My Journey with Lupus Led Me to Naturopathic Medicine

“Your bone marrow suppression is benign,” my primary care physician said after a hematologist gave me the diagnosis. “How can bone marrow suppression be benign?” I thought.  

In another instance, my PCP said, “I don’t know what kind of tropical illness you got,” when I returned from a Caribbean vacation. Different markers were off in blood work. I could hardly get out of bed for a month. She looked baffled and although well-intentioned, was not helpful at all. I learned later that lupus and other autoimmune disorders can flare with intense sun.  

When the rheumatologist who diagnosed me with lupus and I looked back on my health journey, we realized I probably had it since I was a teenager. It wasn’t diagnosed until 45. What I learned is that autoimmune disorders often run together and part of the picture was figuring out my thyroid and autoimmune Hashimoto’s as well.

Having been premed for conventional medicine in undergrad, I knew at a young age that I was not finding answers in the conventional medical system. In fact, I felt worse from many medications. 

Many times when I have had conversations with fellow naturopathic doctors, chiropractors and acupuncturists, our stories are similar. It was our own health journeys which led us to follow a different path.

Hence, I took a leap of faith to study naturopathic medicine and Chinese medicine. When the rheumatologist finally diagnosed me, he said, “Laura, I think studying natural medicine saved your life.”

What I learned is that despite helping many people figure out complex chronic illnesses, when I am sick, it is difficult to think for myself. Lupus is called the great imitator because it can mimic so many different illnesses. In general, autoimmune disorders tend to have episodes of flares and remissions.

It took a second hematologist after seeing various specialties of doctors for decades to get the right testing.

Are you tired of incapacitating systemic lupus flares? Do you want to learn how to have more control over your health? Are you tired of feeling overwhelming fatigue?

Are you tired of being minimized by your doctors? Have you been told that you just have to buck it up and live with it when doctors are not finding anything wrong? Are pharmaceutical medicines having challenging side effects for you?

As a provider, I have learned that although my treatment approach is holistic, there is strength in a proper Western medicine diagnosis and medications at the right time.