Why the words “remission” and “cure” do a disservice to the autoimmune community

Here at Autoimmune Wellness, we’re all about inspiring and encouraging people with autoimmune disease to take healing into their own hands. If I’ve learned anything in the seven years I’ve been at this work, both personally and professionally, it is the incredible capacity that dietary and lifestyle changes have to affect health outcomes for those who have no, little, or sub-optimal options working exclusively within the conventional medical system. Many of you are familiar with my story as well as the stories of recovery that we post here on the site to share the incredible healing potential of the Autoimmune Protocol.

Despite that, there are two words I feel do a disservice to the autoimmune community as a whole when used to describe the healing journey. They are remission and cure.

Remission can be defined as the absence or lessening of symptoms caused by a disease. Cure can be defined as having no traces of a disease being present. 

Both of these words are used frequently in the treatment of certain medical conditions like cancer, and this is the context in which most people are familiar with them. For instance, when a person completes a treatment for cancer and no symptoms are felt or traces found, they enter into remission. At a certain point (usually a matter of years, dependent on the type of cancer) their doctor declares their cancer cured

While these words are helpful and well-understood when speaking about cancer recovery (and even other medical conditions unrelated to cancer), I don’t believe that they work well to describe the outcomes of treating or managing autoimmune disease. The emotions that come along with using remission and cure as descriptors or benchmarks can cause more harm than good to getting into a productive healing mindset.

Some of you might be thinking… “Wait, Mickey. I’ve heard you say a bunch of times that you don’t experience any Hashimoto’s symptoms anymore. Doesn’t that mean you are in remission?” 

You’ll notice in my work here and in every podcast interview and live talk I do, I have never used the words remission or cure to describe my own journey, even though I have regained my health (by my definition — more on that below!) through a combination of diet, lifestyle, and conventional medicine. Instead, I like to say that my autoimmune diseases are well managed by the daily activities I do to continue feeling my best. 

This concept is a tough nut to crack, especially in our world of sensationalism on the internet. Fortunately, a lot of others have been thoughtfully tackling this topic as of late (hat tip to Chris Kresser for his recent article What is Health? And Eileen Laird for her podcast episode The Pursuit of Perfect Health with Dr Terry Wahls). In this article, I’m going to explain my reasoning on why I don’t like using these words when talking about autoimmune healing, and how to reframe our concept of progress on the healing journey.

There is no cure for autoimmune disease

First, it is important to understand that there is no cure for autoimmune disease. Science has shown us that generally speaking, once the immune system starts attacking our own tissues, there is no intervention we can make that will stop it forever. This is why many conventional treatments for autoimmune disease involve suppressing the immune system or managing the inflammation that an autoimmune disease causes. We can tinker with disabling or weakening parts of the immune system responsible for the attacks, or we can try shutting down certain inflammatory pathways. We currently don’t have a tool in our toolbox to get the body to stop attacking itself.

I’m sharing this not to be depressing, but to inject some realism in this discussion. In order to truly live well with autoimmune disease, we first have to accept that our conditions are likely not curable in the traditional sense. Now, this does not mean we can’t make healing progress or live vibrant, fulfilling lives. This also doesn’t mean that we can’t reach a state with no or little symptoms. In light of that, I believe taking a realistic approach sets us up for success in learning how to navigate the road ahead, including flares or setbacks.

The inaccuracies of remission

Next, the concept of remission. While periods of remission are hallmarks of some autoimmune diseases (like relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis), most people are confused about pinpointing when they have achieved remission. I think this confusion is because the word remission doesn’t accurately describe the ebb and flow of how most autoimmune diseases present themselves. Is it when antibodies return to normal? Or when a person doesn’t have symptoms? What if this person has no antibodies but still has symptoms of their disease? Or if they have antibodies but no symptoms? Does it still count as true remission if they eat a piece of bread or a tomato and then their symptoms return within 15 minutes? How does it work if they are on disease altering or modifying medications? 

Some diseases have clinically observable signs remission has been reached — like the absence of disease activity in the colon in a person with Crohn’s. But how does that apply to a disease where the disease is not fully visible–like Hashimoto’s or Lupus? As you can see, using remission to describe autoimmune disease can be tricky.

In addition, remission implies a stable state of health that has been reached and doesn’t easily account for flares, which are common even in those that have well-managed autoimmune diseases. I don’t believe the word provides enough space for an autoimmune patient to experience the ebb and flow of living with autoimmune disease without additional emotional stress from adding the label.

Lastly, the experience of living with autoimmune disease is not only misunderstood on the patient level, but even more dramatically so for family members and friends. We are already at a disadvantage when teaching those support players in our lives about the nebulous nature of autoimmune disease, but I believe using the words remission or cure further deepens any misunderstandings here.

If we can accept that autoimmune disease is not curable, and that remission is not an accurate word to describe the healing journey, then what is the best way to speak about our progress?

How do you define health?

In order to hone in on how to best speak about progress on the healing journey, I think it is most helpful to first start by doing some work exploring what your definition of health is. 

While most people define health as simply the absence of disease, some find this description too simplistic to accurately and honestly describe what health looks like. For those of us with autoimmune diseases, it is demoralizing to think that we will never be “healthy” because we suffer from incurable diseases and thinking this way can get us in a negative mindset.

As I’ve gained experience on my healing journey, my definition of health has shifted. In the beginning, I was very focused on my physical state — I put a lot of weight in lab tests and symptoms. I really wanted to see those antibodies return to normal levels. Looking back, there was a time in my journey when I was feeling quite well, especially in relation to the health crisis I had just experienced — I had returned to work part-time, was able to do more activities outside the home with my friends and family members, and had returned to some of my favorite hobbies. But when I thought and spoke about my health and my body, I remember thinking and talking about myself like I was still so sick and still had so far to go. I think this actually delayed my progress, as I was both engaging in negative self-talk and was missing out on celebrating those wins.

One step in reframing my definition of health was realizing I was connected to quite a few people who lived vibrant, joyful, and fulfilling lives despite debilitating health problems. One friend of mine suffered from cystic fibrosis, a genetic condition that affects the lungs and comes with persistent life-threatening effects. I watched her navigate not only her difficult health challenges with an incredibly positive and graceful energy, but also watch her realize her dream of becoming a mother, despite the challenges and odds. Was it fair or accurate to say she was not healthy? I was incredibly inspired to see her live her dreams despite all of this, and it really got my gears turning as to how I could actually define health for myself.

Now I have expanded my definition of health beyond the physical and incorporate mental and social elements. I feel my healthiest when I am able to deeply connect with the people I love and do things that bring me joy. 

I absolutely love Chris Kresser’s article on this topic, What is Health, which takes a deeper dive on this concept. And I would encourage anyone who is interested in exploring more to head over and check it out.

Why I use “well-managed” instead of remission or cure

Once you come up with your own definition of health, you can set goals and decide what kind of benchmarks (if any) you are going to use to gauge your progress and how to speak about your disease (both when engaging in self-talk, and in talking with others).

Personally, I like to use the phrase well-managed to describe my autoimmune conditions because I feel like it accurately reflects the fact that I have to put in consistent work (including but not limited to diet, lifestyle, and medication) to manage my two incurable diseases. 

For me, this reframe releases the pressure of trying to define or meet the threshold of remission. I continue to have positive antibodies (although only a fraction than at diagnosis), even though I don’t have symptoms of my disease (most of the time!). Now I have enough space to experience a flare without having to worry about if I am here nor there. Lastly, when I tell my personal healing story it gives others in the community a realistic picture of what living well with autoimmune disease could look like and has less of a chance of giving anyone false hope.

As my definition of health has expanded above, I not only look at physical, but mental and social elements when evaluating how I’m feeling. Some questions I ask myself are “Do I feel connected to those I love?” “Am I doing things that bring me joy?”

Perfectionism and comparison

Lastly, I wanted to touch on two ways of thinking that can creep in and cause mindset roadblocks.

It can be tempting to think that we have complete control over our health outcomes and can achieve perfection by “doing the right things.” The truth is, while we can make changes that can affect outcomes, this is far from a guarantee. A certain input does not equal a guaranteed output, and the desire to be perfect in order to control an outcome can often make healing more difficult.

If you find yourself getting stuck here, check out our article from the archives, I Can’t Try AIP Because I’m a Perfectionist

Next, comparison. It can be so tempting to look at another person’s healing journey and either think that if you do the same things they did, you will get the same result, or be upset that they got more mileage out of the same changes than you did. 

Not only is wellness going to have a different definition for each individual, but that actual path to healing is going to vary widely from person to person, even if they share the same disease. Resisting the urge to compare sets you up for success to find joy in discovering what works for you, not anyone else, and truly taking ownership of your health.

What is your definition of health, and have you noticed your ways of speaking about your disease shifting as you progressed through your healing journey? I’d love to know in the comments!

About Mickey Trescott

Mickey Trescott is a co-founder here at Autoimmune Wellness and a co-teacher of AIP Certified Coach. After recovering from her own struggle with both Celiac and Hashimoto’s disease, adrenal fatigue, and multiple vitamin deficiencies, Mickey started to write about her experience to share with others and help them realize they are not alone in their struggles. She has a Master's degree in Human Nutrition and Functional Nutrition, and is the author of three best-selling books--The Autoimmune Paleo Cookbook, The Autoimmune Wellness Handbook, and The Nutrient-Dense Kitchen. You can watch her AIP cooking demos by following her on Instagram.

44 comments

  • Jana says

    Mickey-

    Refreshing article with new thoughts! Thank you for a “well-managed” article!

    I appreciate your perspective because I keep hearing the “remission” word and have been hung up on wondering how to get there and now I can look at it and talk about “managing” my Autoimmune issues rather than ascribe to a self-defeating end goal of eradication and /or remission.

    So thanks for the “hall pass,” the nod of approval, encouragement, and the morale boost that I AM doing something right in a world where we can be quick to find the negative! 🌺

    • Mickey Trescott says

      Jana, I’m so happy you found the article helpful in reframing your perspective w/ illness. You got this!

    • Lynn says

      I love THIS MICKEY! Yes this is what I needed to hear about 2 years ago when I was “chasing” the notion that if I could just get my antibodies down then I could get into remission like all the “others” I had followed on the internet. In actuality I was doing just fine managing my symptoms. But a functional medicine practitioner told me my 300+TPO antibodies meant I had a raging case of Hashimoto’s but she dismissed all of the work and progress I had already made (going from 500 to 300 TPO level) with diet and lifestyle which included getting my Functional Nutritional Practitioner certification from NTA. Working with her made me worse soooo. It was a lesson learned not to compare myself to others and to listen to my own intuition and trust myself. Also that no one has the magic bullet and can not CURE your Hashimoto’s (like her book suggests!). Thanks again!

      • Mickey Trescott says

        Hi Lynn! I am so happy this post resonated with you, and that you are feeling well. Thanks for sharing your experience, and wishing you continued wellness on your journey!

  • C Vollmer says

    Yesterday my lab results showed my thyroid hormone levels at normal levels for the first time since diagnosis (10 months ago). I was thrilled. It gives me hope. AND I thought “onto remission!” Your article is very timely and very helpful as I learn to live with this AI disease (Graves). It is also a reminder that even if my thyroid kicks back in on it’s own, I will forever need to “actively manage” it through my life style choices. Thank you.

  • Sandy Swanson says

    Well said, Mickey! I agree that chasing remission can be an exercise in futility, especially when remission may mean different things to different people. I too choose to say that “I am in maintenance mode” for the rest of my life – and doing very well. 🙂 Thank you for this article!

    • Mickey Trescott says

      Sandy, I love “I am in maintenance mode.” Great way to put it!

  • Laurie Wardle says

    My one word definition of health would be “balance”. In a crazy way, my two autoimmune incurable diseases have allowed me to let go of my crazy, stress filled lifestyle, and embrace a more intentional, focused, thoughtful approach to all aspects of my personhood – physically, spiritually, and emotionally.

    • Mickey Trescott says

      Thanks for sharing Laurie! Love this.

  • TE says

    Please rethink the potential harm you are doing in the AIP community by continuing to use the word “recovery.” It is perhaps an even more dangerous term than “remission” and the semantic equivalent to “cure.”

    • Mickey Trescott says

      TE, actually, I disagree. Cure means the absence of disease. Recovery means a return to a normal state of health. The difference is subtle, but important. When I was diagnosed, I found myself bedridden at the age of 26. I have since “recovered” to a state where I can once again function in the world. I think recovery is the best way we have to speak about the healing that comes from a period of ill health.

      • Roxanne says

        I like your terms “recovery” and “well-managed”. I think a relevant comparison would be when alcoholics or drug addicts (also considered diseases) decide to get clean, they are considered a “recovering ____” for the rest of their lives. The propensity for relapse will always be there, just like with us, because there is no “cure” for their disease either. But their symptoms are well-managed at that point, and like us, their lives are better for eliminating toxic things from their bodies.

        • Mickey Trescott says

          Hey Roxanne – thanks for this insight, I hadn’t thought of it that way, but I do think there are some parallels there!

  • Nicole Roa says

    Beautiful article. Very insightful and such good reminders. Early 2015 is when I finally was given a confirmed diagnosis of autoimmune disease. Fibromyalgia had been tossed around since 1999. But, I finally had antibodies to prove something was wrong. I was kind of in shock! I had thyroid issues, most likely heading toward’s Hashimotos, I was pre-diabetic and had been for several years, the pre-diabetes was part of metabolic syndrome. I had suffered from PCOS, probably since menarchy , but suffered my first ruptured cyst in 1993 and had to have a mass removed from my ovary. And then there was the rheumatoid anti-bodies!

    It was recommended that I start by removing gluten and milk products from my diet. I was very strict and began losing weight right away because I had always had a pastry addiction, but without wheat I had nothing to turn to. I started an elimination diet about a month after that. I discovered that wheat increased my pain levels, milk products made me gassy, peanuts made me burp and sick to my stomach and so did citrus. I also eliminated soy products from my diet. I was very good about sticking with my dietary changes for the first year. Every once in a while I would eat wheat because I was making something for my children and decided not to resist. I eventually got better at substituting gluten free flour in some of our favorite recipes or I would just avoid what they wee having. I still struggle maintaining diet completely free of milk products although I don’t drink milk and use milk alternatives in my protein shakes.

    I think it is important to mention that through my journey I was also going through my marriage ending and it was a messy affair. Literally! We went back and forth for 3 years as he continued to cheat on me and I called it quits for good when the ow ended up pregnant. My 3 children suffered and so did I.

    What I find most intriguing about this article is the measurement of health. I periodically check my antibody levels and had really focused on that. I have never been at a lever I considered “remission”, but I also accomplished a good measure of health that I didn’t have before. I think more than anything my mental health suffered but that was due to not having a support system and going through way more crap and emotional pain that I thought possible. I know not everyone has a support system so I encourage them to power through. You are stronger than you think!

    Thank you so much for providing all the resources and intelligent thinking on the issues around auto immune diseases.

    Much love

    • Mickey Trescott says

      Nicole, thank you for sharing your story with us!

    • Marianne says

      Nonetheless, remission are exactly the words I wrote to my doctor yesterday to ask her to write to my endocrinologists about the remarkable decreases in antibodies in a short amount of time.
      Since two months, I’ve been taking low dose Naltrexone in a water solution (1,5 mg per 20 drops).
      I started at ca. 0,3 mg and slowly worked up …I’m only at about 0,75 mg now. This because Hashimoto patients can be very sensitive to the side-effects..and in any case, it’s good to let your body slowly get used to a medication. I had first certainty that it was Hashimoto in May 2019, after a specialist bloodtest performed by the rheumatology expertise center. They also found other markers that might indicate lupus or rheumatic arthritis. My anti-TPO was elevated here with 46 (boundary 30), my anti TG with 197 (boundary 115). I had to wait half a year for the endocrinologist, when I was tested then, my anti TPO was 123. He didn’t want to hear my points of how Hashimoto patients tend to have vitamin deficiencies, and since my thyroid was not destroyed yet (TSH, T3, T4 within range), my symptoms must be mild too (note: they weren’t). And nothing could be done to save my thyroid. I started using LDN in March 2020, just days before the lockdown I got my parcel. A few days ago I did a bloodtest and got the result yesterday, my MAK (microsomal antibodies, in this case comparable to anti-TPO) have gone down to 64, where 60 is the boundary in that test. So, this means…it’s almost under the range that Hashimoto would technically be diagnosed. I also feel better than I ever have, and had a very quick positive response. I also had side-effects (1 day of mild tinnitus that went away, one night insomnia, 1,5 months of waking up between 4-5) but I felt so energetic. The flu feeling was completely gone.
      Low dose Naltrexone has recently gained traction in peer reviewed medical journals, with research into auto-immune disease to cancer. My advice would be to actively google for these papers (also find the charming transcribed interview from Dr. Bernard Bihari ” low dose naltrexone for normalizing immune system function”. I’ve read that LDN does not work for everyone, why – I don’t know. I’m following a gluten, milk and nightshade free diet next to it, and also limit coffee and alcohol to very rare consumption.

      • Mickey Trescott says

        Hi Marianne! I’m so happy you have found something that works for you. I would say that if you FEEL good as well, it sounds like you are on the right track. I have met many people with Hashimoto’s who get their antibodies into “remission” territory, but continue to feel symptoms of the disease. This is why I am not a fan of using the word remission to gauge progress or success. Wishing you continued health!

  • Your article on remission and cure really impacted me. I have been dealing with Graves Disease for 10 years. I am in the middle of a symptomatic episode and thankful I found your article. I read your site regularly with a number of others. They are helpful…but I will say this, I wish I had a small group of autoimmune sufferers to meet with once in a while for the personal connection. Any suggestions?
    Thank you for doing what you do, for all of us,
    Terry

  • TE says

    Please rethink your use of the term “recovery” in the same context. It is a disservice to the AIP community to assert that you can “recover” from an autoimmune disease in the same way it’s harmful to assert the possibility of a “cure.” Remission, on the other hand, is a possibility for many autoimmune sufferers. Thanks for your insight in this piece, and I hope you can expand this thinking to also rethink the term “recovery.” I hope you will not delete this comment as you did my earlier comment on this issue – it is important to have dialogue about these issues even if someone is challenging the idea a bit!

    • Mickey Trescott says

      Hi TE! Adding to my answer before to note that I didn’t delete your comment, but we do moderate them when they are posted by folks who haven’t posted on the site before. I’m unable to get to comments more than once a week. I hope you understand!

  • Felecia says

    Thank you for this important article! I totally agree that mindset and how we describe our health (to ourselves and others) can impact our actual health! Personally, I say autoimmune “disorder” instead of “disease,” since what we have is basically an immune system that is confused and not working in an orderly fashion. The word “disease” sounds to me like I have contracted an illness from a foreign invader that my body must battle. By making significant changes to my diet, supplementation, and lifestyle, I am helping my body become more orderly again!

    • Mickey Trescott says

      Felicia, when we wrote The Autoimmune Wellness Handbook Angie and I had a good back-and-forth about the difference between the words disease and disorder. In the case of autoimmune disease, they mean essentially the same thing, but I like your perspective shift on using the word disorder. Thanks for sharing!

  • […] of remission, I now strive for a well-managed autoimmune disease, and I really love this post: Why the Words “Remission” and “Cure” Do a Disservice to the Autoimmune Community written by Mickey Trescott, which dives into this philosophy more.  It’s a great […]

  • Nikki says

    Hi Mickey – What advice do you have for someone who has symptoms of an autoimmune disease with multiple negative diagnoses?

    • Mickey Trescott says

      Hi Nikki! Diagnosis is a tricky subject. I’ve heard of many people with autoimmune-type symptoms that struggled to get a diagnosis, yet felt better after implementing some dietary or lifestyle strategies. What I would ask you, is what do you think diagnosis will do for you? In many cases, it helps you connect to the right kind of doctor, know your options for medical treatment, and things to look out for in terms of progression. A diagnosis is not necessary though, to do some work towards healing. Best case, you are able to feel better and not feel like you need a diagnosis because your symptoms go away. Hope it helps!

  • Mickey, this is exactly what I needed to hear today! Thank you for all you do! <3

    • Mickey Trescott says

      Thanks for being a part of this community Annika!

  • Manuel Sánchez says

    Question, I had syntoms for about a year, within this year My tsh has never been above 2 and tpo highest in a year was 2.34 tg the highest it been it’s 6.34, My T3 is low around 17 and 24, t4 for has been getting better, low cortisol, inflamated thyroid no nodles what are the chances of this turning in Hashimotos? My colesterol been low for about a year 120, triglicéridos at 84, normal sugar levels, normal heart preasure

    • Mickey Trescott says

      Hi Manuel! I’m sorry to hear about your thyroid issues. Unfortunately I’m not a medical provider and can’t advise on lab work. Your best bet is to consult a doctor for advice. I would suggest asking to get your thyroid antibodies tested (both TPO and TgAb) to see if you have developed Hashimoto’s. Good luck!

  • Cherie says

    I just had to comment on this article. Thank you because I love how you worded this. I can’t tell you how many times that I have felt discouraged because I have to be so strict with my diet, or I will feel symptoms. I hear how others will say that they can eat such and such food now. Well, I can’t. But now I won’t feel bad. Instead, I can have my symptoms well managed. Thank you, Mickey!

    • Mickey Trescott says

      Aw, happy it helped with a reframe for you, Cherie! Wishing you wellness!

  • Doris Giffinger says

    Dear Mickey, dear Angie,

    Thank you so much for your gift (holiday menue), your website with the recipes and so much information, and your books. You changed my life at a point when I started to lose hope that anyone or anything could take away my pain. I changed my diet cold turkey to AIP 1.5 years ago and since day 3 the pain is gone. Meanwhile I found out that my well-being is a fragile thing, depending on stress, nutrition and sports and how well I manage this. I knew, that there is no cure for an errant immune system. In this respect your article was not that, what I would like to read, but it helps me to accept this fact.

    Best greetings from Europe and stay healthy
    Doris

    (please excuse my english, the last english text I wrote was in 1985 😉 )

    Doris

    • Mickey Trescott says

      Hi Doris! Thank you for taking the time to leave this comment, and I’m so happy to have been a part of your healing journey!

  • Shahin says

    Hi Mickey,
    I am Shahin and I recently finished medical school with an inflammatory sacroiliatis, presumed to be idiopathic autoimmune in origin. Now, I’m not comparing this illness to yours, as yours has a clearer autoimmune trajectory. Plus, I agree that the full acceptance of the disease and its likely lifelong nature can better prepare us to put in the consistent lifestyle changes needed, and helps quieten the perfectionistic part that can react to flares once they have disappeared for a while.
    Nevertheless, my experience of recovery from pain and medications could be characterised differently. In fact, the idea that this is an incurable disease created so much fear that I was frozen and stuck in severe depression, anxiety and chemically dependent on medications.
    It was when I studied spontaneous radical remissions and considered the possibility of cure, after being exposed to Dr Joe Dispenza’s work, that I managed to work up the courage and motivation to make radical changes in my life. I daresay that it begins with a radically different attitude, which can be a catalyst to making radical lifestyle changes. Science also confirms that our beliefs colour our perceptions, and thus influence actions and behaviours, it’s not the other way around.
    So just to provide your initial assumption with some healthy challenge, everything you’ve written about is only true if we accept that autoimmune illnesses are, and will always be incurable. However, being someone from the medical field, I can assure you that science is not the holy grail and does not have all the answers, yet. Without the full understanding of the causality of autoimmune illnesses and inflammation, ie. what is it about our mindset, lifestyle that is triggering this inflammation; then its scientifically incorrect to presume there is no cure. No clear aetiology/cause has been identified, and so no evidence of a cure has been WRITTEN about. I daresay if you look into the idea of radical remissions, you will find stories about people who have created changes in their lives that scientifically seemed impossible.
    These outliers are not special humans, if anything, they tell as that our current models in science are incomplete. So proceed and continue to question the information you are fed. If anything, 2020 couldn’t have been better proof that western medicine is not perfect.
    I’m stoked about your improvements by the way, keep up the good work and thank you for the article.

    • Mickey Trescott says

      Hi Shahin, thanks for your comment. I disagree with a lot about what you shared, especially in terms of the expectation that radical remission being possible. Of course there are many stories of people achieving remission, but I do think the expectation can be an incredibly harmful mindset for those with autoimmune disease to get trapped in.

  • Shawn says

    I took a yellow fever shot (Stamaril) for a country that required it for immigration entry, 10 days later I developed a skin rash on my arms, shoulders, torso, chest, and upper thighs. Small red itchy bumps begin to spread all over those areas. Its been about two months of these symptoms but not to sure if it’ll go away on its own within six months to a year. The symptoms seem to point to autoimmune disease, chronic itchy hives on the skin feel like its being attacked by my own body. I’m hoping that these symptoms will go away soon. Beware of v that have live viruses and chemicals that boost your immune system, its these chemicals that force your body to create antibodies and can be the trigger to confusing your immune system into attacking its own friendly cell. Just beware of v and the damages and risk involved that can happen when taking v. Looks like I’ll be going overseas with inflamed skin and hives. Everyones body is different and can react differently to v. Any advice on how to naturally bring down the itchy feeling at night or something that worked for you to bring relief. I know so far a hot shower soothe the rashes for hours. Any herbal advise like tea and diet is welcomed.

    • Mickey Trescott says

      Hey Shawn! I am so sorry to hear of your bad reaction. Unfortunately I’m not a medical provider and can’t really advise you what the best thing to do in your case. I think you are on the right track for trying to discover what can externally soothe your inflamed skin (hot shower) and would suggest working with a naturopath or other natural practitioner to help guide you depending on your history to some internal and/or topical treatments that might help you get more comfortable. Wishing you luck!

  • Jody Ricketts says

    Thanks! Very timely as I am just getting to the point of accepting that I will never be cured or ‘normal’. It has taken 7 years of researching, AIP, supplements, all kinds of blood, stool, saliva, hair analysis tests and many functional med docs to reach the conclusion that I can manage my AI disease but I will always need to manage it. I don’t say that to be negative. Realizing it releases me from the continuous disappointments of not being cured after each new treatment plan. The disappointments were quite consuming and the resultant stress and cortisol reaction only made me worse. So I think this topic is an important one for better health. Thx again, you’re awesome.

    • Mickey Trescott says

      I’m happy you found it helpful Jody!

  • Janet says

    Well, I did experience long term remission from an autoimmune disease, without any medications or adjustment to my lifestyle. So, it does happen.

    I was diagnosed with Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease in 2016. I was treated with the immunosuppressive Azathioprine and saw a pretty dramatic recovery of my hearing. I had gone from normal hearing to legally deaf in my left ear over the course of 2 1/2 months (cannot understand speak even with hearing aids) and my right ear went from normal to being severely impaired in the high frequencies and moderately impaired in the middle frequencies. After only a couple of weeks, the hearing loss on the left side stopped and I actually regained hearing on my right side. I kept on with Azathioprine for a year and a half, but had to come off it eventually due to side effects. The game plan was to wait for me hearing loss to resume, then try CellCept. But, my hearing has been stable now for four years … without any meds at all. I am not sure what someone would call that besides a long-term remission.

    • Mickey Trescott says

      Hi Janet! Happy to hear you were able to feel better. I know not everyone agrees with my perspective here, but thanks for sharing your story and your thoughts.

  • […] n’aiment pas le terme rémission pour les maladies auto-immunes (lisez plus dans ce ici), et non sans raison, c’est compliqué. Il est donc important de souligner la […]

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