My Autoimmune Health Story

It’s My Birthday…

My Autoimmune Health Story begins in my twenties. Three hours in the waiting room seemed like an eternity on my 26th birthday.  Although I donned the darkest sunglasses I could find, even closing my covered eyes did nothing to protect me from the lingering light that struck excruciating pain within my brain. This is my autoimmune health story.

This is My Autoimmune Health Story…

This was the third recurring eye inflammation, so sudden and severe, that I was debilitated.  I had to be imprisoned in a darkened room, tortured by even the slightest exposure to light.  The diagnosis was given as Ankylosing Spondylitis.

My Autoimmune Health Story: High Maintenance, Health-wise

Iritis refers to the inflammation of the iris part of the eye, causing severe eye pain, light sensitivity & pain with exposure to light, blurred or cloudy vision, and redness, all making functioning in life difficult, if not impossible.  Iritis (eye inflammation) was determined, as I recounted my family history & symptoms. I was crushed, as my perception of boundless health seemed forever ruined. I was now high maintenance, health wise, and I knew it!

My Autoimmune Health Story: OMG!  I’m Going BALD!!

Severe bald spots appeared, crowning my head. I was diagnosed with Alopecia Areata (Autoimmune Hair Loss).  My Autoimmune Health Story continues from hair loss to weakened immunity and chronic severe back pain, despite the time between my car accidents. I wasn’t healing, I was weakening, and then I realized that I had to become my own patient.  My genetics had reared its ugly head to the fullest extent, in varying parts of my body. That was enough; I rose up & treated myself.

My Autoimmune Health Story: Pictures Worth a Thousand Tears

The pictures you see here are of me, Dr. Jiwani, with 3 different large bald spots.  A well-known dermatologist stated that it was the worst case he had ever seen, this inherited disease of mine that was creatively expressing itself in many ways.

I was also suffering from severe back pain and excruciating eye pain, but dealing with my bald spots was almost as difficult.  I awoke with them, as I carefully fixed my hair in the morning, and I bleakly viewed them as I brushed my teeth before bed.  I couldn’t walk down the street without worrying that the wind was blowing my hair to reveal the balding spots. The worst was constantly asking my office manager if my hair covered the bald spots between patients.

My Autoimmune Health Story: I’ve Gone Through It, Let Me Help You…..

Having suffered these distressing health challenges has helped me to become a better, more supportive doctor. In school, no matter how much they teach you with textbooks & clinical experience, nothing compares to the actual day to day suffering of going through it yourself.  In retrospect, I am glad that my symptoms were so obvious, as the constant suffering provoked me to stand up and treat myself.

My Autoimmune Health Story: Doctor Heal Thyself

Thank goodness I was practicing naturopathic medicine already, as conventional medicine only prescribed immunosuppressant drugs: Prednisone, Cortisone injections & Rogaine for my Alopecia Areata; muscle relaxants, and painkillers for the chronic back pain, and nothing for my weakening immunity.

My Autoimmune Health Story: Just Say NO to Steroid Drugs!

I didn’t take the drugs, because I was trained to know better.  But I recalled my childhood, worrying for my mother, a victim of her own deteriorating health; a downward spiral that was expedited by the grand concoction of varied pharmaceutical drugs that wreaked havoc on her frail system. I had to watch a strong, independent, powerful woman concede to the drama of multiple diagnoses of asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, severe environmental allergies, migraine headaches, recurrent bronchitis and pneumonia.

My Autoimmune Health Story: Mom had Mysterious Drug Interactions

Many doctors’ visits were to recount the mysterious drug interactions that created bizarre rashes all over her body.  It was the insanity of the itchiness, and the multiple steroid drugs driving her to eat, and cry.  Drugs, whose effect eventually wore off, so new, stronger, more severe drugs replaced them, until she became a slave to an oxygen machine & nebulizer.

My Autoimmune Health Story: Why I Became a Naturopathic Doctor

These were the thoughts and fears that drove me to naturopathic medicine, since my desire to practice medicine arose when I was seven years old. But it was another 14 years that passed, until I serendipitously discovered naturopathic medicine.

I had already applied to medical school, written my MCAT Admissions Exam, when a friend showed me a brochure on naturopathic medicine. I read the philosophy of “do no harmâ€, “treat the cause of the symptoms†and “doctor as a teacherâ€, and instantly I was home. I knew then and there, that this was my destiny.

My Autoimmune Health Story: One Clinic, One Doctor

That is why I have a ONE CLINIC, ONE DOCTOR POLICY. It is through my experiences, suffering daily mental, emotional & physical afflictions that allows me to better understand that a nurturing, compassionate one-to-one contact is what you deserve.

You need someone that understands what you are going through, to work together with, to achieve true health. Thus, my “One Clinic, One Doctor†Policy means that I am and always will be the “only naturopathic physician†& healthcare practitioner in my clinic, to ensure that you have my personal care, experience and expertise.

Related:  Autoimmune Disease: Signs & Symptoms Your Body Is Attacking Itself + Treatments

Get Naturopathic with Dr. Jiwani:  Call 604.679.9988

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