This post is about my survival and recovery from a rare illness called Stevens Johnson's Syndrome.  I learned about it after struggling with a chronic form of the illness for over three years from a client no less!!!  She knew about it because a young child in her neighborhood had gone blind from the illness.

Not much is known about Stevens Johnson's syndrome other than it is a severe skin inflammation that turns into a systemic inflammatory disorder. The immune system goes ballistic usually due to a prescription or over the counter drug.  In my case, using neither...it was a sunscreen...but it can be any substance that creates an immune overkill response.  The most common cause is antibiotics and many victims are children.  The affected skin becomes very inflammed and just falls off. Mine appeared to burn and then peel off and itched just horribly both from the inflammation and then when the affected skin was peeling off.  My scalp was very much affected and I lost alot of hair, and had bald patches.  My scalp has been the most difficult area to heal.

I had no idea what actually was going on and neither did the dermatologic experts I consulted. They were incredulous that a sunscreen could do such a thing or that any substance could be absorbed into the body through the skin...guess they never heard about dermal patches, huh?

They did want me to get on intravenous cortisone but I refused this. As it turns out, the jury is out on whether this helps or hurts the situation.  Most of the time I felt unbelievably toxic and like I had swallowed a hot poker. People could feel the inflammation coming off my skin and scalp and my skin looked burned and leathery after repeated burns. I also constantly complained about my eyes and they appeared red and irritated.  Hence the term, auto incineration syndrome.  While, I had  an overactive immune system in many ways, it became tired very quickly and I was quite susceptible to infections of all kinds for years.  Believe it or not I am actually still recovering!!!  I am,  I think about 85% recovered but I still have bouts when I come into contact with things that antagonize my immune system such as allergens, chemicals, toxins viruses, and other health stressors such as lack of sleep.

Due to the problems inherent from this illness I learned alot about the immune system and how it functions and the many factors that influence it.  I also learned a tremendous amout about skin health and how to regenerate the skin organ.  Most importantly, I learned not to fear illness and death, and to have even more compassion for my patients and clients who were in crisis and afraid and suffering.

While I have always been a compassionate person, I didn't really understand fully what it was to really suffer.  I also had no real idea how long it takes to get better and how confusing that path can be at times.  I really didn't start to feel consistently better for almost two years and even then it was touch and go.  I also did not fully appreciate how lucky I was to recover at all until my client told me what I had, about her neighbor child and I did my own research.  Another aspect of it was how toxic drugs and chemicals are to some of us...I ahve always understood somehow that my vibration was somehow "different" and I did not respond well to drugs even over the counter safe drugs like benedryl.  By the time I had my wisdom teeth pulled at age 15 and nearly died from the anesthestic I knew that drugs were somehow not an option for me and that knowlege led me down this healing path.

The things that helped me were acupuncture, flower essences, diet therapy and rebuilidng the body's ecology via the gut....and I am still doing all this!!!  Now though, I feel grateful to be alive, vibrant and able to share my story with others.  You may want to visit my store aisle for recommendations of awesome natural skin products.

Hey regarding being alive, I am going great guns with my songs got aired on UCLA radio today and much more and I have a show Saturday 10/9...sorry I am going to be closed due to that.  If you are so inclined I have a tuneplayer at the very bottom of this page and in the contact us portal where you can check out my songs!

Thanks for being in my life!

Best of Health!

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Taryn DeCicco, ND, LAc, LDN

Naturopath

Acupuncturist

Clinical Nutritionist

Professional Vitamins and Supplements

Chinese Herbs

Natural Skin Products

Arlington Heights, IL

www.apple-a-day-clinic.com

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