstances would come to help me in the right way and at the right time. I hope to continue on this path and to share what I have discovered with others along the way. For now -- I will be grateful just to awaken in health each day and remind myself to remain present in the moment. I will listen for that healing inner voice and know what is mine to do, as each day continues to unfold exactly as it should.

(update)

I am about to go back to Western NC where I have been back and forth a few times over this past year. Two years ago, I bought 8 acres of land there as part of my healing program and last year began building a 2nd home there in the beautiful Smoky Mountains. It is supposed to be finished towards the latter part of June and I will now be spending 6 mos. there and 6 mos. here in FL each year. Along with many lifestyle and attitude changes, fulfilling this longtime dream in my life has been a great part of my mind/body/spirit healing program. I feel as though each step toward fulfilling my own true dreams have at the same time been a step towards greater health. :) As the NC "dream" house comes closer to completion and reality, I feel as though I will be then be ready to begin working on an outline for that book that seems to be forming in the old "dream" corner now.

-- Georgie (Lovettga@aol.com)