Here I share my story.  It’s not easy to talk about, as it was the worst thing that ever happened to me.  But if I can help someone going through this, then it will be worth it. 

I will start at the beginning.  I was not feeling well after a flight I had taken.  I sat in front of a person that was beat red with fever and coughing and sneezing.  A few weeks after that, I thought I had a bladder infection, so went in to a minute clinic to get antibiotics to cure it.  (I had tried everything natural to cure it, but was unsuccessful.)  I tested negative for a bladder infection.  But the doctor noticed that my urine had too much bilirubin it it (from the color of the urine).  She sent me to another clinic that had more resources to help me.  When I got there, one of the questions the nurse asked me was how long I had been jaundice.  I never realized that was the case until I looked in the mirror at the clinic.  I was very yellow.  They sent me to the emergency room.  The emergency room admitted me as a patient in the hospital.  And now they were running every test under the sun to my abdomen area.  I got ultrasounds, xrays, blood tests, CT scans, etc.  I was seen by a specialist, who after 5 days, sent me to a specialty hospital for liver patients.  My whole world was collapsing around me.  My family helplessly watched as things got progressively worse. 

I was sent in an ambulance with lights and sirens to the specialty hospital.  This hospital would provide a liver transplant in case they could not find a way to get me better.  My liver enzymes (ALT, AST, bilirubin, and alkaline phosphatase were elevated and steadily climbing.  My bilirubin was so high, they were concerned I would lose consciousness soon.  My eyesight was disappearing.) 

After seemingly endless tests at the specialty hospital, and many visits from a liver specialist, I was told I had autoimmune hepatitis.  Apparently, I got mononucleosis from the sick person on the plane, which triggers ebstein-barr virus, which then started a T cell attack on my liver.  This is how I understand it up to this date. 

I was shocked, in denial, and not sure what to do.  I was told I had to go on a medicine called prednisone.  The list of side effects were long and very disturbing.  But, they did immediately start working to lower my liver enzymes. 

They sent me home to deal with everything there.  I had severe fatigue, and slowly started having one side effect after another from the prednisone.  My life was a complete nightmare.  On top of it, my liver specialist acted as if he never heard of all the side effects I was experiencing, even though they were listed on numerous sites and on the medication information itself.  I felt very unsupported. They also tried me on azathioprine, of which I found I was totally allergic to. 

So I insisted, once my liver enzymes were back to normal, that he get me off the prednisone.  He initially wanted to keep me on a low dose for a few years.  I couldn’t imagine living like that, it was a complete nightmare.  So I refused and stopped taking the medication once I was on a low enough dose to safely do so. 

From there, I knew I had a very limited time to figure out how to help myself out of this situation.  I knew living the rest of my life on and off prednisone, and eventually going in for a liver transplant was not a path for me or my family. 

So I researched every lead on the internet for help.  I read every research paper, listened to every speech, and read every and anything about this disease that was out there. 

I finally decided to obtain the help of a whole foods plant based nutritionist (as this is how I ate before this all happened.)  He put me on three supplements:  beetroot powder, broccoli powder, and chlorella powder.  I started off taking 1 tsp of each mixed in juice.  (It’s the most hideous tasting concoction ever! lol).  I have since worked up to 1 tbsp of each. 

I have taken these supplements and watched my liver enzymes go down.  Stopped taking them, and my liver enzymes go wildly up and out of control.  Then I take the supplements, and the enzymes go back to normal.  So now, I just take them everyday without fail.  Don’t ask me why they work.  I have no idea.  And any professional I talk to has no idea why they are working either.  And I have no idea if they will work long term.  So far, they have worked over a year, and I have not had to take prednisone this whole time.  The only thing I can recommend, is trying them for yourself (of course, under a doctors care).  See if it helps you too. 

I wanted to tell this story in case it might help anyone.  I do not know if you will get the same results as me.  But this has been a game changer in my life.  My blood tests are back to perfect again.  I feel energetic (it took months to regain this back to about 75%). 

I am in the process now of improving my diet even more, and trying celery juice in the morning on an empty stomach to see if that helps me as it has helped others.  I continue to take the three supplements every day to keep my liver enzymes in a healthy range.  I have not yet gotten back to exercising, but hopefully in the future, I will be able to do that. 

In closing, I want to say, that I know what it is like to be there going through this.  It is sad, lonely, and heart breaking.  It is not fun to tell your family this news.  It is so stressful.  And, what I can offer is this.  Lean on your faith.  Listen to your family if they try and help you, as they are going through this with you.  Educate yourself as much as possible.  Remember that you have to live with the consequences of what you choose to do in terms of treatments, not your doctors.  It’s important to find the right help at the right time.  And if you need any support, please don’t hesitate to go to my contact page and reach out.  I know this isn’t easy. 

Another small win, was finding turmeric for pain relief. It helps almost as much as aspirin.  When you don’t feel good, it’s nice to be able to take something that relieves pain and makes you healthier.    I do not take any over the counter pain relievers or any other medication, ever.  I don’t smoke or drink, ever.  And, if you have seen the rest of my website, you know I eat whole foods, plant based diet.  I like to eat two raw meals, and one starch based meal.  I eat low fat, and do not add salt to my foods.  I don’t drink caffeine, just water with lemon, lime, orange or cucumber and mint.  And sometimes herbal tea with stevia.  I also stay away from people that are ill.  And yes, during this covid pandemic, I have quarantined, masked, social distanced, and hand washed consistently.  My goal is to stay out of the hospitals and medical system in general for as much as possible for the rest of my life. 

Lastly, I wish you well.  If you have autoimmune hepatitis, you are in my thoughts and prayers.  And for those that don’t, I pray you will never experience anything like this.