My partner, Sandra Gathercole, has already
sent you a comment about my recovery from the autoimmune disease
dermatomyositis... I'm appending it (with) a few small points.
 |
The disease attacks muscle tissue which meant I
didn't have the strength to raise my arms to hold
a telephone or comb my hair, or stand up without
help. Onset was sudden and virulent.
The disease
is rare and mystified most of the doctors I saw,
though it was confirmed with a biopsy at the
Montreal Neurological Institute. While there, I
was used as an example to teach doctors and interns
how
crippling the disease could become.
|
The normal therapy is cortisone which controls, but
does not cure, the disease and, of course, has serious
side
effects. For the last 50 years that has been the standard
medical solution. It is a prescription I would have taken
except Sandra said she knew a better alternative using
natural anti-inflammatories, vitamin E, and omega 3/6 from
your oil. She also eliminated food allergens, particularly
wheat, from my diet. Your lecture at Ruby Foo's in Montreal
a couple years earlier had alerted her to this alternative,
as had her reading.
The biggest problem I had taking this approach was the
fact that after an extensive search of the literature on
dematomyositis, there was not a single example of anyone
who had not taken cortisone once diagnosed with this disease.
We were in unknown territory, and I had to depend on her
entirely once the doctor who prescribed prednisolone said
it would be "unconscionable" to pursue an alternative
non-cortisone therapy.
The course of the disease could be measured from CPK levels
in my blood, and that was a psychological help as I saw
the CPK falling while my strength gradually returned.

Within 3-4 months I recovered completely.
That
was 6 years ago. The disease has
not returned.
My biggest surprise in this saga was the fact that the
various doctors I saw showed no interest in my case once
I decided not to follow their treatment. They also did
not seem curious to know how or why I recovered.
I'm glad Sandra attended your lecture.
Thank you,
Kirwan Cox
|