Dr. Alison Danby - Diving Into Autoimmune Fatigue - Revisited

In today's episode, Dr. Alison Danby explores autoimmune fatigue.  We discuss this symptom that 90% of people with autoimmunity experience, and find a challenge.After working to heal her own autoimmune symptoms, Alison noticed many of her clients were showing up after being told that there was nothing they could do about their autoimmune symptoms, and that's not true!  That led Alison to specialize in autoimmunity, and make her contribution to folks in this community.Fatigue is often one of the first symptoms we experience with autoimmunity.It is NOT tired mommy syndromeordepression!There is overlap with depression such as smaller social life, withdrawal, and change in mood.And what Alison refers to as "mall eyes" a burning tiredness.HEAVINESS!Bone tired!Rule outs:iron deficiencythyroid conditiondehydration!!!B12RX interactionshormonesCell Danger ResponseMitochondria - plays a role in essentially every chronic illnessWhen our body senses danger...mitochondria spends energy signaling danger instead of producing energy..toxins, inflammation, etc. can trigger cell danger response.Leads to big changes in nutrient absorption, etc.Stress Response - Blunted HPA Axis FunctionHypothalmus-Pituitary-AdrenalBlunted CortisolHyper Responsive Nervous Systemrunning without hitting the brakesInflammationInflammation creates oxidative stress, which increases inflammation!Both are tied to fatigue.Aging us quicker.ACES - Advanced Childhood Events   TRAUMA changes immunity and increases chance of autoimmunity.What we can do:Why is the the body in cell danger response...Identify causeDental is very common!  It can be smoldering infection without symptoms.InfectionToxinsIdentify and remove trigger...clean it up!Stress.Lack of sleepDietMeasuring heart rate variability HRV...measure it to help identify stressors you are. not aware of.You don't have to FEEL stressed out to be experiencing chronic stress.Learned behavior to take on whatever we can handle.Track, track, track!!Alison likes to look back 10 years at labs and look at trends of changes in white blood cells that are indicative of changes leading to autoimmunity.Living a full live is my goal.What is your why...is the goal of being medication free is often unrealistic, stressful, and dangerous.Live your BEST, BIGGEST, FULLEST life!!Research is starting to slowly catch up with what we know.Check your HRV, HRV, HRV to see how your environment is affecting you.