Q: autoimmunity

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I have a 58 yo female who came to see me 3 months ago with an extensive history - cc: high BP and high chol. BP is 140/90 and labs are: LDL 183, T chol 264, LDL/HDL= 4.0, neutrophils are low and lymphocytes are high. Dx with colon CA 5 yrs ago. Hasn't been the same since chemo, feels like its still in system. Has had trouble with joints since her 20's. sensitive to light and sun. very sensitive individual. Has had symptoms of Lupus (her words), fatigue, prior to chemo. Has had butterfly rash since birth but no doctors believe her. Went to rheumatologist 15 times and wasn told she doesnt have lupus. one marker came back pos, doesnt know which one. Has had fatigue since being a kid. remembers

taking geratol from mom all the time. always anemic. had purpura all over body in patches, as a kid found out has platelet problem. In her 20's she had pain in her hips and walked with a cane for a couple of years. Told by a specialist that she had degen arthritis and would be in wheelchair. Went on pritikin diet and it went away. Now occasionally has problem wiht hips, mostly R side, feels like theres drilling in them. In her 30's she had problems with food, had IBS, migraines, felt like was crazy. Was treated by a holistic dr and went on restricted diet and h/a's and IBS went away. Now everythign is fine, digestion is fine. Tend toward loose stools. Once every couple of months get migraines, get aura, vomiting, hearing and vision sensitive. Has ongoing issues with R ear - tube gets blocked and has balance problems. dr wants her to take nasal steroid but

she refuses. M/E: worry very much about own health, particularly chol and BP. cant quiet mind around this. sometimes get sad from previous abusive relationship.Sleep: not great - fall asleep easily but wake throughout hte night in intervals. Energy: pretty good but varies. can't dance like used to. ( i think her energy is worse than she says it is- she tries to be optimistic).Appetite: pretty good. eats throughout day, every two hours. if dont have snack after dinner, then will wake up (bl sugar?)Menses: still hot flashing, which she thinks is strange since she's 58 yoSo after the first visit i suggested she do some things and she had a reaction to a heart formula i had her on. So she was doing gluten free diet, taking magnelevures (mag), biotone for sleep, b complex, col-sterol (plant sterols for cholesterol), fish oil, and probiotic, and she just began the phytogreens (seroyal

'greens' product). After she had the reaction to the heart herbs (swollen eyelids, swollen joints, and headaches), i suggested she take Natural Calm magnesium high dose, celery sticks daily, dandelion tea, and we went over some relaxation exercises and stress management, etc. She returned this week and although its been awhile, nothing has really changed. She feels great from the GF diet, but her BP and lipids are still high, and i dont know how to address her autoimmune picture when i really cant give her too many things to take. If i do, she said she will only take a couple at a time. Oh, and her husband (who i also see) says she isn't very compliant with her supps.Thanks,Alia Elias, ND, LAc.Newburyport, MA